Comments on: Teaching Excellence: We Need More Daniels

By: Sbelle

Sbelle — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:03:37 +0000

An inspiring post. I agree that the more parents teach their young children responsibility, the better off they will be. Teaching responsibility around the house, responsibility as a person, etc.

My 19-month old helps pick up his toys, and whenever he puts something out of place, he is instructed to put it back, and he promptly does so. It has started to become ingrained in him, and he puts things back without being told to do so.

I pray that I can raise my children with a desire and diligence to reach for excellence in their character and responsibilities.

By: Kim M.

Kim M. — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:45:21 +0000

I have thought about this a lot… especially in the past few months. Daniel and the three Hebrew boys ….wow… fabulous examples for our young people to follow. Thank you for this post!

By: Bethany Hudson

Bethany Hudson — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:39:16 +0000

authenticallyme- Let me tackle each question individually:
1. I never meant that self-help books weren’t “allowed,” just that most of them are not of much use for a Christian. They tend to tell spew a lot of rhetoric about “reaching inside and drawing from our own spirits.” While I believe that God does use His graces to strengthen the spirit that is already within us, I have learned from experience that that grace is VITAL; I can’t just rely on my inner reserves; I need His strength. I need Him to be strong in my weakness. Certainly, there is nothing “wrong” with psychology or self-help, but what the Christian realizes she needs most of all is “God-help”. That’s all I meant.
2. What I perhaps meant was “losing our independence.” We do not lose our uniqueness and humanity in becoming Christians, but we do yield that completely to the Father, and we often find ourselves quite changed people who no longer run their own shows but allow Him to change us to be more like Him. I think our “individuality” is also redefined when we give ourselves to Christ. The “character” I had built up for myself before yielding to Him is certainly very different from the individual I am now. Does that make sense? Certainly, we’re not supposed to become cookie-cutter zombies or something; but we also make the choice, in choosing Christ, to become less our vision of ourselves and more His vision of ourselves.
~Bethany

By: authenticallyme

authenticallyme — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:00:55 +0000

I agree that mediocrity is alive and well on earth, but Im not sure how we can be sure it wasnt always here. Unfortunately, back in the 1800′s, if a parent *was* mediocre, he or she probably wasnt going to be the one writing a book…..so we are left with all the ‘good examples’ in print. When I read the bible there are so many reasons to believe many people didnt understand the standard….otherwise Paul wouldnt have had so much to say in his letters to them all. I dont think ‘we’ breed mediocrity; sin does. It sounds like many who post here are really doing their part as best they can any given day, so perhaps it isnt as awful as we think? I know there is a natural endency toward further decay as the world spins another day on its axis….so sure things have gotten WORSE….but my thoughts are moreso that mediocrity has always been a problem….in everything. Its human nature.

Bethany, I would be interested to hear your understanding on two questions of mine….which I asked myself when reading your post….I know we cant ‘do it on our own’, but why arent self-help books allowed? Are all self help books somehow piled into one pile? I mean my friend read a ton of self help books on sexual abuse because it pertained to her past, which was affecting her present, yet she is healing and attests to that. But, maybe you were speaking in context. The second question is about individuality….why must we lose our individuality? I am not sure again, what angle you are saying that from, so perhaps I misunderstand or dont grasp the full effect? Maybe I understand about losing some ‘freedoms’ while under character construction, but in my mind I dont think God wants to destroy our individuality-after all, He created us all so different and diverse. For me, character refining and individuality can dually work alongside the other, without either operation ‘suffering’ or losing its ‘salt’. I am really trying to understand….thanks for any consideration.

(Kelly, if you would prefer, I could email Bethany personally….I do not want to ‘sidetrack’ your blog….as much as lies within me;)

By: Luci

Luci — Sun, 17 May 2009 05:28:06 +0000

Kelly,
Have you ever read Richard Weaver’s “Ideas Have Consequences”? I’ve noticed that many of your posts seem to echo what he says. If you’ve not read it, I think you’d enjoy it very much – it’s not that long, either, which is good for busy days!

By: liz

liz — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:22:29 +0000

LOVE this post.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:47:55 +0000

Love this, Kelly!! Spot on.

Andrea

By: Bethany Hudson

Bethany Hudson — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:42:48 +0000

Sometimes I think that, in this age of self-love, we forget that we are indeed called to excellence: we are called to be saints; to be made perfect as He is perfect and holy as He is holy. Of course, this work can’t be done on our own (no self-help books allowed!), which makes it even less appealing to our culture. Die to self? Lose your individuality while an unseen Father changes and refines your character? And, I think you’re right, Kelly: It begins with God, but His primary tools for children are us, parents. We cannot neglect our duties.
~Bethany