{{2010_03_02_t1.jpg}} {{2010_03_02_t2.jpg}} {{2010_03_02_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2010_03_02|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_ii|| Topics Collection ii ]] ======Children and Parenthood I - Some basics ...====== Tuesday, Mar 2, 2010. A week about children and parenthood - what do these terms mean for you? Perhaps you are young, you do not have children yet. But you have been a child, and you have parents. You have your own ideas about what good parenthood might mean. You might have very good experiences - or you are quite angry with your parents and clearly realize some of their mistakes. What ever your particular situation is, you are some kind of expert, because you experiences all the stages of being a child yourself! {{2010_03_02.jpg }} **Growing up as children** Lets think about children and parents from a slightly more general perspective. I usually find it amazing that God did not create humans as finished individuals, but as little children. We start our life as infants! When you look at a newborn baby, it is extremely fascinating. They are somehow full humans. But on the other hand they are so small and plain, so innocent. Though they can be quite demanding at the same time. There are several stages of childhood. We are little infants in the first place. Then we become children. We start to walk and to talk, we explore our world. In all of this we could not survive without a protective environment. We are completely dependent on others, on our parents. We grow step by step, it takes us around 20 years to grow into full adulthood. There is no technical device today which would need 20 years to be manufactured. But we need this time to mature! {{ 2010_03_02_2.jpg}} **Parenthood** But the story of life is even more amazing. Not only that we grow up as little children. We will be parents at some point in our life. (I know that this does not always work out, please forgive me if I focus on those who have the luck and pain of parenthood today). Being parents is a special thing. You are suddenly responsible for other beings. You are given this little infant, who is completely dependent on you! It's your turn now to be there for it. Go and take care! When God created mankind, he had a deep wisdom and humor to create us as children and parents. Children learn a lot from their parents. And parents learn so much from their children. It is really a relation which has two directions in terms of exchange and learning. And parents are dependent on their children as well. From the very first day there is another independent being. It has its own will, its own character, its own preferences. It influences your life even more than you influence it. We learn what love means when we have to take care of someone or something. Love will not stop when facing difficulties. Love will endure and go on. Love will not give up and will never cease. Children and parents - what an idea to create them! God, how can I comprehend your wisdom and creativity? Your ways are truely wonderful! [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_ii|... more texts]]