I am sorry I lost who to credit this picture to,
if you know please let me know
Personal Responsibility is something “manly man” and I have really tired to install into our children. We tell them we don’t expect them to be perfect, but we do expect truthfulness and accepting personal responsibility for their mistakes.
So many times, kids and adults alike like to blame others, society, their parents, and circumstances for mistakes they have made. We like to project the blame onto others, and deflect it off of us. Why do we do this? I believe because it is hard to face one’s own weaknesses and failures.
I can not begin to tell you how many times this has come up I our household.
Boy 1: So & so just hit me and called me a name.
Mom: Why did he do that?
Boy 1: I don’t know, I was doing absolutely nothing and he came up and hit me.
Mom: (calling Boy 2 into the room)
Mom: Why did you hit boy 1?
Boy 2: I don’t know
Mom: Boy 1 says he was not doing anything, and you came up and hit him.
Boy 2: (in a real loud voice) THAT IS NOT TRUE! He was sitting there taking my blanket away from me, and I asked him to stop and he kept pulling it away.
Boy 1: See I was not doing anything and he hit me.
Mom: Boy 2 you should never hit to solve your problems. But I am more concerned in Boy 1 not admitting that he was part of the problem also. You both were to blame.
Does any of this sound familiar or is it just my household? It is like the additional child named….”Not Me.”
Or it could go like this:
God: You should not have said that, you hurt their feelings.
Laurel: God did you see how they treated me? Did you hear what THEY said?
God: You should not have said that, that was a sin.
Laurel: I did not do anything, and look what they said to me, how they treated me. I did it because of them.
God: Did you make the situation any better?
Laurel: No.
How many times are we not going to own up to the responsibility we have in different situations around us (I am saying this to myself to!!). It is a tough thing to learn as a child, even harder as an adult. But God calls us to be responsible for what we say/do/act (no matter what the other person did, or if they started it first), but he sent his son to die on the cross for this very reason. So when we do mess up, oh and we do and will again.
Psalms 25:11 For the sake of your name, O LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great
We can ask for forgiveness for our mistakes and it is forgotten. Just like I tell my kids, I do not expect them to be perfect, but I do expect them to take responsibility in the way they act, or what they say and do in every situation.
Acts 13:38 Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Good post, Laurel! It’s good to remember that God expects us as His children no matter how old we are to own up to our part in things. But it is so good to know He is there ready to forgive.
Great post. Believe me this is not just your household!!! I appreciate the reminder that we are children of God and are expected to take responsibility as well. I know I am guilty sometimes. I am definitely a work in progress!
P.S. Sorry I missed your birthday. Hope it was fabulous!
(((hugs)))
Although I only have one child…this conversation often occurs between Miss Sam and Daddy…so, in re-thinking this…I guess I do have two children some days :).
Anyway, I truly enjoyed this post, as I do every time I come to visit. Forgiveness has been quite a struggle for me these recent years and my responsibility in it is hard to digest at times.
i am thankful for the reminders however that I am a work in progress…and so are my “two” children
Loved this post. Personal responsibility is one of those key values that we need to instill in our kids - but it’s not easy! While in our house, Boy #2 is far too young for Boy #1 to blame, it’s always tempting for him to blame things on his “circumstances.” (Hmm…sounds like he may be taking after me.) But, like you, we work on teaching him to take responsibility for his own actions and move forward from there.
I just this morning finished reading A Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers. And personal responsibility is exactly what this book is all about. What an amazingly timely post for you to do. I was having a hard time coming up with an approach to my review of this book. You just said it all, right here.
So true. We do need to say, “That’s my fault. I’m sorry.” and attempt to rectify things when we make mistakes. People who blame everyone else make me nuts.
Laurel, what a great post! This reminds me of my sister and I as kids, and then when the boys were young. What a great comparison you have made here. Thank you for that.
WOW - I agree, personal responsibility is one of life’s most important virtues. And yet - so hard to instill in our children when they are only to ready to give someone else the blame.
Thanks for posting in the carnival!
Accountability is so important and hard to find these days. Everyone blames somebody else for their mistakes in life. What would happen if everyone took responsibility for their actions? Wow, it would be a different world wouldn’t it and probably far fewer mistakes. Great post.
LOL. . .sounds just like my house and my boys are 17 and 15! ! ! LOL. . .
Great post!
Yeah… that touched a spot. Taking responsibility is a difficult task.
I really do try to teach my daughter responsiblity for her actions. Great post!
Here via BC!
Thanks so much for the reminder. I hope I can raise my kids to take responsibility for their actions.
Here via Blogging Chicks carnival
Great post! It is so true and yet we continue to blame others for our mistakes. I love the way you accented your post with scripture.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Personal responsibility is one of the most difficult lessons to overcome in life. Great post.
Great post!