I’d really appreciate it if you’d share with me your definition of the word “parent”.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
And… discuss.
Todd
23 thoughts on “Thoughts On A Definition”
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As the parent of a child with autism my defintion is … a parent is a fighter . One who will work their hardest to accomplish what God has put in front of them . To know that even when I give up and think I can’t do it any more God holds out His hand , pulls me up and we continue the fight together !
Parent – the people in my life that trained me. My example of how God works with me. Loving, even if it hurts me!
Hi to me a parent is one who gives consistent an unconditional lovw even when they mess up, correcting and discipline when needed then helping them with a hand up when they fail being an example in my walk with God my kids are grown and i know they are not living as they should but totally loving them and prayer gets me a whole lot further than pointing my finger each child is different therefore my son would listen when i talk to him my daughter was headstrong and at times a swat was needed but never in anger which i learned later
I think a really tight, strict definition would be “the original,” as in making copies. The thing that something else is descended from. The cool thing is that God didn’t make just ONE parent — or everyone would be the same. There are always at LEAST two — the folks who give the zygotes — and often many more. But when we’re raising a child (or doing part of the raising, as I did as a foster parent/guardian for six years), we really are imprinting a part of who we are into another human being, for better or worse!
I remember with joy the beautiful times that my little girl would ask things like “when can *I* get a pair of Birkenstocks?” 🙂 or would say things that sounded like they could have come right out of my mouth (in a good way).
I remember with sadness the times she treated me the way I treated her or said things I would say (in a not-so-good way).
It’s a beautiful system of making new people, really…and scary, like a lot of beautiful things are!
one who is responsible for loving and nuturing a child…lucky that God has loaned the child to us…
Parents are guardians caring for the children God has placed in their care. They’re to be a hands on reflection of God’s love throughout their lives and a living example of His provision and discipline while they’re children. Oh, and we all fall short, so it’s a good thing God is there to fill in the gaps.
Wow, that simple word holds so many definitions and responsibilities! The kind of parent that I am trying to be is one who teaches my children about life and trying to prepare them to be own their own in the world. I’m also letting them know on a daily basis how much I love them and how much God loves them. I don’t want them to ever feel unloved. My responsibility is also to teach them the difference between right and wrong, how to treat others, and how to take responsibility for their own actions. The list of responsibilities could go on a mile long, but is that the definition, I’m not sure that it is. Maybe the definition is something more like, “someone who protects, teaches, loves and guides another person unconditionally and willingly”.
Parent– a calling that never ends.
Judy and I have always felt that we are stewards of the children He gave us to raise and watch over… We’ve never felt that our children are ‘ours’– they have always been His ‘property’.
Taking on two kids with no warning… an awesome responsibility; in its original meaning. Starting from scratch gives you opportunity to learn, to make mistakes, to do better next time. You’re starting at ‘catch up.’
My children are all in their 20’s, our oldest almost 30. I never stop worrying about them. Not ‘worry’ in the sense of making myself nuts; worry in the sense that I am always hoping that they are making good choices, that they are taken care of, that the challenges will work out well. There are always challenges, at least in my experience. Free Will continues to reign/rain; and I can’t stop Free Will. Paul promised that, although I’m not sure he intended it as a promise.
Guardian, provider, protector, encourager, healer, teacher, student.
Blessings on your new life.
Short version, An ambassador of God intended to bring up a child in the knowledge, fear, and awe of the Lord. Whether or not we are good ambassadors is another story…
My definition of “parent” is someone (not necessarily the “birth”parents) who loves you unconditionally and would do whatever it may take to make sure you thrive in all areas…school, home,social settings, health, nurishment, someone willing to discipline and follow through with both punishment and love! Someone who is willing to teach you about Christ and how much he loves you!
See, I am a “2nd mom”. I was not able to have children of my own. However, GOD blessed me with a beautiful little girl (My cousins granddaughter) Marina! She calls me mom and now she has a little sister who also calls me mom. I get them everyweekend and when ever i want them. Marina is MINE as much as if i had given birth myself. I am sooo blessed! I may not be fertile but GOD has taken my pain and replaced it with joy! Whatever God’s plan-It always turns out better than our own. I now have 2 beutiful girls and helping to raise them is my biggest priority and BLESSING in life!
God Bless ALL “parents”!
Parent: protector, teacher, leader, lover, encourager, spiritual mentor, consequence-giver, forgiver, reflector of Jesus’ love, and so much more.
