Comments on: Father’s Day http://putmeinabox.com/2009/06/fathers-day/ AND I'LL GET OUT Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:20:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Rosemary http://putmeinabox.com/2009/06/fathers-day/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Rosemary Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:26:02 +0000 http://putmeinabox.com/2009/06/16/#comment-15 Anne, I agree with what Judith says--you don't have to have the same kind of faith as your mom, but you do take it seriously. Judith, yes, I definitely had some variety. We were members of so many different churches and of course visited even more. So from that I learned there was definitely more than one way to do church. That's something my mother made very clear to me. On the other hand, my stepfather really seemed to believe there was only one way to do church, and if we didn't go to his church we were unequivocally going to the wrong church. I think he softened in later years and at least seemed to concede that we were also true Christians even if we didn't choose the same church. He also taught me so much about dealing with adversity and his faith held him up through many hardships (future post idea here about my great dislike of the proponents of "prosperity gospel"). Like Anne and her mother, I know my faith is not the same as my stepfather, but I still learn from his legacy. Anne, I agree with what Judith says–you don’t have to have the same kind of faith as your mom, but you do take it seriously.

Judith, yes, I definitely had some variety. We were members of so many different churches and of course visited even more. So from that I learned there was definitely more than one way to do church. That’s something my mother made very clear to me. On the other hand, my stepfather really seemed to believe there was only one way to do church, and if we didn’t go to his church we were unequivocally going to the wrong church. I think he softened in later years and at least seemed to concede that we were also true Christians even if we didn’t choose the same church. He also taught me so much about dealing with adversity and his faith held him up through many hardships (future post idea here about my great dislike of the proponents of “prosperity gospel”). Like Anne and her mother, I know my faith is not the same as my stepfather, but I still learn from his legacy.

]]> By: Judith http://putmeinabox.com/2009/06/fathers-day/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Judith Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:44:15 +0000 http://putmeinabox.com/2009/06/16/#comment-13 Anne, you may not practice your faith the same way as your mother, but you live it seriously. You grapple with the hard stuff, but you haven't abandoned it. That honors what she gave you. And even if someday in the future you decide you must cast it off...you are leaving your own legacy. Anne, you may not practice your faith the same way as your mother, but you live it seriously. You grapple with the hard stuff, but you haven’t abandoned it. That honors what she gave you. And even if someday in the future you decide you must cast it off…you are leaving your own legacy.

]]> By: Anne http://putmeinabox.com/2009/06/fathers-day/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Anne Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:29:49 +0000 http://putmeinabox.com/2009/06/16/#comment-9 I worry that my doubts will some how reflect on my Mother's legacy of faith. She had a great faith, and mine is nothing like hers. Can mine still be a great faith? I worry that my doubts will some how reflect on my Mother’s legacy of faith. She had a great faith, and mine is nothing like hers. Can mine still be a great faith?

]]> By: Judith http://putmeinabox.com/2009/06/fathers-day/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Judith Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:26:02 +0000 http://putmeinabox.com/2009/06/16/#comment-7 Certainly, our parents' faith has a big impact on us spiritually, especially in our early years. Along with their personal faith, the spiritual environment(s) they chose to expose or not expose us to count for a lot. Anne, I know you often talk about the way your childhood church strongly imprinted you. And Rosemary, you have had a wide variety of influences. Surely this helps us form our own way. We make mental notes about what we liked and didn't like. We notice the things our parents approve and don't approve of. We feel rebellious we we stake out new territory. And unfortunately, many of us (especially daughters) still seek our parents' stamp of approval on our life decisions and religious choices. It is a psychological journey as well. Certainly, our parents’ faith has a big impact on us spiritually, especially in our early years. Along with their personal faith, the spiritual environment(s) they chose to expose or not expose us to count for a lot. Anne, I know you often talk about the way your childhood church strongly imprinted you. And Rosemary, you have had a wide variety of influences. Surely this helps us form our own way. We make mental notes about what we liked and didn’t like. We notice the things our parents approve and don’t approve of. We feel rebellious we we stake out new territory. And unfortunately, many of us (especially daughters) still seek our parents’ stamp of approval on our life decisions and religious choices. It is a psychological journey as well.

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