Today was going to be our first sewing day for my daughter with her friend. No 2 son was going to come along as well and play with his mates around the same age while we spent time with the girls sewing.
Now things happen and it just so worked out that my friend was not well and had to go to the Doctors.
She was so disappointed and felt she was letting us down, but things happen and life doesn’t always go the way we want.
When I told our children, there were tears and downcast mouths and slumped shoulders and I am sure my friend had the same with her children. They are always so excited and happy to get together and they just get on so well.
Life is tough and disappointments come, but how can we help our children deal with this, accept it and move on. I know that even I have issues when I am disappointed when things don’t go exactly to my plan.
It was easy today to say to the children, I have to go to the post office so whilst we are there we will go to the park for a play. This helped somewhat to ease their disappointment, but I don’t believe I should have to find an alternative every time something changes.
I want our children to learn to deal with difficulties and disappointments without expecting us or others to give them something else. I want them to understand that life is tough and the only one they can rely on is God. He never lets them down or leaves them.
People will let us down (even if they can’t help it and don’t mean too) and even us as parents let our children down, none of us are perfect, but let us remember to always find comfort in the One who is perfect.
Hebrews 13:5-6 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you”, so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.
Thank you for your encouraging post. Your posts are very uplifting and bring glory to the Lord. Blessings to you and yours.
Thank you Stefanie for your beautiful and encouraging comment. Blessings to you and yours too.
I agree, children need to learn to deal with the disapointments. With smaller children it’s good to offer something else instead. But a bigger child needs to be able to emotionally cope with a disapointment.
It is sad to see adults who do not know how to handle disapointments the life brings to them. And to see how they seek instant gratification and don’t have the emotional stamina to do what is really good for them.
I agree Joanna, good lessons to be taught, thanks for stopping by, blessings.
This is such a precious post… my heart aches for my children when they face disappointment, but I have learned that it isn’t good for them if I always protect them from it. I want them to learn how to trust God… not just me. At the same time, I do help when I can….. sometimes it is hard to know what that should look like. 🙂
I so agree Joy, I think every situation is different and it all depends on attitudes and motivation. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, blessings to you and yours.
Terri,
I so enjoyed your post today. Disappointment is a part of life and it’s important that our children learn to accept it well and trust God in it. Thanks for reminding us.
I hopped over from Testimony Tuesdays. Thank you, too, for always linking up at my blog on Mondays and for leaving me such encouraging comments. You are a blessing.
Donna
Thanks Donna for your kind comment and thanks for hosting on Monday too. It is good to encourage each other and I appreciate your comments as well. Blessings to you.
This is so very true and these are things I want my children to understand also! Thanks for sharing!
Yes this is something important that we all should learn. Thanks for your comment. Blessings
Handling disappointment is not always easy, but if children (or anyone) can made an attitude adjustment and understand that plans may change but we will enjoy the day anyway. Life isn’t always fair but it may help to tell them a story of someone in the Bible who was disappointed, but it all turned out for good. Or a true story how YOU handled disappointment and made a decision to smile instead of weep. You are a near neighbor at Spiritual Sundays.
Thanks Hazel what a wonderful idea about sharing someone from the Bible. Why didn’t I think of that !!!!! Thanks for your lovely and very helpful comment. Blessings.
You have hit on a mothering topic that never seems to go away — even once the “little ones” fly from the nest. Funny, though, how I’ve noticed that my REAL problem is dealing with MY disappointment over THEIR disappointment. Once I give that to the Lord, I’m in a much better position to pray that all important prayer for them: “Thy will be done.” Glad to have found your blog on Sandra HK’s link up today!
Oh Michele you are so right, thank you for stopping by and for your thoughtful comment. Blessings
Life lesson for children can be hard but are so important to preparing them for the future. Blessings!
You are so right Mary, thanks for that thought. Blessings
It truly is so hard for little ones to handle disappointment but that is something we need to instill in them. I think you did it well by coming up with a different activity that they would still enjoy – even if they didn’t enjoy it quite as much. 🙂 Thanks for linking up with the Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop!
Thanks Susannah for your comment and for hosting. Blessings
You’re right! It takes those disappointments to prepare us for life. They are so hard to watch, but love for them and their future means helping them learn. Great post!
Thanks Deb you are so right in that it prepares us for life. Thanks for the comment and the encouragement. Blessings to you this week.
Such simple, relevant truth. Thank you for reminding my heart of this today. Yes, people and circumstances may disappoint, but our Heavenly Father does not. Amen!
Thanks for joining in the Front Porch Conversations this week! See you Thursday, I hope! 🙂
Anne
Thanks Anne, what a wonderful God we have. Blessings
Definitely something we work on all. the. time! From the littlest “you can’t have whatever you want for snack” to “I just failed a promotion test” learning to handle disappointment is a constant work in progress – something we parents have the privilege of coming alongside to help with.
Exactly Abi you are so right, it is a privilege and we are blessed because of it. God be with you. Blessings
I have reminded myself often that my reactions, whether they are anger, disappointment or even happiness are a model for how my children will respond. It is comforting to know that with God there is no disappointment! Thanks for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays!
Thanks Jenny again for hosting and taking the time to stop over. Blesisngs