The
guilt of homeschooling. Even if you think you don't feel guilt right now I'm fairly certain almost every homeschooler has felt a tinge of it once ion their homeschooling adventure.
I have struggled with guilt
over homeschooling our two special needs children. I have struggled EVEN
MORE over the guilt of putting my children IN public school. Pulling
them back out, I did not struggle with but I did struggle
with if I gave them the best education I could. Having one child
already graduating and one to graduate next June, I STILL struggle with
guilt.
Guilt over what? I am doing the right thing, of course.
We all go through it, we all have those moments of feeling like a
failure; as a parent and as an educator. (You are ALWAYS educating your
children, even if you do not homeschool. You are the primary person your
children look to for guidance and for learning. Monkey see monkey do,
you ever hear that phrase? It's true. You swear? Your child will end up
spouting the F bomb or the S word a time or two. You pray daily and read
Scripture? You know your child will notice and they will mimic.) Guilt
over the life long impact I am imparting on my children. Did I do well
enough? Could I have done better? No matter what I do or didn't do the
guilt remains. I know I did the best I could and have tried my best to
follow god's direction for our family. I know I tried my hardest to pick
up on the cues my sons were giving me as to what they needed in all
areas of life, eduction being only part of that.
Why is it
then that homeschoolers get this overwhelming feeling of failure when
they look back at their child's education; the education they put into
place.
Everyone wants to keep up with the Jones. Everyone wants
that smarter then average children. Everyone wants to be noticed for
doing a great job. Face it, when you educate your children at home you
are being scrutinized on all sides for how well your children turn out;
even by yourself. Everyone wants to be found doing a phenomenal job.
Guilt. Guilt. Guilt. Notice I did not say guilty? I am not guilty but
at times I am filled with guilt. Unwarranted most of the time but there
nonetheless. Step back, take a breath, stop to think - rationally think.
You will see that if you are doing the best you can and you are
following the homeschooling laws set forth in your local area then you
are guilty of only one thing. You are guilty of loving your child enough
to help educated them in the best way you know how.
Take that
step back and remember that God did not call the qualified. He
qualifies the called. If you have children then you have been called to
raise them. Don't let the guilt overwhelm you. Don't let the kids down
the block cloud your judgement as to how to raise your own child. Go
before God himself and ask for guidance; He will surely answer.
My feelings of guilt come and go but I know that I have done the best I
could for my children; righting wrongs as we go. I know I will continue
to do the best I can for them too. I don't know everything, I am still
learning. What I do know is that my children have far exceeded my
expectations in life and I know they will continue to do so if I
continue to expect their best and teach them to expect their best too.
Keep the big picture in mind when you see little things not going so
well. It's the big picture in the end that makes the difference. The
little things, with the long term perspective, will fall into place. In
our house, the big picture is ultimately to raise our kids with a love
for the Lord most of all but also to be productive people in society and
to never stop learning
God's goal for you in life.
Life goes on, move with it
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
Sensory issues comes in all sizes
Sensory issues...
Sensory processing disorders are classified into three broad categories:
Sensory modulation disorder (SMD)
Sensory-based motor disorder (SBMD)
Sensory discrimination disorder (SDD)
When my kids were diagnosed they were told it was simply a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) so that is what I call it. I do not know what category we all fall into.
No matter what you call it, it disrupts life all around it. The person who has it is affected. Those who live with the affected person are affected by it. Those who interact with the affected person are affected by it. It is non-discriminatory; be it by age, race or gender.
SPD is not fun... for anyone...
This is our story.
Having a child with SPD was bad enough. Having a spouse with it is not easy but livable. Realizing you have SPD yourself is even worse. For me at least.
