Good Parenting is God Parenting
Ponder:
f
So often we wish that our children came with specific instructions. We read parenting books and share tips with one another in hopes of discovering something to make this parenting thing a little bit easier.
We can forget that we have the ultimate example of parenting if we look at how God has parented us! He is patient with us and never stops showing us His love even when He knows that we don't deserve it. He is constantly teaching us. When we don't seem to be learning a lesson one way, He is so graceful to find another way in which to teach us that very same lesson. Being the best parent is really being more like God and reflecting the Love of Jesus in all that we do, even in how we parent. For those of us that realize the impossibly large shoes we would be trying to fill, here's a saving grace. Our children
did
come with an instruction manual and God
has
equipped us with all that we need.
James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." Not only do we have access to His abundant wisdom but we also have access to other things that we may lack such as patience, kindness, self-control, gentleness, peace, love, joy and faithfulness.
Like anything in life, nothing is guaranteed. Our children have the same gift of autonomy afforded to each of us. After we've poured all that we have into our children, our final act of love is to step back, pray and have faith that God has each of our children in the palm of His loving hands.
Prayer:
Lord, I am in awe of your parenting skills. Thank you for the ways in which you teach me. Thank you for giving me access to your storehouse of wisdom and all other spiritual blessings. I struggle with filling my role as a parent and I need your help. Please give me direction and allow your ways to become my ways. Show me where I can be a better parent for the children that you have blessed me with. I make this request in the name of Jesus. Amen
Participate:
Take some time to think about the ways in which your child has exhibited the fruit of the spirit and be sure to point out God's work in them. As Jeannie Cunnion writes in her book, Mom Set Free, "they need to know His love before they will desire to obey His law". Finally, take time to think of one frustrating thing your child does. It may not take long for you to think of what that could be. If you have more than one child, name one behavior for each child. If your children are babies, think of a challenge you may have with them at this point. Once you have this behavior in mind, lay it out for God. You can be sure that He already knows but He is overjoyed to hear you talk to Him about it. Ask Him to give you wisdom in how to navigate this issue and how you can change the way in which you approach this behavior. Think of ways that God has taught you to be better and see if you can take a page from His Book.
