I think I could have handled the whole thing better.
The question posed on someone else’s FB feed was: How do you explain to your daughter that you don’t want her to have a Barbie doll? Of course, there were opinions on both sides. And both sides of the discussion made very good points. Some even said they would give a Barbie doll to their son.
I remember having questions
Whether to let my own daughter have Barbies. I said “no” at a young age and later gave in at an older age. Was I right? Was I wrong? Who can say for certain? I think I could have handled the whole thing better.
Whether you are on an overseas mission field, or here at home, all mothers share the same challenges and questions raising their children. So, hoping to encourage you,, I thought I would share what I added after reading all that combined wisdom that others wrote in that discussion that started on facebook. In essence, here’s my two cents worth in answer to the question…
Giving Barbie dolls to your child. Yes or No?
Here’s what I said: I think that you really hit on something we need to add to the mix: Our personalities truly do influence how we parent.
I absolutely believe that God purposefully chooses which child/children to place in our particular family.So, when we pray for wisdom to the God of all wisdom, He promises to give us that wisdom that we need for our particular family.
Simplistic? Yes. Will we make mistakes?
Yes. But God sees the heart of the mother/father that desires to raise the child/children to reflect Christ’s love to the world.
They (the child/children) may take the LONG road, like Billy Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, who has turned his life around and now has stepped into his father’s shoes…or they (the child/children) may take the SHORT road and never give us a day’s concern. That said…which road they take…has a lot to do with their God-given personality, as well.
But, God hears the heart of a praying mother/father.
Someday you can ask Ruth Graham about that and see if she ever wondered if she was making the wrong decisions. Do you think she ever second-guessed herself? I am thinking she was a normal parent and had the same concerns we do.
It may comfort you to know
Even if we were the perfect parent, making perfect decisions, that does not guarantee perfect children.
You…human parent…
You can only do so much to influence your children toward God. Hopefully, that takes a bit of the pressure off of you. Do what you can do. Do it the best you know how. And trust God to do what only He can do.
GIB (God is Big) KLU (Keep Looking Up).
Onward Christian Parent! Well done!
Would you like to weigh in on the discussion: Giving Barbie Dolls to Your Child. Yes or No?
What do you think? What did you choose to do?
And why?
God bless you bunches!
Thank you for all you do!
Awaiting His shout,
The MomCourager™
