Author	Thread: My Dear Child...
Admin	My Dear Child... Posted : 19 Oct, 2009 06:42 PM This letter was one of many forwards sent to my inbox, but it's a keeper and needs to be shared. For my son's 16th birthday I made him a birthday card with this letter written in it and addressed to him... My Dear Josh, I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn. I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you. I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it. I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe. I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you. I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside. I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you. I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you. I can teach you to respect, but I cannot force you to show honour. I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure. I can tell you about the facts of life, but I cannot build your reputation. I can tell you about drink, but I can�t say �no� for you. I can warn you about drugs, but I can�t prevent you from using them. I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can�t achieve them for you. I can teach you about kindness, but I can�t force you to be gracious. I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral. I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God�s family. I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God. I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord. I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life. I can love you unconditionally all my life, and I will. Always, Mom xox Post Reply
View Profile History	My Dear Child... Posted : 19 Oct, 2009 08:21 PM WOW..I really enjoyed reading it. I need to print It out and give It to my daughter when she Is old enough to really comprehend It. (she will be seven In November) Thanks for sharing. Post Reply
IMstarting_over View Profile History	My Dear Child... Posted : 20 Oct, 2009 06:54 PM What an awesome poem! Definitely a keeper. Thanks so much for sharing. Post Reply
Rosemarie00 View Profile History	My Dear Child... Posted : 26 Oct, 2009 01:31 PM Amen that is beautiful. My twin girls are all grown up and serving the Lord, married raising christian childern now. Keep on teaching your childern in the way they shall grow. I love that poem. Post Reply
Rosemarie00 View Profile History	My Dear Child... Posted : 26 Oct, 2009 01:38 PM I am a single mother now I am a single grandmother. lol. I pray that God will give you a husband to help you raise your childern to serve Jesus. It is a tough road to be a single mother, I raised twin girls and a son. and worked and had to give up things to raise my childern but it was all worth it to watch them grow into women of God and man of God. God bless you all. Remember that God is a father to the fatherless and a husband to you with out husbands. Until God finds you the right man for you and your childern remember that the wrong man is not the right one. Do not be in to much of a hurry. Post Reply
View Profile History	My Dear Child... Posted : 31 Oct, 2009 02:09 PM I really enjoyed reading the letter. I will definitely print it for my son & daughter, when they can fully understand the meaning. Sometimes, as a single mother I feel like I'm not helping my kids enough. It is unreal to have everything on my shoulders. I know the Lord will help me if I trust HIM. I'm still human. It is good to know I'm not alone in how I feel. Trying to be a christian mother-alone is hard. I love my kids so much and didn't want this for them. I pray the Lord will use it all for HIS good. Post Reply
View Profile History	My Dear Child... Posted : 5 Nov, 2009 03:54 PM There is so much truth in this. As parents we want to learn how to be discerning with our children, protecting them AND allowing them to make decisions and learn from consequences. Father God is perfect in His parenting and still we wander and stray away from Him. We can find rest and peace in knowing that He fully and completely understands the tension/fear we face as we take on the messy, uncertain, scary, life-altering adventure of parenting! Post Reply