Page 51 - COVID-19 and the Church_eBOOK_Color_07.16.2020_Neat

Maybe your parent(s) forced you to eat all of your
spinach, so you lash out when your child is finicky about
eating the well-balanced meal you so graciously prepared
for him or her. Or perhaps, because you got spanked for
receiving less than perfect grades in school, your kids
get spanked for not bringing home flawless report cards.
Maybe, because your parents never expressed their
love to you, and their harsh negative words and stone-
cold intonation pounded your fragile heart, you struggle
with your own self-worth. The greater problem is, now
your kids are having their tender hearts pounded just as
yours was. And, you can’t see it.
Sadly, you are continuing the cycle while hurting
your children. So, now your children are just as abused
as you were. Your child is now caught up in the spill-over
effects of your horrible childhood. You try to rationalize
your actions by saying, “This is how I was raised, and I
turned out just fine!” Oh really?

The truth is, not only were you left scarred, but
your children who had nothing to do with how you were
treated as a child, are “collateral damage.” Your parents
may have intentionally directed their frustrations and
hostilities towards you, but they have also indirectly
hurt your children in the process.
At some point in your life, your trust in your mate
may have been shattered when they cheated on you.
But, now your faithful and dedicated spouse must pay
for the sins of your previous mate, as their every move
and loyalty to you is challenged.
Your past can often affect who you are. You work
endlessly for the acceptance of others. And, you still fail
to meet their standards of acceptance. Sometimes you
may even find yourself struggling too hard to be accepted