I am convicted by this statement
"There is nothing more important to consistent, faithful, patient, loving, and effective parenting than to understand what God has given you in the grace of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ." p. 34
One needs to understand that we not only need past grace and future grace, but we need the present grace that God offers us in the here and now. The grace to see God in our temper, in our wanting a break, in our dealing with a rebellious child and more. God's grace is right there minding us. We need to know that God gives us what we need to parent the children that he has given us.
The feeling of inadequacy that we have as parents is there because we are supposed to feel that way. It helps us to do what we are supposed to... RELY on God for help.
God wants us to rely on him, NOT to feel able and like we don't need him. This is one way he shows his grace and goodness to us. It's how his glory is made manisfest.
Eph. 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
See the truth there? GOD is able to do it far more abundantly than we ever give him credit for. Think on it eh? Why don't we do that? Why don't we talk to him more often when we are struggling in our parenting duties? Why don't we remember God's grace and help and his hope more often?
I think it would make our job of parenting easier if we turned to God more often eh? If we remembered he is our ever present help in times of trouble.
Consider this fact, "My children don't cause me to do and say what I do and say. No, the cause of my actions is found inside my own heart. My children are simply the occasion where my heart reveals itself in words and actions". (p 41). We are not better than our children, just older with more experience, but still fighting the sin within us.
I have found it to be true... that God's grace changes you as a parent. It has forced me to grow and become more reliant upon him. It is like God is parenting me as I parent my son. He parents all parents as they guide, lead, discipline, show the way to their own children. He is our father. Let him be your father as you parent your children. Yes, mistakes will happen, regrets will be there, but through God you will learn tenderness and compassion, you will learn to give grace and receive it all the more.
If you'd like to follow along, amazon affiliate links:
Amazon.ca: Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family
Amazon.com: Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family
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