re: Bible Accountability

Quoting lolajessup:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Momma Snell:</b>" Okay, I'm going to type this out just as I ... [snip!] ... and bad feelings towards them. I don't know how to forgive them when my heart still hurts from te things they have done."

Forgiveness is a choice for sure. I've learned that you can forgive some one but not necessarily have much to do with them. KWIM. Like I've been pretty hurt by my in laws but I forgave them(event though they don't think they did anything wrong) and I have continue to have a civil relationship with them. However it's not what it used to be and it may never be that way again. I'm just no longer hurt by them because I don't allow their actions to hurt me. I do keep my heart guarded where they are concerned.
So basically what I'm trying to say is, you can forgive someone and choose to not have them be apart of your life.

Quoting lolajessup:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Momma Snell:</b>" Okay, I'm going to type this out just as I ... [snip!] ... and bad feelings towards them. I don't know how to forgive them when my heart still hurts from te things they have done."

*hugs* I still struggle with whether or not I've really forgiven my father. He was incredibly abusive, ignored the abuse I mentioned above, and shot himself when I was 16 - only to live through it & maintain his abusive attitude.

What I'm realizing is that forgiveness isn't an emotion. Just as love isn't an emotion, but a choice. Sometimes we have to make that choice over and over, and eventually, our emotions may follow.

Do you guys do any family devotions or anything? I'm wanting to get a family devotional book, or something, for us to read each morning at breakfast. I've been looking at this one, but I'm not sure..



I just saw that I can get it on my kindle, too.....makes it so much easier to click & buy! lol.

<blockquote><b>Quoting The Blissful Six:</b>" Forgiveness is a choice for sure. I've learned that you can forgive some one but not necessarily have ... [snip!] ... concerned. So basically what I'm trying to say is, you can forgive someone and choose to not have them be apart of your life. "</blockquote>

Yeah thats what our pastor said. We talked to him a long time ago and he said forgiveness doesnt always mean just Letting them continue to hurt you. It means not letting them affect your life anymore. But I just feel like the only way to do that is to not talk to SOs parents. I feel like if I let them in at all well become vulnerable to their pain again and I just don't want that for my family ever again. It's hard to decide how to forgive them I guess. SO talks to them and it makes me uncomfortable because I'm afraid of being hurt again.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Momma Snell:</b>" *hugs* I still struggle with whether or not I've really forgiven my father. He was incredibly abusive, ... [snip!] ... isn't an emotion, but a choice. Sometimes we have to make that choice over and over, and eventually, our emotions may follow. "</blockquote>

That's how my dad was when I was a teenager. Our relationship is much better since we don't live together. But after he quit being an alcoholic e got really angry. Idk why. Usually it's opposite. But when he was a drunk he was gona at the bar a lot and was a happy go lucky drunk. Then he quit after almost killing someone and just turned into a complete jerk, controlling, abusive, etc. ifk maybe e was depressed? I have forgiven him. It doesn't bother me anymore. Idk maybe it takes time to forgive. Time to let the wounds heal.

Has anyone not told their children that there is a Santa, or know of a family who didn't? DH and I agreed that we are not going to do the whole Santa thing. While DS is only five months, I'm already dreading being the parent who's kid goes around telling all the other kids he's not real. I'm just curious as to how other people may have gone about it.

Quoting MiniMansMamma:" Has anyone not told their children that there is a Santa, or know of a family who didn't? DH and I agreed ... [snip!] ... who's kid goes around telling all the other kids he's not real. I'm just curious as to how other people may have gone about it."

We sort of did the Santa thing. We didn't make it about Santa but we didn't dismiss him either. Christmas in our house has always been about Jesus and family. But we did go visit Santa at the mall and get a picture. Christmas morning one present would be from Santa..the rest from us. But the kids were smart..they kinda figured it out on their own. My older one told my younger ones and they didn't care at all. They were all like "oh that makes sense!" We just told them it wasn't their place to tell other kids at school. Those kid's parents would tell them when they felt the time was right.

Quoting MiniMansMamma:" Has anyone not told their children that there is a Santa, or know of a family who didn't? DH and I agreed ... [snip!] ... who's kid goes around telling all the other kids he's not real. I'm just curious as to how other people may have gone about it."

We don't do the Santa thing. However, our kids are kids, and they notice the santa thing pretty quickly. My daughter really likes him, but she's told me, "Santa is pretend. He's just fun. Right mom?" So, while we don't do the santa thing, we don't refrain from talking about it.

My favorite thing about our Christmas is our countdown! We do a random act of kindness each day, from Dec 1-25th. We started it last year and it was amazing!!

Quoting The Blissful Six:" We sort of did the Santa thing. We didn't make it about Santa but we didn't dismiss him either. Christmas ... [snip!] ... them it wasn't their place to tell other kids at school. Those kid's parents would tell them when they felt the time was right."

My little sister leaves cookies with a note that says, "Santa, I know you're busy, but please take a few to Jesus for his birthday." It's always kind of cracked me up  


We bake Jesus a birthday cake on christmas eve, and eat it as we open presents (which, this year we're getting the kids 4 gifts each a big change from
previous years!)

Quoting Momma Snell:" We don't do the Santa thing. However, our kids are kids, and they notice the santa thing pretty quickly. ... [snip!] ... is our countdown! We do a random act of kindness each day, from Dec 1-25th. We started it last year and it was amazing!! "

What kind of things did you do?

Quoting Jax.:" What kind of things did you do?"

Oh man...okay..

Walked around neighborhood to pick up trash.
Give person in grocery store behind you 5$ giftcard.
Drive around and find house with best christmas lights, bake and take them cookies to say thank you (this one ROCKS!)
Leave change taped to vending machine.
Take cookies to fire station.
Write a "thank you" letter to our Pastor

and a ton more I'm forgetting! I need to sit down and make a plan for it again. It was amazing.

Quoting Momma Snell:" Oh man...okay.. Walked around neighborhood to pick up trash. Give person in grocery store behind ... [snip!] ... you" letter to our Pastor and a ton more I'm forgetting! I need to sit down and make a plan for it again. It was amazing."

I remember you talking about this last year. Awesome. Some one gave us a toy at a grocery store two years ago. We didn't necessarily need it but I think they just wanted to bless people so we accepted..

Quoting Momma Snell:" Oh man...okay.. Walked around neighborhood to pick up trash. Give person in grocery store behind ... [snip!] ... you" letter to our Pastor and a ton more I'm forgetting! I need to sit down and make a plan for it again. It was amazing."

These are some of the things DH and I have had in mind. And I love the birthday cake for Jesus!
We won't mind talking about Santa with him, I just plan to explain him sort of like Peter Pan or Snow White... if that makes any sence. We've had a bit of a baby boom at our church, I think I'm just looking for a way to prevent my child from being the one who "spoils" it for all the other kids.
I got a couple more years to worry I suppose, lol. Or talk the other parents into doing the same thing, hahahaha.

Quoting MiniMansMamma:" These are some of the things DH and I have had in mind. And I love the birthday cake for Jesus! We ... [snip!] ... other kids. I got a couple more years to worry I suppose, lol. Or talk the other parents into doing the same thing, hahahaha. "

When Santa is around, even though my daughter knows he isn't real, she's so caught up in the excitement of it that I don't worry she'll spoil it.

Quoting Momma Snell:" When Santa is around, even though my daughter knows he isn't real, she's so caught up in the excitement of it that I don't worry she'll spoil it. "

So there is hope