Friday, July 2, 2010

You Have to Stop Sometime

I've been reading & buying a lot of books.  A lot for me, that it is.
Many people read many more books than I do.
I have been feeling pressure.  Pressure to be a better parent.
Not from an outside source.  From me knowing my own failures.
I need to stop collecting more to read.  At least until my pile shrinks significantly.

As much as I want to be educated & edified by others, 
the reality is, that's not the stuff that is really going to change me into a better parent.

There is something much more important.

I need to be faithful in prayer.  For my kids.  For myself.  For my husband.

I need to be meditating.  Day & night.  On the Words of God.

Reading books won't give me more patience.
It won't really make me wiser.  
It won't make me more gracious.
It won't make me more faithful.

If I want my children to faithfully love & follow God, 
the best thing I can do is pray & be an example of that very thing.

8 comments:

Stef said...

Amen to this post!

About 6 months ago I put away all my "extra" reading (as I like to call it) on the topics of marriage and child raising and decided to focus on those subjects through nothing but prayer and God's Word alone. Not that I won't ever return to extra reading... but I felt like I was turning too much to those things and not enough to the Word, prayer and then practice.

I've been adding to my collection ever since Jason got the job with Amazon... so I think this winter I'll begin doing more reading. I don't read very many books, since I'm a slow reader :(

big hair betty said...

I was wondering where you were after a week of not posting, but these last 2 posts have made me see that while not publishing it on the blog, you are still thinking about GREAT things! Thanks for the encouragement!

Stef said...

When I first read this, the photo didn't load, so I didn't even see your pile of books!
Tending the Heart of Virtue sounds like an interesting one! Have you read it yet? I'm curious to know what you thought about it, if you don't mind :-)

LindaFaye said...

Now that Abigail is past one I am just getting back into reading. It's fun, but I agree, God is the true source of change that matters.

Stephanie said...

When you do get around to reading that stack of books, let me know what you think of "Family Driven Faith." I've heard mixed reviews, but mostly positive. :)

stephanie@metropolitanmama.net

Erin said...

Stef,
I'm almost done with the Tending the Heart of Virtue & it is very good. I have learned so much about the classic children's stories. I've never really read any of them that he talks about, except Wind in the Willows. I've seen the Disney version of the stories & they just can't compare.
Stephanie,
I'll do a review on Family Driven Faith when I am done. (Who knows when that will be. Ha!) Scott & I are going to hear the author (Voddie Baucham) speak at a homeschool conference this month!

Erin said...

Stef,
I'm almost done with the Tending the Heart of Virtue & it is very good. I have learned so much about the classic children's stories. I've never really read any of them that he talks about, except Wind in the Willows. I've seen the Disney version of the stories & they just can't compare.
Stephanie,
I'll do a review on Family Driven Faith when I am done. (Who knows when that will be. Ha!) Scott & I are going to hear the author (Voddie Baucham) speak at a homeschool conference this month!

Stef said...

Amen to this post!

About 6 months ago I put away all my "extra" reading (as I like to call it) on the topics of marriage and child raising and decided to focus on those subjects through nothing but prayer and God's Word alone. Not that I won't ever return to extra reading... but I felt like I was turning too much to those things and not enough to the Word, prayer and then practice.

I've been adding to my collection ever since Jason got the job with Amazon... so I think this winter I'll begin doing more reading. I don't read very many books, since I'm a slow reader :(