Between the brightness of the lights, the loudness of tapping, the touching of fabrics life can be tortuous at times to some. For us, most of our issues are mild compared to some I have talked to. Adam's are the worst out of all of us though. Taste, sight, hearing, touching, smelling... it all can be too much. The melt downs happen, the frustrations and anger when things just do not stop. The bombardment of sensory inputs can be so overwhelming and almost scary at times. The pain it can bring can be bothersome to some - debilitating for others. Shutting down or lashing out are just some of the reactions sensory overloads can bring. They can ruin an entire day. A day that has been filled with joy and excitement can be ruined with a 5 minute sensory bombardment in the car ride home after too long of a day out and about; setting off hours of unexpected meltdowns. Cooking becomes laborious as you try to accommodate the varied sensory issues. One will not eat this, another will not eat that. One can feel the seams inside his shirt. Another can't take the noise of talking or the radio. It's not a matter of being picky it's a matter of too much sensory input. Outsiders think you are a push over and too accommodating but only you know what goes on behind closed doors. Only you know what the meltdowns are really like. How do you cope when one child has SPD? Worse though, how do you deal with your whole family having it? That is our story. I hope my insight can help you.
My family - my hubby, myself and my 2 boys - all have our own SPD story, our own sensory problems. Each one is a bit different and each one is a bit similar to the others. Some are bothered by textures others by sounds. Some need to make noise others like it quiet. Some have outgrown their issues some have not. My boys are now 18 and 16. Over the last 18 years I have learned so much about SPD but I still have much to learn. This is my list of how SPD fits into your life, and how it has helped us treasure life even more.
1 - It is what it is - don't fight it. Life is full of issues that we need to address. There are problems at every turn. Sensory issues do not have cause fights. Understanding the needs of each individual goes a long way in living peacefully.
2 - There are ways to accommodate - Doing what you can to help alleviate any sensory overloads and in turn preventing meltdowns can be (and should be) done. If one likes to tap see if tapping on something soft will satisfy that sensory need. This will help those who are sound sensitive as tapping can be very irritating.
3 - It can improve - Given time and given therapies things do improve. One can learn how to handle their own sensory issues so that they do not affect their life as harshly anymore. Learning the sensory needs of those around you also can help make you more understanding and more willing to accommodate.
4 - Never stop searching - Never stop searching for ways to improve yourself and overcome your sensory needs. I know one cannot overcome all sensory issues but over time one may be able to learn to live with them so they are not as bothersome. For me, I do not like some fabrics so I avoid them. I am light sensitive so I keep sunglasses with me almost all the time. Never stop searching for help if you need it. Never stop searching within you to cope. Never stop seeking God's help. Never stop, that's the key.
5 - Never think of it as a curse - A curse is something that is burdensome. Since your sensory issues are part of you, or part of a loved one, they are cannot be seen as burdensome without the person who has them seeming burdensome too. It is a package deal. One cannot live without the other as they cannot be separated. This one goes with # 1. It is what it is. Accept it and move on. Each part of a person's personality can be seen as a blessing, if you look at it the right way. Your sensory issues may seem like they hold you back but they might just be showing you something better. For me, the light makes it difficult to see well. Shades help me focus better and I can see sharper with them. Not a curse, a blessing of clarity.
6 - Move on in friendships - Some people just cannot get past those idiosyncrasies sensory issues bring. Some people cannot see the real you and therefore cannot appreciate you as much. You cannot change them so move on. Now, that doesn't mean drop those friends. Some may have to go but for the most part I see that if people desire to understand the sensory issues friendships can flourish. If someone is too bothered by them or does not want to work to understand then their friendship isn't as true as it may seem. That's ok though. The world is full of more beautiful people who are understanding.
7 - God does not create mistakes - In all things God creates wonder. We are created in His image. If we are created in the image of God how then can we be mistakes just because we have a few sensory issues? Does God have sensory issues too? Well, that's not exactly what I mean when I say 'in His image'. God makes no mistakes but this world is a sinful world and with sin comes problems. Since the fall of man, in the Garden of Eden, sin is indwelt in each of us. The moment we are born we are filled with the possibilities of sinning. Just as sin causes problems without behavior it causes problems in our bodies too. That is why there is disease. Our bodies are decaying and we will eventually die. There is cancer, diabetes, cerebral palsy, birth defects and many more things that can go wrong with the human body, just add sensory issues to that list. It's NOT a mistake, it's a result.
8 - You are amazingly, fearfully and wonderfully made - Psalm 139:14 shows us this. He knows the number of hairs on your head and counts you more value then sparrows. See Matthew 10:30. If He, God himself, values us to be so precious how can we disagree? He is the Creator of the universe and all that is in it after all.
