tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988392.post627067799451303294..comments2023-08-25T01:48:07.020-06:00Comments on BeStoked: Love Is Never a Bad ChoiceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06483822088793905847noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988392.post-76202757485628464432012-06-04T13:20:47.924-06:002012-06-04T13:20:47.924-06:00Reading this post again the next day, I realized i...Reading this post again the next day, I realized it may sound like we have troubled kids or something, but honestly, they are awesome. Super awesome. That's one of the reasons I was so shocked yesterday (and have been confused the past week or so). That being said, I've really enjoyed the input and feedback from this post already. We love our kids and want to the best parents we can be and one of the best ways for us all to grow is to learn from each other.<br /><br />Along those lines, a friend of mine sent me this message via Facebook and with his permission, I'm posting it here as well. I hope it encourages you as much as it encouraged me:<br /><br />--------<br />Hey man, just read your post about your parenting woes. Great stuff. One of our former coworkers and I had this conversation once:<br /><br />Him: I am so frustrated our little girl (2 or 3 at the time) will not stay in her bed and sleep at night. She's up and fusses every time we put her back in bed. I don't know what her problem is. I don't want to yell at her, but I just lose my temper.<br /><br />Me: So, do you ever have those nights or even many nights when you just can't sleep? You've got things on your mind or just don't even know why, but you can't make yourself sleep?<br /><br />Him: Yeah.<br /><br />Me: That's tough, huh? And why is that?<br /><br />Him: I dunno. I guess everybody has that problem.<br /><br />You can see the light coming on now.<br /><br />Me: Your little girl is a human being just like the rest of us and she will struggle with all the same things that human beings struggle with.<br /><br />Him: I should probably go home and apologize to her.<br /><br />--<br /><br />It's funny to me how we often forget that our little ones are still human. We have a mindset that they are more like pets and should do as they're told every time, yet we, as grown ups, don't do that. Especially with God.<br /><br />Yet there He is. Every time we're getting into the cookie jar, He lovingly rebukes us. When we're upset and confused and don't know how to express our feelings, sometimes He just quietly holds us in the moment. Sometimes he gives us time alone to think. But He always loves. Always.<br /><br />There's a reason professions like law and medicine are called practices. They are PRACTICING medicine because one can not DO medicine. Such is parenting. You can only practice it. However, it is through practice that you improve. If Larry Byrd practiced free throws all the time (which he did) to stay on his game, so we, too, as parents, must constantly practice loving our children.<br /><br />You're doing a good job, friend. And just like you're not done raising your kids, Father God isn't done raising you.<br /><br />Hope you're well, Luke. May Father continue to bless you.<br /><br />--------<br /><br />SO COOL! Big thanks to my friend for sending me this.Luke Stokeshttp://bestoked.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988392.post-7580938755510051222012-06-04T13:03:18.767-06:002012-06-04T13:03:18.767-06:00Thanks so much. :)Thanks so much. :)Luke Stokeshttp://bestoked.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988392.post-49515436791528577172012-06-04T11:34:44.018-06:002012-06-04T11:34:44.018-06:00Beautiful, Luke. I like your comment about not co...Beautiful, Luke. I like your comment about not confusing "being loving" with "giving in". Those are the same issues I know I would have struggled with, had I become a parent.Gwneffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988392.post-91535298889539569832012-06-03T21:34:19.480-06:002012-06-03T21:34:19.480-06:00Thanks. Certainly didn't feel like it at the t...Thanks. Certainly didn't feel like it at the time. Parenting is freaking hard work and the tough part is, we don't know if we did an OK job until at least 18 years later.Luke Stokeshttp://bestoked.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8988392.post-71519043394623170962012-06-03T21:28:01.764-06:002012-06-03T21:28:01.764-06:00Um. I think you just sprouted wings, my friend.Um. I think you just sprouted wings, my friend.Misty Williamshttp://twitter.com/tellmistynoreply@blogger.com