I don't know what has been the cause of my reflective thoughts lately, being another year older, having another child, having a child start school. Maybe it is a combination of all. Either way it seems like I spend a bit more time thinking about who I am and more so, who I was in school. I think I was (and probably still are) a bit naive as to what is going on around me. I think of the people who have come and gone in my immediate circle of daily life. Some I know a little bit of what they are doing now, some I have no clue and some I wonder what they are up to.
I think some of my reflection is school, and the pressure to fit in, or the idea that "those are the most important things" when now they are such small importance's (i.e., friends, dances, being popular, etc) I was the witness of some teen girls "cattiness" and after about 25 minutes of it I finally opened my mouth to hopefully help one young girl see that her actions were not nice. Who know what came of it...probably that I was some withcy woman sticking her nose in another's business. But when you are right in line behind them for that long of time, it is hard to not want to do something. But in the 24.5 minutes I stood there just listening I was thinking how SCARY it will be to have a kid that age and the social pressure they will have to deal with.
Maybe if I felt my memory was better I could remember what it was like for me. But I don't, sadly to say. I don't remember the "cattiness'' that people say girls are. I don't remember the desire to be cool or fit in. Maybe I wasn't or didn't, or maybe I was taught that it didn't matter. I worry that I won't be able to help my kids the way I was helped/taught. I wonder if I will be the kind of parent they can turn to. Sometimes I worry I won't because I don't think I was the friend that was even the one someone turned to for help. Sad to day but I have been wondering if any of my "friends" from years previous were positively impacted by me, or if they wish they stayed in better touch like I do. And maybe that will have no reflection of how my parenting will be.
My mind is all over the place here, but I guess to anyone who ever reads this, maybe it will help them see that they are not alone in reflective thinking. Maybe. Maybe Not. Most of these are just thoughts, not questions.
Bottom line I guess that I take comfort in when I am reflectively thinking is that I am (we are) a child of God. He loves us, He is there for us. If we strive to do those things that keep Him in our life, we will be happy in the end, we will be BLESSED beyond contemplation. He knows us, He LOVES us. He will guide and help us, and He will send people into our lives that will also do the same.
I probably should just archive this in my computer somewhere and not post it because I a not an eloquent writer but even if I keep it to myself until I think clearer or write better, I will have forgotten and no one will see that there are other people out there with the same reflective wonderments. I guess it's my attempt to get thoughts out there (I would say on paper, but this isn't paper and I am not sure what the new term would be) and help myself and anyone else.
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Sunday, September 11, 2011
A different kind of preparedness
Today we had an amazing women's conference. A car full of women from my branch rode together for the hour and 45 minute drive there and then we were enriched for the next three and a half hours before our hour and 45 minute ride home. We were first enriched by a wonderful lunch and then we were fed wonderful knowledge for our personal lives and families.
The general session was not topics that you would naturally think a church meeting would discuss, but were powerful and pertinent. The first speaker talked about pornography and it's evil influence. How it can destroy marriages but also how marriages can be healed after taking the proper steps to overcome the silent spiritual killer. The men in the church have been hearing this one for a long time now, but now it is our turn and probably because it is affecting more and more more families not just through the father. There was a statistic given that was mind churning and truly heart wrenching...out of 40,000 people in the survey, 45% said they were "hooked" on pornography by 11-16 years old, 25% were between 17-19 but the scary-sad part was that 9% were hooked 5-10 years of age. That was a wake up call that the things I need to begin talking about with my children are not that far away!
The second speaker was a lawyer/school teacher who talked about cyberbullying, sexting, and internet safety. I have heard of these things but was not aware just how prevalent it is becoming...correct myself -IT IS. 1 in 4 youth are cyberbulled and of those not bullied, 65% know someone who is/has been cyberbullied. This topic along with the other two topics, and I was just awe struck as I was hearing not only the things he had to say but what the ladies in the congregation were contributing. S.C.A.R.Y! My mind kept asking "Can I just keep my kids little?" Answer: No! I know I can't so then I was turned to contempation about how I can teach them, help them, protect them from the evil that is everywhere around them.
It is hard to wrap up a two hour mini course into a few words, especially when I am not loquacious in any degree, but my take home message comes down to a few things that I will try to share. (and believe me, the more I think about it the longer my list is getting!!)
1-The Gospel is amazing and we are so blessed to have inspired leaders who have been warning and teaching us of avoiding such evils for years now.
2-The Gospel has the keys we need to start protecting/teaching/helping if we REGULARLY use them (i.e. attend church, scripture study, prayer, repentance...all those seminary answers we could plug into any question posed and they would not be wrong)
3-We need to establish open communication. Bold in some areas, blunt and with genuine love. This needs to be there between husband and wife and then between parent and child. If we don't talk to them, someone else will, and it will probably not be the information we want them to have.