Sensory processing disorders are classified into three broad categories:
Sensory modulation disorder (SMD)
Sensory-based motor disorder (SBMD)
Sensory discrimination disorder (SDD)
When my kids were diagnosed they were told it was simply a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) so that is what I call it. I do not know what category we all fall into.
No matter what you call it, it disrupts life all around it. The person who has it is affected. Those who live with the affected person are affected by it. Those who interact with the affected person are affected by it. It is non-discriminatory; be it by age, race or gender.
SPD is not fun... for anyone...
This is our story.
Having a child with SPD was bad enough. Having a spouse with it is not easy but livable. Realizing you have SPD yourself is even worse. For me at least.
Between the brightness of the lights, the loudness of tapping, the touching of fabrics life can be tortuous at times to some. For us, most of our issues are mild compared to some I have talked to. Adam's are the worst out of all of us though. Taste, sight, hearing, touching, smelling... it all can be too much. The melt downs happen, the frustrations and anger when things just do not stop. The bombardment of sensory inputs can be so overwhelming and almost scary at times. The pain it can bring can be bothersome to some - debilitating for others. Shutting down or lashing out are just some of the reactions sensory overloads can bring. They can ruin an entire day. A day that has been filled with joy and excitement can be ruined with a 5 minute sensory bombardment in the car ride home after too long of a day out and about; setting off hours of unexpected meltdowns. Cooking becomes laborious as you try to accommodate the varied sensory issues. One will not eat this, another will not eat that. One can feel the seams inside his shirt. Another can't take the noise of talking or the radio. It's not a matter of being picky it's a matter of too much sensory input. Outsiders think you are a push over and too accommodating but only you know what goes on behind closed doors. Only you know what the meltdowns are really like. How do you cope when one child has SPD? Worse though, how do you deal with your whole family having it? That is our story. I hope my insight can help you.
My family - my hubby, myself and my 2 boys - all have our own SPD story, our own sensory problems. Each one is a bit different and each one is a bit similar to the others. Some are bothered by textures others by sounds. Some need to make noise others like it quiet. Some have outgrown their issues some have not. My boys are now 18 and 16. Over the last 18 years I have learned so much about SPD but I still have much to learn. This is my list of how SPD fits into your life, and how it has helped us treasure life even more.
1 - It is what it is - don't fight it. Life is full of issues that we need to address. There are problems at every turn. Sensory issues do not have cause fights. Understanding the needs of each individual goes a long way in living peacefully.
2 - There are ways to accommodate - Doing what you can to help alleviate any sensory overloads and in turn preventing meltdowns can be (and should be) done. If one likes to tap see if tapping on something soft will satisfy that sensory need. This will help those who are sound sensitive as tapping can be very irritating.
3 - It can improve - Given time and given therapies things do improve. One can learn how to handle their own sensory issues so that they do not affect their life as harshly anymore. Learning the sensory needs of those around you also can help make you more understanding and more willing to accommodate.
4 - Never stop searching - Never stop searching for ways to improve yourself and overcome your sensory needs. I know one cannot overcome all sensory issues but over time one may be able to learn to live with them so they are not as bothersome. For me, I do not like some fabrics so I avoid them. I am light sensitive so I keep sunglasses with me almost all the time. Never stop searching for help if you need it. Never stop searching within you to cope. Never stop seeking God's help. Never stop, that's the key.
5 - Never think of it as a curse - A curse is something that is burdensome. Since your sensory issues are part of you, or part of a loved one, they are cannot be seen as burdensome without the person who has them seeming burdensome too. It is a package deal. One cannot live without the other as they cannot be separated. This one goes with # 1. It is what it is. Accept it and move on. Each part of a person's personality can be seen as a blessing, if you look at it the right way. Your sensory issues may seem like they hold you back but they might just be showing you something better. For me, the light makes it difficult to see well. Shades help me focus better and I can see sharper with them. Not a curse, a blessing of clarity.
6 - Move on in friendships - Some people just cannot get past those idiosyncrasies sensory issues bring. Some people cannot see the real you and therefore cannot appreciate you as much. You cannot change them so move on. Now, that doesn't mean drop those friends. Some may have to go but for the most part I see that if people desire to understand the sensory issues friendships can flourish. If someone is too bothered by them or does not want to work to understand then their friendship isn't as true as it may seem. That's ok though. The world is full of more beautiful people who are understanding.
