Perfect Parents, Rebellious Children

One of the "nails" in my parenting that God had to remove was the fact that I identified myself with my kids. (I used to identify myself with my husband, too. But, that's another story.) How my children's misbehaviours would reflect on me poorly. This is the very thought that haunted me over many years in the past. I didn't even know that I was affected by this prideful thought. But, God did. And I believe that for that very reason, He gave me boys only. Ethan, especially is a blessing in terms of this. If it weren't for Ethan's "uniqueness", I would not be able to see from different perspectives, little to say, understand how to accept a person as who he is and to find my own identity in Christ alone, not in others.

It was said that guilt and worries are two things that hinder parenting. Guilt from our past mistakes and worries for the future will ruin the moment we have with our children. For me, worries for the future were holding on to the stirring wheel for the course of my parenting journey. As a result, it wasn't going anywhere. I was spinning at the same spot.

Today, I found an encouragement in the saying, "even though God is a perfect parent, ALL of His children rebelled!" Ha! How true that is!

We ought to "Surrender our kids to God and trust Him with the outcome" as well as to "Glorify God in our parenting and leave the results to Him."

Do you feel your burden lifted up a little bit? Does this make you feel a little less intimidated by parenting now? I certainly hope so!