Parenting never ends. I’m still learning from my dad, and am in awe of how God’s mercy and grace shines through him more brilliantly each day. I’m still teaching and encouraging my adult son, and hopefully reflecting Jesus’ love to him.
wow…I am honored to even hear these beautiful word about one of God’s most precious blessings! I love being a parent. It gives me a small idea of how God can even think to love and forgive us. I also feel honored to watch God work in there lives from the smallest seed we tried to plant in them. God is truly undescribable.
It may seem too simple or broad, but I’ve always felt that a parent is someone who loves you more than they love themselves. They’ll sacrifice their wants and desires for you, just like Christ sacrificed Himself for the church. They love you unconditionally, as Christ loves us. And they help guide you into the best person you can be just as God guides us daily into the best representative of His kingdom we can be.
Wow what a question. I have four children, two boys and two girls and to each one of them I am something different. My wife and I do believe that each child has a personality of their own. To one I am an encourager, to another an advocate, to another a confidant, to another the discipline they need. Each one is special in their own way. I think the key is finding the specialness (is that a word?) of each of them and then lead them through life. It is a lot like Pastoring a church, you can’t force them to go a certain way, you have to lead them. You need to be there to pick them up when they fall but you also need to be there to warn them about the danger they will encounter along the way. You need to be there when they get bruised and injured, but also remind them of the choices they made to get that way.
It is not easy, it is really hard sometimes but there is a manual. It is called the Bible, but you have to kind of read between the lines sometimes as they don’t list each and every individual thing you will encounter. But remember it is a journey and it takes a long time to get to the end.
Simple question yet quite complicated answer, it seems. It could be either a biological parent or a spiritual parent but aside from the obvious difference they should act the same role.
It includes love, support, care, protection and sacrifice. A person who would give their all to cultivate a personality of the one in need of it. Perhaps it would involve giving even more than that. My grandfather gave his life to protect my mother when my father became insane and violent – that is something a proper parent would never hesitate to do.
Packmule? Sorry, it was the first thing that popped into my head. I shpuold have filtered. But it’s not really a definition so much as it is part of a job description, is it? So, scratch that – I’ll have to give it some more thought – after I finish hauling in all the groceries from the car.
the person/s that God put in your life to guide and instruct you
Several years ago, I was going through a rough time. I awoke at maybe 1:oo am and began to pray: “Father, please…Father…” I got stuck. What do I even ask for at this stage? “Father, what makes you “Father” anyhow? Your son was not born as other’s are, in sweat and sin.”
Our Father answered over an hour or so, that I knew I needed to write it down. Father has been father to The Son for eternity. There was never ever a time when there was not Father and Son. Father is the original. All human fathers are a “type” of the original, however marred by sin. The original Father is God. He is prototype and archetype. See His attributes in 1 Corinthians 13, for a tutorial. Try Hebrews 12 also. He has always been the perfect father. So if He is Father to you, you are in good hands.
Hallelujah!!! Christ is risen!!!
It is the stewardship of a precious gift that ultimately belongs to God. We are to care for and bring up the child in a manner consistent with the way God brings up his children. A parent’s love is a shadow of the love that God has for his children. We provide a training ground for our children to return to home God. It’s Holy and beautiful!
Parent means many things, but I think of intercessor. I prayed before I was pregnant, during my pregnancy, after the baby was born and everyday until now at 15 years and I still am on my knees for my child.
A parent = the hardest thing you will ever love to do.
If you are literally using the Latin word, it is the biological father and mother who are supposed to be the caretakers of their offspring. blah, blah, blah…But we all know almost anyone can make a baby – it takes unconditional love, patience, strength, and courage to be a parent. You know, the ones who are proud of you no matter what, pray ferverishly for you and you have no idea how much, cry for your pains – sometimes when you’re not looking, do not let you see how much their hearts are breaking when they have to carry out the consequences of your bad behavior but know it is the best thing to do,sacrifice and consider it a privelege, would die in your place without thinking twice, could kill to protect you, can make a booboo better with a kiss,embrace you in hugs that want to make the moment last forever, but who, with all their shortcomings, have to give you wings to go out on your own while at the same time feeling wherever they are is still your home to a degree.
A parent is someone who embarrasses you with great delight, just by being her dorky self, knowing your turn as a parent will come. Likes to spoil Your children and then give them back to you for a while. 😉
Simple question yet quite complicated answer, it seems. It could be either a biological parent or a spiritual parent but aside from the obvious difference they should act the same role.
It includes love, support, care, protection and sacrifice. A person who would give their all to cultivate a personality of the one in need of it. Perhaps it would involve giving even more than that. My grandfather gave his life to protect my mother when my father became insane and violent – that is something a proper parent would never hesitate to do.