Monday, February 16, 2009

Translation

Just because I've heard that picture won't open larger. Here is what the newspaper clipping I posted below says:

"Oh heavenly Father, make me a better parent. Help me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say and to answer all questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them and contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me. Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and ask their forgiveness, when I know that I have done wrong.
"May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my children. Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes, or resort to shame and ridicule as punishment. Let me not tempt a child to lie and steal. So guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness.
"Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. May I cease to nag; and when I am out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue. Blind me to the little errors of my children and help me to see the good things that they do. Give me a ready word for honest praise.
"Help me to treat my children as those of their own age, but let me not exact of them the judgments and conventions of adults. Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity to wait upon themselves, to think, to choose and to make their own decisions.
"Forbid that I should even punish them for my own selfish satisfaction. May I grant them all their wishes that are reasonable and have the courage always to withhold a privilege which I know will do them harm.
"Make me so fair and just, so considerate and companionable to my children that they will have geniuine esteem for me. Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children. Oh God, do give me calm and poise and self control."

1 comments:

Hillybug said...

This is so sweet! I miss Granny so much. I think of her at least once a day and always feel like she is close by! Erica and I talk about her when we get together and I try to talk to my kids about her too so her memory will stay alive! I know it will for Tess when she has to explain Esto to her friends! :)