Sunday, May 11, 2008
Confessions of One Mother
I did the best I knew.
I learned from watching other mothers, from baby-sitting and the way I was mothered.
I never intended to hurt or offend or upset my children.
I always and only wanted the best for them.
I did the best I knew.
When I saw that drinking even a little changed my behavior, I quit.
When I saw that being around them too much made me cranky and critical, I went to work.
When I realized they felt bad about me being sad or mad, I learned to make myself happy.
I did the best I knew.
When I was a single parent (for ten years), I became more the provider and less nurturer.
When I was a single parent, I counted on others to take care of the home front and their feelings.
When I was a single parent, I loved them by being both an understanding mother and permissive father.
I did the best I knew.
When I learned that they wanted independence, I gave them my trust.
When I heard they wanted to conform to their peers, I gave them freedom.
When I realized they wanted to buy their own clothes, I gave an allowance.
I did the best I knew.
I assumed they were like me.
I hoped the world was the same.
I believed their values were similar.
I did the best I knew.
If I could change it all, I would probably do it very differently.
However, I was naïve, inexperienced and not awake to what was best.
I was as aware as I knew how to be.
I did the best I knew and so did You!
So to all of us mothers:
Let’s give ourselves credit and appreciation for doing our best.
Even when it is not enough or maybe is later seen to be a mistake,
Let’s forgive us all for not knowing any better.
Let us trust we always have been doing our best!
Love grows with age.
Wisdom grows with experience.
Appreciation grows over time.
Relationships grow when we forgive ourselves.
Loving you and me and all of us as we grow in forgiveness and faith.
Betty Lue
“Prayer For A Loved One”
Dear Heart,
I will not worry, fret or be unhappy over you.
I will not be anxious concerning you.
I will not be afraid for you.
I will not give up on you.
I will not blame, criticize or condemn you.
I will remember first, last and always that you are God’s child, that you have His Spirit in you.
I will trust this Spirit to take care of you, to be a light to your path, to provide for your needs.
I will think of you as always being surrounded by God’s loving Presence, enfolded in His protecting care, as kept safe and secure in Him.
I will be patient with you.
I will have confidence in you.
I will stand by you in faith, and bless you in my prayers, knowing that you are growing, knowing that you are finding the help you need, the love you need, the healing you need, the financial freedom you need.
I have only good feelings in my heart about you.
I am willing to let you live your life as you see fit.
Your way may not be my way, but I will trust the Spirit of God in you to show you the way of your highest Good.
God loves you and I love you!
I have confidence in you and I believe in you!!
(author unknown)
I learned from watching other mothers, from baby-sitting and the way I was mothered.
I never intended to hurt or offend or upset my children.
I always and only wanted the best for them.
I did the best I knew.
When I saw that drinking even a little changed my behavior, I quit.
When I saw that being around them too much made me cranky and critical, I went to work.
When I realized they felt bad about me being sad or mad, I learned to make myself happy.
I did the best I knew.
When I was a single parent (for ten years), I became more the provider and less nurturer.
When I was a single parent, I counted on others to take care of the home front and their feelings.
When I was a single parent, I loved them by being both an understanding mother and permissive father.
I did the best I knew.
When I learned that they wanted independence, I gave them my trust.
When I heard they wanted to conform to their peers, I gave them freedom.
When I realized they wanted to buy their own clothes, I gave an allowance.
I did the best I knew.
I assumed they were like me.
I hoped the world was the same.
I believed their values were similar.
I did the best I knew.
If I could change it all, I would probably do it very differently.
However, I was naïve, inexperienced and not awake to what was best.
I was as aware as I knew how to be.
I did the best I knew and so did You!
So to all of us mothers:
Let’s give ourselves credit and appreciation for doing our best.
Even when it is not enough or maybe is later seen to be a mistake,
Let’s forgive us all for not knowing any better.
Let us trust we always have been doing our best!
Love grows with age.
Wisdom grows with experience.
Appreciation grows over time.
Relationships grow when we forgive ourselves.
Loving you and me and all of us as we grow in forgiveness and faith.
Betty Lue
“Prayer For A Loved One”
Dear Heart,
I will not worry, fret or be unhappy over you.
I will not be anxious concerning you.
I will not be afraid for you.
I will not give up on you.
I will not blame, criticize or condemn you.
I will remember first, last and always that you are God’s child, that you have His Spirit in you.
I will trust this Spirit to take care of you, to be a light to your path, to provide for your needs.
I will think of you as always being surrounded by God’s loving Presence, enfolded in His protecting care, as kept safe and secure in Him.
I will be patient with you.
I will have confidence in you.
I will stand by you in faith, and bless you in my prayers, knowing that you are growing, knowing that you are finding the help you need, the love you need, the healing you need, the financial freedom you need.
I have only good feelings in my heart about you.
I am willing to let you live your life as you see fit.
Your way may not be my way, but I will trust the Spirit of God in you to show you the way of your highest Good.
God loves you and I love you!
I have confidence in you and I believe in you!!
(author unknown)