7 - God does not create mistakes - In all things God creates wonder. We are created in His image. If we are created in the image of God how then can we be mistakes just because we have a few sensory issues? Does God have sensory issues too? Well, that's not exactly what I mean when I say 'in His image'. God makes no mistakes but this world is a sinful world and with sin comes problems. Since the fall of man, in the Garden of Eden, sin is indwelt in each of us. The moment we are born we are filled with the possibilities of sinning. Just as sin causes problems without behavior it causes problems in our bodies too. That is why there is disease. Our bodies are decaying and we will eventually die. There is cancer, diabetes, cerebral palsy, birth defects and many more things that can go wrong with the human body, just add sensory issues to that list. It's NOT a mistake, it's a result.
8 - You are amazingly, fearfully and wonderfully made - Psalm 139:14 shows us this. He knows the number of hairs on your head and counts you more value then sparrows. See Matthew 10:30. If He, God himself, values us to be so precious how can we disagree? He is the Creator of the universe and all that is in it after all.
No
matter what sensory issues your children have take time each day to rejoice in
who they are, not what they have. If you focus on the what you miss the who.
Before you know it they are all grown up and you have missed their childhood.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Is homeschooling really a choice?
Homeschooling...
To some it's a choice. To some it's most certainly is not a choice at all. Some know right from the birth of their child that there is never really a choice IF they homeschool. To them it's a given that they will. To some, homeschooling may not even be a thought. The idea of not putting one's child in school is preposterous. Every child goes to school, right? I mean, who would want to have their child home all day, every day?
If children were homeschooled would they even listen to your instruction? How would you control them? How would they learn anything valuable? Wouldn't it badly affect their future? Would they ever be able to go to college or get a good job?
If you have special needs children there must be no way you could ever homeschool them, right? How would that work? They need so much help. There is no way you can provide all they nee, right?
If I homeschooled my children would they ever have friends? Would they graduate high school? How would that affect them emotionally? Socially? Academically?
To me, it never was a choice. I was certain I would homeschool my children for all of their educational years. My husband thought we would only homeschool until 3rd grade. We ended up homeschooling from 2000 until 2006 then again 2009 until the present. We did put our children in public school for a bit and it was clearly a mistake to me. My husband thinks it was a lesson learned for both ourselves and our children.
Anyhow, it was a time I regret. This post is not about that though. This post is about how any one can homeschool and how everyone should.
You CAN homeschool. Anyone CAN homeschool. It only takes commitment. It requires nothing else.
Are you committed to your child's well being? Are you committed to helping them be a productive person in society? Are you committed to teaching them the ways of the Lord as the Bible describes? Then you MUST homeschool. It's the only way to ensure that your child will be the best they can be and that you have done everything to help them be that person.
As a believer, follower and acceptor of Jesus Christ can you honestly say you are doing everything possible for your child and still put them in public school? I cannot. My thoughts are simple. I'll state them in bullet points for you. These are strictly from a Christian born again perspective.
1 - If I am to the be the guiding force in my child's life, leading them to God's righteousness and ultimately to His gift of salvation, how can I do that while sending them away 8 hours a day?
2 - God instructs us to train up our children in the way of the Lord. How can I do that if I have no control over them for 8 hours a day?
3 - What influences are coming into my child's mind?
4 - Who are his friends and what are they talking about, watching, doing? How much of the world is being pressed on my child by his or her peers?
5 - What is the teacher teaching? What books are being read in class? What is being discussed and from what perspective?
6 - How much of what is influencing my child is pushing God out of the picture?
If I were to come from a non Christian perspective I might think things like how best might my child learn? Are they falling through the cracks of academic success? Might they learn better if they learn at their own pace? Might they be able to explore academic areas beyond those in the school? Or be able to delve more deeply into areas of interest? Is my child being held back; socially, academically, emotionally?
What can I do about those things? How best can I help my child be the person they are destined to be? How can I help my child be best they can be?
Homeschooling isn't seclusion. It isn't socially inept children. It is not public schooling at home. It is so much more!
