I re-read this today and gave it some thought. Perhaps one reason you've not been able to build a community is because you're so closed off. There is no picture in your "About Me" section. We don't know your name, or where you live. It makes it much more difficult to connect if the other person holds others at arms' length.
Hello friends,
I received this comment a few days ago. When it showed up on my cell phone as comments do, it was stunning. The reason was because I knew she was right. I have often thought the same thing about this blog myself. The reason I hold people at arm's length is because a part of me still hopes and prays that one day my girls will come to their senses. They will wake up and realize what a mess they have made of their lives, and they will decide to change. And when that happens, I would rather them have the opportunity to do so without everyone else knowing all the mistakes they have made. I know some people know. Because they tell us lots of things. But no one knows everything they do. Even I don't know everything. And I hope one day they will deserve a second chance and be able to start a new life. I realize that I don't have a lot of followers here. But people do stop by and read what is going on here. Sometimes I'm amazed at the views a day has. I wonder about it. Do the viewers also have children they don't know what to do with? Or are they just checking in to see when I will come to my senses, or lose my mind. When I don't show up for a few days, do they wonder if I ran away? I know I worry sometimes about the bloggers I read about, if they are missing for a while.
So anyway, I hope to become closer to the people who visit here. I feel I am drifting closer to the place where I will be less concerned about being anonymous, and more concerned about being able to help others who may feel they are in a similar situation as I am.
Thank you for all the comments, and especially for the one above. I appreciate you taking time to share with me your thoughts. And for taking time to think of my family. By the way, my name is Dawn, and I live somewhere in the South.
Please every one be safe during this terrible hurricane. I have already received prayer requests from some groups I am affiliated with or lead. I pray you all are safe.
Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for this wonderful day. Thank you for your son, Jesus, who died so we all could have eternal life. Thank you, Lord, for the readers who encourage me so often. Please bless them, Lord.
Lord, I know you know that Courtney seems to be doing better lately. Every time I hear from her she seems happy and more like her old self. Lord, stay with her, and guide her to the place you have chosen for her. She has started daily study in your word. She is also sharing her faith with others. Lord, help her to continue to grow in her relationship with you.
Lord, Molly is stumbling. I know so many things that I can't share. I pray that you will keep your arms around Molly. Lord help her to see that the ones she thinks are her friends, are not. They just want what ever she has to give. Please let her keep herself safe and apart from the ones she calls her friends. I pray, Lord, that she will not get in trouble with the law, because of the ones she is running around with. But if that has to happen Lord, to pull her back to us, then I know you will keep her safe.
Guide, guard, and direct us, Lord. Amen
So anyway, I hope to become closer to the people who visit here. I feel I am drifting closer to the place where I will be less concerned about being anonymous, and more concerned about being able to help others who may feel they are in a similar situation as I am.
Thank you for all the comments, and especially for the one above. I appreciate you taking time to share with me your thoughts. And for taking time to think of my family. By the way, my name is Dawn, and I live somewhere in the South.
Please every one be safe during this terrible hurricane. I have already received prayer requests from some groups I am affiliated with or lead. I pray you all are safe.
Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for this wonderful day. Thank you for your son, Jesus, who died so we all could have eternal life. Thank you, Lord, for the readers who encourage me so often. Please bless them, Lord.
Lord, I know you know that Courtney seems to be doing better lately. Every time I hear from her she seems happy and more like her old self. Lord, stay with her, and guide her to the place you have chosen for her. She has started daily study in your word. She is also sharing her faith with others. Lord, help her to continue to grow in her relationship with you.
Lord, Molly is stumbling. I know so many things that I can't share. I pray that you will keep your arms around Molly. Lord help her to see that the ones she thinks are her friends, are not. They just want what ever she has to give. Please let her keep herself safe and apart from the ones she calls her friends. I pray, Lord, that she will not get in trouble with the law, because of the ones she is running around with. But if that has to happen Lord, to pull her back to us, then I know you will keep her safe.
Guide, guard, and direct us, Lord. Amen
Hi, Dawn. You may not realize how nice it is to be able to begin a comment this way, but it makes a huge difference. Your reasons for how you've written so far are understandable; I just suspect that there are ways you can keep some privacy for your offspring and be more unreserved that will garner other parents to form your community.
ReplyDeleteAs for my children, while there are no outright prodigals, they do have problems as well.
#2 son was adopted and although it wasn't diagnosed when he was young, has all the symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder. He lives in another state and we're never quite sure how he's doing.
#2 daughter is doing best of the five, but isn't a believer nor interested in church, despite being raised that way.
#3 daughter is also adopted. She's working and not in any overt trouble now, although she's had some bad, scary things in the past. Now she's all right, but not close to any of us in her immediate family, no matter who or how or how often we reach out.
#1 son was doing well but made a truly stupid mistake and is now struggling with the results of that (a lost job) and is very depressed.
#2 daughter has been a mess for years, again no drugs or illegal stuff but no job and other sad and unnecessary things going on, things I've been praying about for nearly nine years now.
It's hard to see your children struggle, no one gets that better than I do. I will continue to pray for Courtney and Molly for the Holy Spirit to pierce their hearts with the knowledge of how much they're loved and valued by the Creator so they're inspired to turn back to the Lord.