What We Do .... and ...

I have been young and now I am old.  I was a child.  I had parents.  I grew up.  I became a parent and had children.  My chidren now have children.

When I was a child, I didn't always understand why I could or could not do things.  Even though I don't doubt that my parents loved me, I never felt they understood me.  I felt they were afraid of who I was and what I wanted to do.

So, I became rebellious and judgemental.  I hid things from them that I felt they would not approve of me doing.  I acted one way around them and another way around my friends.  I lived a double life ... a lie.  I knew how to act religious.  I knew the right answers to give.  I could play the game well!

Then, one day I had a real relationship with Jesus and my right actions became who I was.  I no longer lived the double life.

As an adult, I determined that my parents didn't know what they were doing as parents and so I did not allow them to keep my children.  Of course, the fact that we didn't live close to them helped.  I was very critical of them.  They were human.  They made mistakes.  They were not perfect.  But, they did the best they knew how to do.  Even though they have never been anything but loving and kind to me and my children,  I made a life judgement and decision that was not right!

I was blessed with four children.  I did my best to raise Godly children that knew right from wrong.  I did my best to shield them from evil.  I tried every way I could to show them I loved them.  I failed miserably at times.  I made many mistakes.  I was far from perfect!

And .... the seeds that I sowed came back to me. .... hahahaha

Don't get me wrong!  I have very very good children, who are now adults!  I am very proud of my children and who they have become.  I couldn't ask for more!  They are doing a good job as parents.  I do get to keep my grandchildren. That is such a joy and blessing! 

Of course, they disagree with some of the way we did things.  That's okay because I might disagree with they way they do things!  But, the thing is, I have learned to let them be the parents.  To let them make thier own mistakes.

What I have seen and learned through the years is that there is much much truth in what goes around, comes around.  What you do WILL come back to you.  Judge not, because you will be judged for the same thing with the same measure you judged.

We don't realize the cost of our judgements.  We don't realize the value of grace and mercy.  We can't calculate the enormous impact that our actions, words, judgments, criticism, love done today, will have on our future and future generations.

So, let me encourage you.  If you have been judgemental, critical, mean, foolish, etc, it is extremely important that you stop.  It is imperative that you repent and ask for forgiveness.  It is necessary that you don't continue.  This is the only way that you will stop the cycle and the curse from coming to land and bearing fruit that is undesirable.

If you want a life of blessing and love, it is possible.   All you have to do is live that way.  Offer understanding.  Offer acceptance.  Offer forgiveness.  Offer love and blessings!  

You will not have regrets!