It is about learning and loving to learn. It is about exploring and creating and broadening our horizons. It's about bringing the world in and learning about all it's facets. Using moments to teach not just text books. It's about living life.
I encourage every parent to homeschool. I encourage every parent to at least explore the idea - mull it over, process it, delve into the idea... see what it's outcome might be. Consider it before jumping to a conclusion that it's only right wing radical's who homeschool.Just don't, please don't dismiss it before considering it. Your child's life is at stake.
To some it's a choice. To some it's most certainly is not a choice at all. Some know right from the birth of their child that there is never really a choice IF they homeschool. To them it's a given that they will. To some, homeschooling may not even be a thought. The idea of not putting one's child in school is preposterous. Every child goes to school, right? I mean, who would want to have their child home all day, every day?
If children were homeschooled would they even listen to your instruction? How would you control them? How would they learn anything valuable? Wouldn't it badly affect their future? Would they ever be able to go to college or get a good job?
If you have special needs children there must be no way you could ever homeschool them, right? How would that work? They need so much help. There is no way you can provide all they nee, right?
If I homeschooled my children would they ever have friends? Would they graduate high school? How would that affect them emotionally? Socially? Academically?
To me, it never was a choice. I was certain I would homeschool my children for all of their educational years. My husband thought we would only homeschool until 3rd grade. We ended up homeschooling from 2000 until 2006 then again 2009 until the present. We did put our children in public school for a bit and it was clearly a mistake to me. My husband thinks it was a lesson learned for both ourselves and our children.
Anyhow, it was a time I regret. This post is not about that though. This post is about how any one can homeschool and how everyone should.
You CAN homeschool. Anyone CAN homeschool. It only takes commitment. It requires nothing else.
Are you committed to your child's well being? Are you committed to helping them be a productive person in society? Are you committed to teaching them the ways of the Lord as the Bible describes? Then you MUST homeschool. It's the only way to ensure that your child will be the best they can be and that you have done everything to help them be that person.
As a believer, follower and acceptor of Jesus Christ can you honestly say you are doing everything possible for your child and still put them in public school? I cannot. My thoughts are simple. I'll state them in bullet points for you. These are strictly from a Christian born again perspective.
1 - If I am to the be the guiding force in my child's life, leading them to God's righteousness and ultimately to His gift of salvation, how can I do that while sending them away 8 hours a day?
2 - God instructs us to train up our children in the way of the Lord. How can I do that if I have no control over them for 8 hours a day?
3 - What influences are coming into my child's mind?
4 - Who are his friends and what are they talking about, watching, doing? How much of the world is being pressed on my child by his or her peers?
5 - What is the teacher teaching? What books are being read in class? What is being discussed and from what perspective?
6 - How much of what is influencing my child is pushing God out of the picture?
If I were to come from a non Christian perspective I might think things like how best might my child learn? Are they falling through the cracks of academic success? Might they learn better if they learn at their own pace? Might they be able to explore academic areas beyond those in the school? Or be able to delve more deeply into areas of interest? Is my child being held back; socially, academically, emotionally?
What can I do about those things? How best can I help my child be the person they are destined to be? How can I help my child be best they can be?
Homeschooling isn't seclusion. It isn't socially inept children. It is not public schooling at home. It is so much more!
It is about learning and loving to learn. It is about exploring and creating and broadening our horizons. It's about bringing the world in and learning about all it's facets. Using moments to teach not just text books. It's about living life.
I encourage every parent to homeschool. I encourage every parent to at least explore the idea - mull it over, process it, delve into the idea... see what it's outcome might be. Consider it before jumping to a conclusion that it's only right wing radical's who homeschool.Just don't, please don't dismiss it before considering it. Your child's life is at stake.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Looking for help and toning it down.
Today is 9-11-12. Eleven years ago on 9-11-01 the world came to a halt... Everyone was glued to their tv or radio or phone. Everyone wanted to know what was going on and what was going to happen. Everyone was in shock.
Eleven years ago the world stopped... planes were banned from the skies... people were fearful of going outside. Eleven years ago the towers came down... planes shattered the fabric of our nations... people fled to God.
