Sweet Memories

The things we treasure in our hearts are memories we hold dear to us.  Each of us has a treasure of sweet memories from our past.  As an adult, my sweet memories are the times I spent with my parents, during my childhood years.

 One of my memories was my first bike. This was a gift from my father that he brought home, when I was in my preteen years. I recall the excitement of getting on the bike and falling, before he told me, “You have to balance the bike.” Having him there to give me encouraging words were the results of my learning to ride the bike, within 15 minutes without falling again. MY father was so proud!

Other memories were going fishing, with my parents. The first fish I caught was a catfish. My father took it off the hook, and placed it in a pail of water. He then, told me to touch the fish. When I did so, it moved, and that was a frightening experience. For a short period of time, I refused to touch a catfish. My parents told me, if I wanted to go fishing, I had to take all the fish I caught off the hook; and put the bait on the hook by myself. My father helped me to overcome the fear of touching a catfish. He taught me how to remove a catfish from the hook, without getting poked by the fins.

There are many sweet memories I treasure with my parents, among them are the games they played with me and my nieces and nephews, who are very close to my age. I am the youngest of my six siblings; most were teenagers and young adults when I was born; with the exception of my brother James, who is seven years older than I am.

My parents’ presence at the performances I gave in churches and in school was encouraging and supportive. I grew up on a large farm and enjoyed the space and fruit orchards, fields of vegetables, pecan and walnut trees, cows, horses, dog, and cat.

I am blessed to have had, two parents who loved me. God placed me in their lives, at a time when they did not think they would conceive another child. I lived with my parents until the age of 21, before getting married and pursuing my dreams.

My parents passed away several years ago, within a year apart.

The sweet memories of my parents still live on within my treasure of memories.

Written by Ellen J. Barrier

Please read:  Forever Young @ http://barriersbooksandassociates.com/2014/06/21/forever-young/

Using Children as Weapons in a Failed Relationship

Parents that use their children as weapons, to fight against each other are treating them as  their property. 

The Games Played: 

Intentionally using a child in defiance against another parent, to cause unhappiness

Deliberately overloading the other parent, with unnecessary childcare responsibilities

falsely claiming the child need more money for financial means

Making false accusations against the other parent character to the child, in an attempt to destroy the relationship between the child and that parent

To say negative things about the other parents in the presence of their child is wrong, placing too much financial responsibility on the other parent is also wrong. And it is also wrong to do things to cause the other parent unhappiness by intentionally overloading them with child care responsibilities.

Auguring in front of a child over child support and time spent with the child should never be done. To make a child feel as though they are property that is a burden for their parent, will cause the child to feel unloved.

Parents who do not try to make their child comfortable with both parents by sharing everything equal if possible, and treating each other civil, are causing unhappiness to their child who will have unpleasant memories of the parents.

Parents Are Expected to Teach Their Children Righteous Behavior by Being a Role Model

Scripture:

For I know that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him. (Genesis 18:19)

*Evil imaginations causes harm to others. Such things do not dwell in the mind of a righteous person.

Written by:  Ellen J. Barrier