Neverending Grace
We saw him. Jacob, our third grandchild was less than 24 hours old. He looks so much like his older brother but I'm sure it won't take long before we will see how unique each boy is and how much more each parent will have to learn in order to deal with each stage of growth as well as deal with two different personalities. Parenting has been and always will be an overwhelming challenge.
I remember when we first became parents. I read books, and gathered information from my friends. I'm sure if I had been at all internet savvy I would have immersed myself in as much as the net had to offer. I know I looked at others and determined that I would never do with my child what I saw them doing with theirs. I remember shaking my head over parents who allowed their children to watch more than a minimal amount of t.v., or to eat the wrong food excessively or at the wrong time. I thought I had a lot of things figured out. When I became a mom, I quickly concluded that parenting was much more than setting up a rigid set of guidelines even if they are based on good ideas.
How were we ever to do this thing called parenting in a God honoring fashion? Most of the parents that I knew also wanted to honor God with their parenting. On the surface they seemed far more disciplined and self assured than we were as they talked about how they spanked their children or restricted their children's music and film choices. In contrast to these seemingly self assured parents we meandered our way through the potential mine field of parenting. We knew our goal but we were always adjusting our course as we made our way towards it. We wanted children that would grow to be mature adults who would live by Biblical principles, seek to honor God, and realize their need of Christ.
We did have a few principles that we usually held to. Our children were never allowed to call us names or say they hated us. We were careful to choose our battles. Any hairstyle within reason was okay but skipping church or swearing wasn't. Although creativity is an important part of parenting, many times we knew it was more important to be boring as we let them know again and again that the rules had not changed.
No matter how many things we did right they can not make up for the things we didn't do right. Too often our discipline was inconsistent. Our pattern of family devotions was too haphazard. We desired peace rather than obedient children more times than we'd like to admit. When we focus on what we did wrong we are amazed that our children did as well as they did . When we focus on God we are still amazed, but this time not by "dumb luck"but by his character, his love and faithfulness that is not dependent on any "sterling" qualities in us. Whatever good that can be seen in my children comes from the same place that produced any good that can be seen in their parents. That place is the loving hands of a gracious father. If my children look to the character of God as they seek to raise their children, they will be practicing one of the most important parenting principles of all.
I remember when we first became parents. I read books, and gathered information from my friends. I'm sure if I had been at all internet savvy I would have immersed myself in as much as the net had to offer. I know I looked at others and determined that I would never do with my child what I saw them doing with theirs. I remember shaking my head over parents who allowed their children to watch more than a minimal amount of t.v., or to eat the wrong food excessively or at the wrong time. I thought I had a lot of things figured out. When I became a mom, I quickly concluded that parenting was much more than setting up a rigid set of guidelines even if they are based on good ideas.
How were we ever to do this thing called parenting in a God honoring fashion? Most of the parents that I knew also wanted to honor God with their parenting. On the surface they seemed far more disciplined and self assured than we were as they talked about how they spanked their children or restricted their children's music and film choices. In contrast to these seemingly self assured parents we meandered our way through the potential mine field of parenting. We knew our goal but we were always adjusting our course as we made our way towards it. We wanted children that would grow to be mature adults who would live by Biblical principles, seek to honor God, and realize their need of Christ.
We did have a few principles that we usually held to. Our children were never allowed to call us names or say they hated us. We were careful to choose our battles. Any hairstyle within reason was okay but skipping church or swearing wasn't. Although creativity is an important part of parenting, many times we knew it was more important to be boring as we let them know again and again that the rules had not changed.
No matter how many things we did right they can not make up for the things we didn't do right. Too often our discipline was inconsistent. Our pattern of family devotions was too haphazard. We desired peace rather than obedient children more times than we'd like to admit. When we focus on what we did wrong we are amazed that our children did as well as they did . When we focus on God we are still amazed, but this time not by "dumb luck"but by his character, his love and faithfulness that is not dependent on any "sterling" qualities in us. Whatever good that can be seen in my children comes from the same place that produced any good that can be seen in their parents. That place is the loving hands of a gracious father. If my children look to the character of God as they seek to raise their children, they will be practicing one of the most important parenting principles of all.
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