That was eleven years ago. Now people are running from God. They are running into a nightmare. On 9-11-12 things are drastically different then they used to be. When my parents were kids people were different. I never thought I would see such a change in people in my short life. Eleven years does make a difference. I have seen people turn towards the government for help when the government truly hasn't been able to fix anything in the past...
All these people looking for guidance from their government - where their really is none that is wholesome and true. It is a falsehood that people have been led into believing that the government has our best interests at heart and that it can help make things better... It confuses me... makes me sad... breaks my heart and crushes my soul...
Eleven years ago people did say why did God let this happen? No one was willing to see that through all our ignorance and our refusal to follow God bad things happen...
March 20, 2003 the US waged war on Iraq. We were searching for weapons of mass destruction but found none at the time. Saddam Hussein was eventually executed. People asked how could God all allow this man into power?
Decemeber 26, 2004 an 9.0 Earthquake and Tsunami slammed into the coastline of 11 countries, devastating the area. The world stopped to help those hit the worst.
August 23, 2005 - Hurricane Katrina devastated the US... People asked how God could allow this to happen to our great nation. People didn't like the answer many Christians gave. God is trying to wake up this country.
People wanted change so in 2008 Obama was elected President of the United States. Well, Americans, we received change and plenty of it.We have handed over to the government our freedoms in order to "allow" it to "protect" us.
We have no right to ask any of those questions. We have taken God out of the equation. We have removed Him from our homes, our schools, our government. We have even removed Him from ourselves... What right do we have to ask why?
Think of it this way. My best friend is Jennifer. I have know her for more then 16 years. We have been best friends almost from the start. We talk often, we have seen (and helped) each other raise each our kids. We have camped, partied, laughed and cried with each other. We are very close... If one day I decided I didn't need Jennifer around as much so I just stopped sharing my life with her as often. Over the next year we would get further apart and then one day probably stop talking regularly. She might call me and ask how have you been? Want to hang out again? I would say no thank you, I'm busy... If she asked another time, and then another time I might tell her that we've grown apart. We have different values and perspectives now. I don't need her as my friend anymore... We would stop talking to each other. If she tried to influence my life I might get annoyed and tell her not to..
Would I have a right to call Jen up one day after my son got hurt and blame her for it??? Would I have a right to tell Jen she is the reason my husband lost his job? Could I yell at her when my kids no longer know who she is? If an earthquake destroyed my home? If it rained?
NO!! NO!! NO!! I would have no such right!
BUT we have done just that to God.
We have removed God from our schools; kids can no longer gather for prayer meetings on public school grounds, Judges cannot have the Ten Commandments hanging in their courtrooms, one cannot pray before a commencement address. We have told our kids they are descendants of apes, that we are all from the primordial ooze. We tell our kids it's ok if you don't succeed - it's just great that you you played the game or that you tried or that you thought of it. We tell our kids we won't flunk them if they do not pass the subject. They tried and that is what is important. We don't want them to feel bad about themselves...
We do not hold our kids to a higher standard. We do not hold them accountable for their actions. We talk to them when they do wrong or we say it's just a phase. We do not punish let alone spank our children because it might hinder their creative spirits.
We remove God from all that we do, all that we say and all that we teach our children. Then we ask God why??? Why are all these bad things happening? I just do not understand where people think they have the right to ask why.
One day we will be judged. One day we will find out just how wrong we have been.
God allowed all that has happened to get us to search for Him again. He allowed us to come to harm so we will ask for healing, to seek His Wisdom, to search for understanding. But we still do not. We just shout and cry and get angry...
It saddens me deeply. It makes me cry. It makes me angry at people for telling me to tone down my beliefs. I have seen what toning down our beliefs has done to our country, to my fellow American, to my fellow Christian. Why then, would I want to tone it down?
I ask that you respect my beliefs and my right (and freedom) to share those same beliefs. I'm not telling you to agree. I'm not mad at you for choosing not to agree. I'm not telling you that you cannot share you own beliefs. I respect your right to do so. Please respect mine.
Eleven years ago the world stopped... planes were banned from the skies... people were fearful of going outside. Eleven years ago the towers came down... planes shattered the fabric of our nations... people fled to God.
