Parenting

When you are becoming a parent there are many components you need to learn before you really understand what parenting is all about. It’s a beautiful journey, but yet a challenging experience. Some components that go along with the journey are patience, money, time, flexibility, and responsibility.

Patience is a key factor when handling your little one, not only for their sake, but for yours as well. They come into this world knowing nothing but how to eat and breath, and if everything is hectic it will most likely scare them. Parents also need to learn to just breathe and get through things so you don’t become stressed out yourself. While getting used to the world, of course, your baby is going to cry a lot, but with your love and patience you can show him there is nothing to be scared of.

Money cannot buy love, but it is another essential you need to make sure you fulfill. Babies are precious, but they are expensive! As a parent you need to make sure your baby has the correct clothing that he or she needs. They will need diapers, wipes, formula, a bed, ect. You will also have bills you need to take care of. As their parent you need to take good care of their health, which means taking them to a pediatrician, which also will include using money. This will take time as well.

Time on your own is something you will loose as a parent. You will not have as much time to sleep, and it will take you more time to get ready in the morning. Time though, does not only mean you need to take time out of your schedule to take them to the doctor, or time to feed them. Your baby needs your time to give them love. They need you to be around them so they can learn to trust you and know who you are. When their upset it may take hours to calm them down, but they only know you, so you need to take the time to give them that. In the middle of the night when they wake up, as a parent it is your job to feed, change them, and settle them down so they can go back to sleep comfortably. This also includes you being flexible.

Flexibility is something you will have to work on if you aren’t flexible already. You may not be able to get every thing done as planned, or when planned, but that’s okay. You will need to be flexible with your schedule for your child’s needs such as doctors appointments, or if he gets sick. Also, when you go out places your baby might get upset, and you might have to leave, but as a parent that’s your job, and your needs come after his. To be a good parent you have to realize that everything will be okay and will eventually get done.

Parenting is a huge responsibility. From time and money, to flexibility it all ties in when it comes to being responsible. Your baby needs you and it is your responsibility to make sure you give him or her all of their necessities. It’s not only your responsibility to take care of your child, you are also their teacher. As their parent you are the one they look up to. Everything you do, and every decision you make affects them. They learn wrong from right by watching you. So it is your responsibility to show them what life is about and what decisions you should and shouldn’t make.

These are just few of the components you need to be familiar with to be a successful parent. Parenting is a job, but a job that most people love, and would never give up. It may get frustrating at times, but your child needs you there for him/her. You created them and now as a parent it is time for you to teach them. You are going to make mistakes on the way, but if you remember what big responsibility you have things will fall into place, and eventually everything will become natural to you.

The Rationalist

The Puritans beliefs and Rationalists beliefs are completely opposite. Rationalist believed in a natural law, that God created them but left it up to them to discover and figure out things. Puritans on the other hand feel that God controls everything and if thought otherwise would be going against God.



In The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin he demonstrates rationalism. In the biography he says, " I wished to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into." He is trying to become clean and one with God. He is doing this by making a list and doing experiments to try and reach moral perfection himself.




Relaxation- being able to reflect on things
Tranquility- being in a calm state of mind, not getting overwhelmed
Compassion- caring and giving more back to the word
Solemn- getting things done when they need to be
Reliable- people can count on you do get things done
Joyful- loving who you are and the way you live
Respectful- polite to everyone
Budget- spend money where is needed and save all you can
Achievement- try your best at everything you do, and go for all the goals you want.
Loyalty- being faithful to those you love
Dignity- being worthy
Silence- keeping to yourself those things you shouldn't say
Cleanliness- in your body, clothes, and where you live.



The list stated above would be my thirteen virtues to approve upon my life. I don't think I could reach moral perfection this way, but I know I could become a better person. Even if someone followed these rules throughout their life without faith and believing in God your only doing it for yourself. I believe God would like you to have values and not do certain things, but I think it's more of believing in him. No matter how many values I make for myself I don't think I would reach moral perfection. I think it would just satisfy me knowing that I am living my life the way I feel would make me better.

In the Declaration of Independence they state "That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." To me this means that when the government is not fulfilling the needs of the people that they are able to come in and alter the rules making them beneficial to everyone. Another statement they make is, "But when a long train of abuses and usurpation's, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." This is basically they same concept. If the people are in danger or over ruled it is their job to take control for their safety. "Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government." Means that now it is a necessity and they have to change the form of government. This would definitely be a rationalist statement, because a puritan would never dare to change any rule unless someone was told by God to do so.

The Puritans

The Puritans have a list of believes they follow. Total depravity, unconditional election, limited attonement, irresistable grace, and perserverance of the "saints". They feel that certain people are chosen to interpret the will of God. If you are chosen they feel that it is impossible to go against the will of God. They also believe that every one is born sinful, and God saves only those he wishes to.

Typology is another belief in Puritanism. This belief says that God's intensions are present in human action and natural phenomenon. Meaning that things happen because of something else. Also they feel God's reward is present in natural phenomenon. Examples of this would be flooding, bountiful harvest, or a dried up river.I agree with this somewhat. I believe in fait and blessings. I also believe that everything happens for a reason, that God has a plan for all of us and the good things and the bad things all lead to what is meant for us.

Their way of life and belief's are very different from those of most people today. I do not believe in thier ways at all. In the "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" they make a comment saying, " Because of Adam and Eve puritains believed everyone was a born sinner." To me that is not true. I believe everyone is born innocent and has a chance to do right and, when sin they are able to repent. Another remark they make is “Thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of god over the pit of hell, they have deserved the fiery pit and are already sentenced to it.” God does not hold us over the pit of hell, no one is already sentenced to it and I believe God wants everyone back in heaven. They act as if God hates some by saying, “He is to pure eyes then to bear to have you in his sight, you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes then the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours.”

I don't agree with the way they believe that at any moment God as the power to drop us in hell. I do believe God has the power to take our life at any given moment, and that we should thank God for every day we are here. But their remark “Ye there is nothing else to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.” really bothers me.

They mayflower compact is a contract they all agreed to while sailing on the mayflower. They decided they would go ahead and establish the government they would follow before the ship even landed. They were not going to go by the rules of the people they left, and they really weren't considering anyone else. To me that is selfish. I understand it's every man on thier own, but I still don't think it's right to barge into some one elses lifestyle and try and change it.

Puritans believed in limited atonement; Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone. Irresistible Grace - God's grace is freely given, it cannot be earned or denied. Grace is defined as the saving and transfiguring power of God. They give examples of this in the "Sinner in the hand of an Angry God". They say, “It was up to saints to interpret the word of god the way THEY chose.” this is an example of transfiguring power of God. “Thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of god over the pit of hell, they have deserved the fiery pit and are already sentenced to it.” Is referring to them not being able to earn grace.

Another one of their beliefs is Unconditional Election - God "saves" those he wishes - only a few are selected for salvation. They give an example of this by saying, “You have offended him infinitely more then ever a stubborn rebel did his prince, and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else that you did not go into hell last night. That you had suffered to wake again in this world after you closed your eyes to sleep, and there is no other reason to be given of why you have not dropped into hell.”