For all of you parents who are studying the Real Love books, particularly the book on parenting, how’s it going?
Are you getting clued-in like I am?
Many of these pages smart! I see myself and my mistakes and I have had moments of shock and amazement and sadness too.
Can you relate?
The last people in the world we ever want to cause any distress are our kids, and it can be painful to learn how our own emptiness has caused them grief, or may still be causing them grief.
I am encouraged when I read this well-timed paragraph, on page 95. Dr. Baer says:
“A little guilt can be useful–if it motivates us to avoid past mistakes and to grow–but excessive guilt and shame can only cripple us. While we feel ashamed, we can’t feel loved, we can’t see clearly, and we can’t learn or grow. Rather than be distracted by the excessive guilt we feel about the mistakes we’ve made with our children, we need to get on with the business of learning to love them.”
So while we’re gratefully learning some beautiful principles, new ways of seeing the principles we hold dear and always wanted to implement, and getting clarity about some of the relationships we’ve had with mysterious pieces, we can rejoice!
We’re still here!
We’re still learning!
And it’s never too late.
Love to you today,
The mission of Lioness at the Door is to uplift, strengthen and encourage women of all ages to magnify health, hope and happiness at home. We do so boldly, with humility and gratitude for the opportunity.