That was eleven years ago. Now people are running from God. They are running into a nightmare. On 9-11-12 things are drastically different then they used to be. When my parents were kids people were different. I never thought I would see such a change in people in my short life. Eleven years does make a difference. I have seen people turn towards the government for help when the government truly hasn't been able to fix anything in the past...
All these people looking for guidance from their government - where their really is none that is wholesome and true. It is a falsehood that people have been led into believing that the government has our best interests at heart and that it can help make things better... It confuses me... makes me sad... breaks my heart and crushes my soul...
Eleven years ago people did say why did God let this happen? No one was willing to see that through all our ignorance and our refusal to follow God bad things happen...
March 20, 2003 the US waged war on Iraq. We were searching for weapons of mass destruction but found none at the time. Saddam Hussein was eventually executed. People asked how could God all allow this man into power?
Decemeber 26, 2004 an 9.0 Earthquake and Tsunami slammed into the coastline of 11 countries, devastating the area. The world stopped to help those hit the worst.
August 23, 2005 - Hurricane Katrina devastated the US... People asked how God could allow this to happen to our great nation. People didn't like the answer many Christians gave. God is trying to wake up this country.
People wanted change so in 2008 Obama was elected President of the United States. Well, Americans, we received change and plenty of it.We have handed over to the government our freedoms in order to "allow" it to "protect" us.
- Today the U.S. Debt = $15.5 trillion
- The U.S. debt is up 54% under President Obama in just over three years
- Unemployment has gone up
- Christian values have gone out the window
We have no right to ask any of those questions. We have taken God out of the equation. We have removed Him from our homes, our schools, our government. We have even removed Him from ourselves... What right do we have to ask why?
Think of it this way. My best friend is Jennifer. I have know her for more then 16 years. We have been best friends almost from the start. We talk often, we have seen (and helped) each other raise each our kids. We have camped, partied, laughed and cried with each other. We are very close... If one day I decided I didn't need Jennifer around as much so I just stopped sharing my life with her as often. Over the next year we would get further apart and then one day probably stop talking regularly. She might call me and ask how have you been? Want to hang out again? I would say no thank you, I'm busy... If she asked another time, and then another time I might tell her that we've grown apart. We have different values and perspectives now. I don't need her as my friend anymore... We would stop talking to each other. If she tried to influence my life I might get annoyed and tell her not to..
Would I have a right to call Jen up one day after my son got hurt and blame her for it??? Would I have a right to tell Jen she is the reason my husband lost his job? Could I yell at her when my kids no longer know who she is? If an earthquake destroyed my home? If it rained?
NO!! NO!! NO!! I would have no such right!
BUT we have done just that to God.
We have removed God from our schools; kids can no longer gather for prayer meetings on public school grounds, Judges cannot have the Ten Commandments hanging in their courtrooms, one cannot pray before a commencement address. We have told our kids they are descendants of apes, that we are all from the primordial ooze. We tell our kids it's ok if you don't succeed - it's just great that you you played the game or that you tried or that you thought of it. We tell our kids we won't flunk them if they do not pass the subject. They tried and that is what is important. We don't want them to feel bad about themselves...
We do not hold our kids to a higher standard. We do not hold them accountable for their actions. We talk to them when they do wrong or we say it's just a phase. We do not punish let alone spank our children because it might hinder their creative spirits.
We remove God from all that we do, all that we say and all that we teach our children. Then we ask God why??? Why are all these bad things happening? I just do not understand where people think they have the right to ask why.
One day we will be judged. One day we will find out just how wrong we have been.
God allowed all that has happened to get us to search for Him again. He allowed us to come to harm so we will ask for healing, to seek His Wisdom, to search for understanding. But we still do not. We just shout and cry and get angry...
It saddens me deeply. It makes me cry. It makes me angry at people for telling me to tone down my beliefs. I have seen what toning down our beliefs has done to our country, to my fellow American, to my fellow Christian. Why then, would I want to tone it down?
I ask that you respect my beliefs and my right (and freedom) to share those same beliefs. I'm not telling you to agree. I'm not mad at you for choosing not to agree. I'm not telling you that you cannot share you own beliefs. I respect your right to do so. Please respect mine.
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