Monday, February 11, 2008
Breaking the Generational Curse
I accidentally read this book once to my sons. Then I read it a second time at their request, but with my 'remix' version below. This book came from a box of books from my childhood - this one was published by Moody Bible Press in 1971. It explains how female anger cannot be spoken of directly, and how prayer can be used to regulate feelings in a positive direction (i.e. cure depression or anger). It's well-worn condition reflects the strength of this theology in my socialization.
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Full text of the original: Pammie Beth had an upside-down feeling. Do you know what an upside-down feeling is? It is a mixed-up feeling, an upset feeling, a wrong-side-out feeling. She didn't have the upset feeling in her stomach, or in her head, but somewhere inside of her she had it. She was angry. She was angry at the cat, at the dog, at her baby brother, at everyone! Pammie Beth stamped her foot and threw her best doll onto the floor and cried hard! Mother said, "Jesus understands upside-down, mixed-up, upset, wrong-side-out feelings." "I'm sorry, Jesus," said Pammie Beth. "Take away my upside-down, bad feeling. Help me to be good." Jesus helped her, and Pammie Beth hugged the cat, brought water for the dog, and played games with her baby brother. The upside-down feeling went away. Do you ever have the upside-down feeling? Jesus will help you, too, if you ask Him. He'll give you a happy-on-the-inside, smiling-again-on-the-outside feeling! Ask Him!
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Mommy's Remix:
Pammie Beth was angry. Sometimes girls get angry. It is a mixed-up feeling, an upset feeling, a wrong-side-out-feeling, and it's OK to call it anger. She was angry at the cat, at the dog, at her baby brother, at everyone! Pammie Beth stamped her foot and threw her best doll onto the floor and cried hard! Mother said, "It's OK to be angry, Pammie Beth. Mommy gets angry sometimes. Even Jesus got angry. Try not to hurt the cat or your brother when you're angry, but if you do, say you're sorry later." Later, Pammie Beth apologized to the cat, apologized to her brother, and hugged her mommy. After crying, kicking, throwing, and stamping her feet, the anger went away! Do you ever have anger? Thank Jesus for giving you powerful emotions, ways to express them, and people who love you no matter how you feel. Jesus will help you integrate anger into your womanhood! Ask Him!
12 Comments:
That? Was awesome.
By
LN, at 9:42 AM
So much better. I think Children's books may be next on the list for you!
By
Simon, at 10:53 AM
I loved it! That would make such a great children's book!
By
Beth, at 10:59 AM
oh dear, that explains a lot. : )
Colleen W.
By
Anonymous, at 4:21 PM
I need this book!! (Your version, of course.)
The only problem is, now that my daughter is catching on to the whole letters-represent-sounds-and-make-words thing, she's going to start catching me out soon on my altered texts. Hmmm.
By
Elrena, at 8:37 PM
Altered is so much better :) I've been amazed at the insidious messages in children's books. No wonder we grow up with issues!
By
hannah, at 10:13 AM
Thank you - brilliant!
I know this stage in life isn't easy, but your writing has never been better.
By
Heidi Renee, at 12:13 PM
I wonder if a certain Christian magazine would be brave enough to ask you to expand *this* into an article.
Just wondering...
Dana Ames
By
Anonymous, at 4:29 PM
I want to be your BFF for posting this. Your timing could not be more perfect.
By
Meg, at 12:15 AM
That was a much better rendition!
By
bfine107, at 3:03 PM
If you could do this with a toilet training book, I'd buy it. Although I've been buying lots of those books recently.
By
Pete S, at 10:14 PM
Pete, if you can toilet train my kids, I'll buy you any book you want.
By
Jenell, at 1:28 PM
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