I've noticed lately about how much I have stressed about doing parenting the right way. I've been trusting in my ability and standards rather than walking in the trust that Jesus will use me to work in my kid's lives. If I trust in my own standards of parenting then I will for sure fail.
The biggest responsibility I feel as a parent is getting to my kid's hearts. I don't want to just correct their behaviors, I want to get down to the core of their feelings behind those behaviors. I want them to understand their feelings and help them pick out the bad ones and understand the good ones. I want to direct their thoughts and behaviors into an understanding of their need for a Savior. And that no matter what they say, think, or do that they will always be loved but also understand the need for correction.
We have been created in the Image of God and He will never leave nor forsake us. God is constant, I am not. That's what I want my kids to understand as they grow. But being able to put all that into a 4 and 5 year old's level seems so daunting to me at times. That I can't do it, that I'll mumble it all up and make them even more confused. But then I have to remind myself that yes, if it was me on my own I would totally mess it up, yet I have the Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me in everything I do. I believe it's taking those baby steps towards understanding who God is, both for myself and for my kids. As my kids grow and understand who God is I want that understanding to come from God because true wisdom comes from God.
Yes, my husband and I will be the primary voice in their life that can lead them to Godly wisdom or away from Godly wisdom but that stress that I feel over this is just me trying to control it rather than trusting God with it. I want to be mindful of these things but not control it. Controlling all that leads to a misunderstanding of who they are in Christ. I want to walk with them as they grow and mature into their faith.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Speaking Truth
I have been struggling with my response to my kids in a time where everything isn't falling into place. Meaning, we are leaving out the door and Ricky still hasn't got his jacket on. It's like I turn from being nice, calm mommy to raging lunatic mommy. Yes, I have to tell him things over and over again but that doesn't give me permission to lose it on him.
Ricky struggles to follow through with things. Right now things are half done. Yet I look around at my life and look at all the things that are half done. I usually never quite finish getting ready in the mornings, my bed is sort of made, the laundry is washed but not folded. You see it's just a different perspective. A little boy could care less about hanging a jacket up. He thinks, what does it matter mom, I'm just going to put it on again when I leave! And does that jacket on the floor really matter? Honestly, not really. Could I very easily pick it up for him, yes. Could I very easily yell at him for once again not picking it up? Yes! But my goal is not either of those things. My goal is to direct him back to the saving grace of Jesus. How do I do that? Well I don't do it very well, but I'm working on it. You see, the parent to child relationship is very similar to the Heavenly Father to His children relationship. God speaks into our lives, leads us, guides us and it's training us to listen to Him. That's what I want to do with my kids. I want to speak into their lives, lead them, and guide them and train them to listen to me which is preparing them to listen to God. And it's a slow, slow process. And I fail. Daily. Yet God picks me up and says let's try it again. Differently. More patient this time. Seek out that forgiveness with your son. What does it mean Do Not Provoke? In this situation I think it means, once again calmly remind Ricky that he hasn't hung up his jacket properly.
Ricky struggles to follow through with things. Right now things are half done. Yet I look around at my life and look at all the things that are half done. I usually never quite finish getting ready in the mornings, my bed is sort of made, the laundry is washed but not folded. You see it's just a different perspective. A little boy could care less about hanging a jacket up. He thinks, what does it matter mom, I'm just going to put it on again when I leave! And does that jacket on the floor really matter? Honestly, not really. Could I very easily pick it up for him, yes. Could I very easily yell at him for once again not picking it up? Yes! But my goal is not either of those things. My goal is to direct him back to the saving grace of Jesus. How do I do that? Well I don't do it very well, but I'm working on it. You see, the parent to child relationship is very similar to the Heavenly Father to His children relationship. God speaks into our lives, leads us, guides us and it's training us to listen to Him. That's what I want to do with my kids. I want to speak into their lives, lead them, and guide them and train them to listen to me which is preparing them to listen to God. And it's a slow, slow process. And I fail. Daily. Yet God picks me up and says let's try it again. Differently. More patient this time. Seek out that forgiveness with your son. What does it mean Do Not Provoke? In this situation I think it means, once again calmly remind Ricky that he hasn't hung up his jacket properly.
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