I for one appreciated this article and the timeliness of it. I am writing a talk for Father's Day and appreciated it! I think we all struggle at times with the human, imperfect Father we have vs the Father that we wish we had.
Fuller'sJune 17, 2016
I think this article is spot on for many people! Not everyone grew up in a family with love and kindness. Especially important as the LDS Church grows and new folks join all over the globe. Many have less than stellar parents and sadly much abuse occurs all over in any group of people, our Church included. As adults, moving forward can be tough - and sometimes it takes years to forgive and move on from abuse. Sometimes it never happens but dealing with it in a positive way as an adult helps heal old wounds. Pres. Benson said when we do the right thing, matters in life fall into place or fall out of our life. Many times that person who abused us falls out of our life and that's not a bad thing. Unless you know firsthand or had a close personal relationship with someone who was abused - don't underestimate the destruction childhood abuse creates. Good article to remind us to be sensitive and compassionate to other's plights....
TrishJune 16, 2016
Jessica, I don't think sister Isaacson meant to imply that all dads are terrible. She was merely acknowledging the fact that some children are unfortunately raised under less than ideal circumstances. I was blessed to have had a wonderful dad, but I also have been a witness to cruel parenting by moms and dads. It's something that too many people have to deal with. This article is important for those who struggle with family issues to let them know they're not alone and to help them find peace.
JessicaJune 16, 2016
Here's an article on fathers that seems to be what we ought to be focusing on this Father's Day:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/fathers?cid=HP_TU_7-6-2016_dPFD_fGC_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng
JessicaJune 16, 2016
Wow. This article is shocking. Great article for Father's Day. It makes it sound like dads are inherently terrible! It takes the angle society has taken that dads are idiotic and cruel. It makes it sound like dads are the only ones we need to forgive, even though our moms do plenty of unkind things! If we're always looking for the flaws, we'll find them...in anybody!
My dad was a bonehead, and he was the most wonderful man I ever knew. I got spankings, I got chewed out, and there were times I wished he were dead, but I love him dearly for all he did and appreciate him all the more now that I'm a parent.
And for Phil (the person who dreaded his 6 o'clock father return) - where was your mother during all this terror? If you're going to harbor ill-will to your father for disciplining, you ought to harbor just as much ill-will to your mother who left the disciplining to your dad, Instead of looking for reasons to resent your dad, why not spend a minute and think about the good he did. If you can't think of anything, maybe your glass of life truly is half-empty.
Malea HansenJune 16, 2016
An article like this should also include the fact that forgiveness does NOT always mean reconciliation! If it was in there I somehow missed it. And to so many dealing with various forms of abuse from a father this is an important piece of the puzzle. Sweet forgiveness blesses you with the peace to move forward and live - but reconciliation is not a requirement to finding that peace.
Jean RogersJune 15, 2016
Wow! This is very powerful. I knew my earthly father loved me but he was very old school. I had to learn that our Heavenly Father is not someone who carries a big stick and is ready to wack us every time we make a mistake. He's someone who is all wise and powerful and loves us very much. He's ready to run to us and help lift us to do better. I know our conception of our Father in Heaven affects our every day lives. This was an excellent article.
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Christine BJune 18, 2016
I for one appreciated this article and the timeliness of it. I am writing a talk for Father's Day and appreciated it! I think we all struggle at times with the human, imperfect Father we have vs the Father that we wish we had.
Fuller'sJune 17, 2016
I think this article is spot on for many people! Not everyone grew up in a family with love and kindness. Especially important as the LDS Church grows and new folks join all over the globe. Many have less than stellar parents and sadly much abuse occurs all over in any group of people, our Church included. As adults, moving forward can be tough - and sometimes it takes years to forgive and move on from abuse. Sometimes it never happens but dealing with it in a positive way as an adult helps heal old wounds. Pres. Benson said when we do the right thing, matters in life fall into place or fall out of our life. Many times that person who abused us falls out of our life and that's not a bad thing. Unless you know firsthand or had a close personal relationship with someone who was abused - don't underestimate the destruction childhood abuse creates. Good article to remind us to be sensitive and compassionate to other's plights....
TrishJune 16, 2016
Jessica, I don't think sister Isaacson meant to imply that all dads are terrible. She was merely acknowledging the fact that some children are unfortunately raised under less than ideal circumstances. I was blessed to have had a wonderful dad, but I also have been a witness to cruel parenting by moms and dads. It's something that too many people have to deal with. This article is important for those who struggle with family issues to let them know they're not alone and to help them find peace.
JessicaJune 16, 2016
Here's an article on fathers that seems to be what we ought to be focusing on this Father's Day: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/fathers?cid=HP_TU_7-6-2016_dPFD_fGC_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng
JessicaJune 16, 2016
Wow. This article is shocking. Great article for Father's Day. It makes it sound like dads are inherently terrible! It takes the angle society has taken that dads are idiotic and cruel. It makes it sound like dads are the only ones we need to forgive, even though our moms do plenty of unkind things! If we're always looking for the flaws, we'll find them...in anybody! My dad was a bonehead, and he was the most wonderful man I ever knew. I got spankings, I got chewed out, and there were times I wished he were dead, but I love him dearly for all he did and appreciate him all the more now that I'm a parent. And for Phil (the person who dreaded his 6 o'clock father return) - where was your mother during all this terror? If you're going to harbor ill-will to your father for disciplining, you ought to harbor just as much ill-will to your mother who left the disciplining to your dad, Instead of looking for reasons to resent your dad, why not spend a minute and think about the good he did. If you can't think of anything, maybe your glass of life truly is half-empty.
Malea HansenJune 16, 2016
An article like this should also include the fact that forgiveness does NOT always mean reconciliation! If it was in there I somehow missed it. And to so many dealing with various forms of abuse from a father this is an important piece of the puzzle. Sweet forgiveness blesses you with the peace to move forward and live - but reconciliation is not a requirement to finding that peace.
Jean RogersJune 15, 2016
Wow! This is very powerful. I knew my earthly father loved me but he was very old school. I had to learn that our Heavenly Father is not someone who carries a big stick and is ready to wack us every time we make a mistake. He's someone who is all wise and powerful and loves us very much. He's ready to run to us and help lift us to do better. I know our conception of our Father in Heaven affects our every day lives. This was an excellent article.
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