[rjy9343]

I think Laree and I are saying the same thing. Susanna Wesley was a very loving mother who did the best she could with what she knew. She was a gentle mother for her time, but a harsh one for ours. She loved her children and did what she thought best for them and God honored that. I really believe that your intent towards your children is the key. No matter how gentle or harsh, if your heart is towards God, he will honor the intent and keep your relationship intact.
I don't think her husband was a monster or anything like that. Just very immature and selfish. My husband has the same tendency to get in his head and forget about life on earth. But he more or less realizes that and has things in place to make sure his family does not suffer for it or at least the impact on Ivy and me is minimized. It may be my twenty first century mind set, but I really have a hard time sympathizing with him.
I really think that we on this board are similar to Susanna Wesley in that we are very gentle by the standards of today. But I don't think we need to pat ourselves on the back too much because in a few centuries we may very well be harsh and border on abuse for the things we do. And people will say they really loved their children and we so much more gentle than the mainstream parenting that was in vogue at the time, but they were really wrong in so many areas. ( I really don't want to think about the horrors that my great grandchildren will feel at some of Ivy's stories).