The Orchid Journal

Let me remind you of a profound fact: You are not God. No matter how hard you try to never hurt or disappoint your child, you are too utterly capable of failing miserably in everything you do. Because they themselves are also sinful individuals and they live amongst a planet full of sinful individuals, you can guarantee that your child will end up in counseling someday, despite your best efforts. Rather than discouraging you to the point of adopting a “Why bother trying then?” attitude, I present this proposition: Embracing the reality that you will make mistakes will actually free you to be a better parent! If, as mentioned in part one, you are responsible for teaching a child how to function in the world as a human being, then your representation of an equally flawed human living in the world makes you an opportune teacher. When you make a mistake, you can demonstrate the healing qualities of saying, “I'm sorry.” When the child hurts you, you can demonstrate the bl...

In parenting, there is often the tendency to imprint upon your child all of your personal aspirations and opinions as to who and what the child must become as an adult. You consider yourself the artist, destined with the role of creating a masterpiece! You imagine that God has plopped down in your lap this impressionable child, a blank canvas, upon which God Almighty has chosen YOU to paint your perfect idea of what this child will become in the world. I hate to burst your grandiose bubble, but God himself is the artist. He has already painted the picture far better than you could ever dream of creating. No, your job as parent is not one of artist, but of restorer. Think of the restorer in an art museum. A wealthy benefactor has donated a priceless Rembrandt painting to the museum. Alas, due to neglect and exposure to the elements, the painting is in sore need of restoration. The restorer's task is to slowly and painstakingly restore the original painting to its intend...