Meditation for Perfectionists – Wednesday June 26, 2019

God’s Positive Parenting Style

Psalm 66:20: “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!”

“One way to discipline a child is to withdraw from him,” said my teacher friend. “He’ll get the picture and shape up. Try it. It works!” She taught a room full of preschoolers each day and then went home to two daughters of her own. Something about her philosophy did not ring true to me.

Years later I thought of this conversation as I interacted with others about our mutual perfectionism. In his book, Living With a Perfectionist, psychologist Dr. David Stoop writes: “When a parent is unavailable, the child may experience this as a feeling of helplessness, as shame at needing someone else… The way a child handles this anxiety early in life can be one of the major roots of perfectionism in adulthood.”

When we were children we needed specific direction, but we also needed acceptance and understanding. As adults we still need to know that we are accepted for who we are and not for what we do or don’t do. God does not withhold his acceptance in order for us to learn. He is readily available when we call. God always listens to our heartfelt prayers.

Father, I’m grateful that you never reject me
or withhold your love.
Your positive parenting style helps me accept myself
and grants me permission to change my perfectionistic behavior.

Copyright Joan C. Webb

For more from Joan Webb visit www.joancwebb.com