“My Fathers Sketchbook” by Jessie Hawkes takes a deep look into the falsities of the childhood conception of adulthood. The author explores what it feels like to discover that the parents that you learn from a very early age to idolize and wish to be like are not without defect, yet by the same token are also much greater then you ever before had known. I felt a deep connection to the authors “new found” understanding of adulthood and how it affects the way that the child acts towards their parents, in being more sensitive to the feelings of those that raised them, for they are no longer supernatural beings, but very real individuals capable of all the emotions that you as a child felt. I myself had a similar experience when I was a young teenager, although mine was that of being told by my parents how my actions affected those around me, including them. I feel the author did a wonderful job at capturing the emotional depth involved in such a monumental paradigm shift, and to the closeness that can be developed between a parent and child when the child understands just how perfect their parents try to be despite imperfections. I myself never truly understood the power of such an experience, including that of my own, until I read this narrative, it brought so much light to the importance of such an experience to each individuals life and that perhaps my own experience while individual, may not be unique in concept. Additionally from “families” I enjoyed the quote “perhaps if the lord had to narrow down the Day of Judgment to a single determining factor it… [would be] “Did you love your family? Did you treat them well? Of course it was hard, but that’s when it was most important for you to show your strength and worthiness. Did you treat them well?”” For I really feel that the author was right, Christ’s doctrine was that of love, and there is no greater love here on earth then that shared by a family.
Ronnie,
ReplyDeleteyour response to this article was wonderful! The first thing that hit me was just that you are an excellent writer and have a great way with words! this was a great narrative and it made me think a lot about my life and my parents and guided me to really analyze my relationship with them and learn from them. i to was able to relate this to my life and understand where my parents came from a lot of the time. Your favorite quote form the passage about families was also one of my favorites! family is the most important thing and we need to do all we can to be united as one. thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed reading your response man. Although, I have no idea what a paradigm is. Anyways, you seem like a very insightful guy. I think that our parents do change in our eyes a lot as we get older, as you and the author stated. It is strange how much they actually do change. I’m glad that you grew a little from reading this article. I think the quote you picked is awesome. I remember reading that and thinking it was great, but I couldn’t post it cause that is the article I wrote my response on haha. I think that the quote has a lot of truth to it though. How we treat our parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. usually determines how we treat those who are outside our family. I like that you said there is no greater love then that of family. Thanks for your great response.
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