The Same, But Different
Coming to the point of knowing everyone is the same, yet everyone is different may be what makes relationship with others work.
Let me explain:
In parenting, and in any other relationship, keeping the perspective that people are all the same is important. People, whether children or adults, male or female, are all the made of the same stuff. We all have good points and bad points. We all have needs and desires. We all have strong points and weak points. We all suffer from being tempted with particular things. We all have the ability to be saved. We all have what it takes to make it in life. We all have what it takes to blow it in life.
With so much similar, and so many things that make us all the same, we are also all different from each other.
We have different needs and desires. We have different strong points and weak points, different good points and bad points. We all react differently to different people and things, and all need people to treat us like we are individual and different from everyone else.
In light of those similarities and differences, parenting takes on a task that may seem hard at times, but is necessary in order for out kids to grow up to be who God created them to be.
We, as parents, need to be able to love our kids the same. Have no favorites, and show no partiality to one over another.
We also need to treat each child different from the others. The key to doing that effectively, is to work with the particular childs strengths and weakenesses. Recognize gifts, and know what discipline measures work best with each child.
This will take a willingness to love them all the same, while treating them as individuals and disciplining them on an as needed basis.
Sometimes it may mean that when you have a problem with one child, he will be grounded. If a different child gives you a similar problem, maybe grounding isn’t the thing that that child will respond to. Maybe instead you make him do extra work around the house.
Knowing your children intimately means that you are on top of knowing how they respond, treating them as being special with individual needs, and loving them all the same.
No one ever said that parenting would be easy. But it is definitely worth every bit of attention and time it can take.
Bringing up kids who know that you know they are not all alike, will give you adult children who appreciate your knowledge of their individuality.
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