Comments on: I count all things but loss. The knowledge of Christ Jesus. That I may win Christ. Philippians 3:8 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/10/22/i-count-all-things-but-loss-the-knowledge-of-christ-jesusthat-i-may-win-christphilippians-3-8/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Tue, 21 May 2013 19:41:23 +0000 hourly 1 By: Natalia Arzhantseva http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/10/22/i-count-all-things-but-loss-the-knowledge-of-christ-jesusthat-i-may-win-christphilippians-3-8/comment-page-1/#comment-2305 Natalia Arzhantseva Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:55:34 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1245#comment-2305 I am not a mother myself, and due to this it is not for me to speak up on this problem, but I have mother, and during my life & observed the attitude of parents to children, including on the example of my relatives, and first of all - my mother's attitude to me. I can say that her attitude was correct. Apart from love, she did not lose fare criticism, and if I was incorrect towards people, egoistic, she did not leave that without attention! Now I can appreciate that - as it is extremely difficult for a mother to deprive her child of something or keep objective consideration to his actions & inclinations. Oh, I can write a book about my mother, so I'd better stop now:-)) In many other cases parents justify everything their children do, in disputable situations they blame others. They cannot let even a thought that their child can be wrong. This is like worshiping an idol, and nothing good may come of it. Neither for parents, not for children. Nothing is that explanatory for children as personal examples of his parents. In this case their words have power, as they are reinforced by actions. If parents are merciful, humble, generous, if they love God, they have a chance to bring up a good child. To bring up children in Christ - is a great sacrifice, a great deed. It's close, I dare say, to Abraham's deed - by the extent of self-denial. And it will not remain without God's appraisal & blessing. I am not a mother myself, and due to this it is not for me to speak up on this problem, but I have mother, and during my life & observed the attitude of parents to children, including on the example of my relatives, and first of all – my mother’s attitude to me. I can say that her attitude was correct. Apart from love, she did not lose fare criticism, and if I was incorrect towards people, egoistic, she did not leave that without attention! Now I can appreciate that – as it is extremely difficult for a mother to deprive her child of something or keep objective consideration to his actions & inclinations. Oh, I can write a book about my mother, so I’d better stop now:-))

In many other cases parents justify everything their children do, in disputable situations they blame others. They cannot let even a thought that their child can be wrong. This is like worshiping an idol, and nothing good may come of it. Neither for parents, not for children.

Nothing is that explanatory for children as personal examples of his parents. In this case their words have power, as they are reinforced by actions. If parents are merciful, humble, generous, if they love God, they have a chance to bring up a good child.

To bring up children in Christ – is a great sacrifice, a great deed. It’s close, I dare say, to Abraham’s deed – by the extent of self-denial. And it will not remain without God’s appraisal & blessing.

]]> By: Deborah http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/10/22/i-count-all-things-but-loss-the-knowledge-of-christ-jesusthat-i-may-win-christphilippians-3-8/comment-page-1/#comment-2299 Deborah Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:48:41 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1245#comment-2299 This is a hard enough concept for adults to grasp--but it is especially hard to explain to children--that the love and pursuit of God must come before all else. Little children love their parents, grandparents and siblings with such a pure and intense love--it is sometimes hard for them (and for us) to understand why the love of God must come first. I once ran across a story in which a knight was explaining to his lady love why he had to leave her to go off to battle. She felt that he was abandoning her and putting his duty above his love for her. He said "I could not love you half so much, loved I not honor more." His sense of honor and his duty gave depth and meaning to his love for his lady. The story was used to explain how loving God is what enables us to truly love others. If we do not learn to love God, the Source of Love, above all else, we cannot truly love at all. This is a hard enough concept for adults to grasp–but it is especially hard to explain to children–that the love and pursuit of God must come before all else. Little children love their parents, grandparents and siblings with such a pure and intense love–it is sometimes hard for them (and for us) to understand why the love of God must come first.

I once ran across a story in which a knight was explaining to his lady love why he had to leave her to go off to battle. She felt that he was abandoning her and putting his duty above his love for her. He said “I could not love you half so much, loved I not honor more.” His sense of honor and his duty gave depth and meaning to his love for his lady. The story was used to explain how loving God is what enables us to truly love others. If we do not learn to love God, the Source of Love, above all else, we cannot truly love at all.

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