Today I came to the realization that there is no perfect formula for parenting. Granted my kid is just about two. So, my world of parenting knowledge is not expansive. The only thing I have is my two years of teaching experience. However, I did do CEF and other Vacation Bible Schools throughout my youth. Not that any of this matters a whole lot. I did not write so that you could know my credentials. I wrote my background, so that those of you who are unfamiliar with me would know a little bit more about me.
I have been reading a devotional and in this devotional the very, wonderful author talks about how mothers should be servants towards their children. What she means, is that we are to serve them as if we are serving our heavenly Father. Service like Jesus served the disciples with tenderness, but also discipline. I love the writer and her works but I feel as though she simplified something that is not so easy.
I have a wonderful friend who has a daughter with some severe special needs. The way she mothers her child will be radically different from the way I mother my daughter. I have another friend whose husband is in jail. The way that friend parents her daughters is radically different from the way I parent mine.
So what is the crux? What is the magic formula? Prayer and a radical desire to please and worship God. There were many families in the Bible who were broken. There were very godly men and women who had godly children but there were also godly men and women who had sinful, terrible children. All kids have a sin nature, it doesn't matter how good the parents are or the technique is.
So, as parents, we must pray for our children. We must change our lives to live in the likeness of God. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. This isn't about us changing or having the motivation to change. This is about our dedication, our dedication to read God's word and our dedication to obey. We obey no matter what our present culture says. We obey and we trust that we serve a good God. We obey because God loves us and He desperately wants to have a relationship with us.
I have been reading a devotional and in this devotional the very, wonderful author talks about how mothers should be servants towards their children. What she means, is that we are to serve them as if we are serving our heavenly Father. Service like Jesus served the disciples with tenderness, but also discipline. I love the writer and her works but I feel as though she simplified something that is not so easy.
I have a wonderful friend who has a daughter with some severe special needs. The way she mothers her child will be radically different from the way I mother my daughter. I have another friend whose husband is in jail. The way that friend parents her daughters is radically different from the way I parent mine.
So what is the crux? What is the magic formula? Prayer and a radical desire to please and worship God. There were many families in the Bible who were broken. There were very godly men and women who had godly children but there were also godly men and women who had sinful, terrible children. All kids have a sin nature, it doesn't matter how good the parents are or the technique is.
So, as parents, we must pray for our children. We must change our lives to live in the likeness of God. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. This isn't about us changing or having the motivation to change. This is about our dedication, our dedication to read God's word and our dedication to obey. We obey no matter what our present culture says. We obey and we trust that we serve a good God. We obey because God loves us and He desperately wants to have a relationship with us.
Comments
Post a Comment