4-We also need to start EARLY. If we think that waiting until they age "dating age"...we are too late! Remember 9% of those polled were hooked to porn between 5-10 years of age.
5-With certain privileges comes specific or certain conditions. i.e. with the internet, there is much good, but also easy access to much evil. They need to know not to go to such sites and they need to know if they come across a "not so good site" how to quickly get away and to also not be afraid to talk about it so it can be prevented. There are great resources out there for taking precautionary measures, but I/we can't be naive in thinking this will solve the problem...they need also to be talked to about if they are exposed to things they find wrong.
6-We can't avoid everything. So prepare, teach and warn for when it does come.
7-We need to not only not do things, but to stand up for others (this is from the cyberbullying part but is applicable in other aspects).
We then split up into two groups and had another great meeting about the importance of family dinner time but that may need to be another post since this one has now reached the "long post" status!
The general session was not topics that you would naturally think a church meeting would discuss, but were powerful and pertinent. The first speaker talked about pornography and it's evil influence. How it can destroy marriages but also how marriages can be healed after taking the proper steps to overcome the silent spiritual killer. The men in the church have been hearing this one for a long time now, but now it is our turn and probably because it is affecting more and more more families not just through the father. There was a statistic given that was mind churning and truly heart wrenching...out of 40,000 people in the survey, 45% said they were "hooked" on pornography by 11-16 years old, 25% were between 17-19 but the scary-sad part was that 9% were hooked 5-10 years of age. That was a wake up call that the things I need to begin talking about with my children are not that far away!
The second speaker was a lawyer/school teacher who talked about cyberbullying, sexting, and internet safety. I have heard of these things but was not aware just how prevalent it is becoming...correct myself -IT IS. 1 in 4 youth are cyberbulled and of those not bullied, 65% know someone who is/has been cyberbullied. This topic along with the other two topics, and I was just awe struck as I was hearing not only the things he had to say but what the ladies in the congregation were contributing. S.C.A.R.Y! My mind kept asking "Can I just keep my kids little?" Answer: No! I know I can't so then I was turned to contempation about how I can teach them, help them, protect them from the evil that is everywhere around them.
It is hard to wrap up a two hour mini course into a few words, especially when I am not loquacious in any degree, but my take home message comes down to a few things that I will try to share. (and believe me, the more I think about it the longer my list is getting!!)
1-The Gospel is amazing and we are so blessed to have inspired leaders who have been warning and teaching us of avoiding such evils for years now.
2-The Gospel has the keys we need to start protecting/teaching/helping if we REGULARLY use them (i.e. attend church, scripture study, prayer, repentance...all those seminary answers we could plug into any question posed and they would not be wrong)
3-We need to establish open communication. Bold in some areas, blunt and with genuine love. This needs to be there between husband and wife and then between parent and child. If we don't talk to them, someone else will, and it will probably not be the information we want them to have.
4-We also need to start EARLY. If we think that waiting until they age "dating age"...we are too late! Remember 9% of those polled were hooked to porn between 5-10 years of age.
5-With certain privileges comes specific or certain conditions. i.e. with the internet, there is much good, but also easy access to much evil. They need to know not to go to such sites and they need to know if they come across a "not so good site" how to quickly get away and to also not be afraid to talk about it so it can be prevented. There are great resources out there for taking precautionary measures, but I/we can't be naive in thinking this will solve the problem...they need also to be talked to about if they are exposed to things they find wrong.
6-We can't avoid everything. So prepare, teach and warn for when it does come.
7-We need to not only not do things, but to stand up for others (this is from the cyberbullying part but is applicable in other aspects).
We then split up into two groups and had another great meeting about the importance of family dinner time but that may need to be another post since this one has now reached the "long post" status!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Being Christ-like
I try to be Christ-like and I try to serve others. But today I find myself needing a change of heart to be more Christ-like.
I wonder how Christ felt about helping people who don't help themselves. The advantage He had which I don't is that he knew what was in people's hearts. (But he loved them anyway even if it wasn't right...that is amazing)
Despite my desire to have my husband home doing things on our own home and helping me out, I would never stop him from going and helping another family. I know they need his help more. I just was thinking as I was moping how hard it must have been to be Christ and to never get a break and then to suffer for us all. We are truly blessed to have such a Savior and Brother who loves us that much.
I wonder how Christ felt about helping people who don't help themselves. The advantage He had which I don't is that he knew what was in people's hearts. (But he loved them anyway even if it wasn't right...that is amazing)
Despite my desire to have my husband home doing things on our own home and helping me out, I would never stop him from going and helping another family. I know they need his help more. I just was thinking as I was moping how hard it must have been to be Christ and to never get a break and then to suffer for us all. We are truly blessed to have such a Savior and Brother who loves us that much.
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