Being a parent is basically hard, challenging and just out right impossible at times. Being tasked with the responsibility of being a mom is quite possibly the most difficult task I will be given in this life. Children unfortunately don’t come with step by step instruction manuals. There’s parenting advice galore out there especially these days with all of our social media, good advice and bad advice everywhere you turn and filtering this advice that comes at you from all directions.
As I sit back and look at how much goes into being a parent and just how much responsibility lays in our role it is quite overwhelming. Then top off all the basic parenting tasks and add on the extra element of being part of a blended family or single parent role to the mix and you have taken complicated to a whole new level! Co-parenting is difficult and intense with a cooperative parent that has the same belief and values. Unfortunately more times than not the co-parent will not being any of those things and makes being a parent 10 times more complicated and challenging.
I feel like my husband and I are constantly scrambling and searching for this fine line to walk—-> raising them in this world and teaching them how to not be part of this world. As much as I long to put my kids in a bubble and protect and shelter them from everything, it is just not possible to shelter them completely and protect them from all the evil and ungodly influences of this world. And even if it were possible that would place them at a huge disadvantage to be sheltered in that way. So you need to allow them to be in the world at the same time keeping them from becoming part of the world at the same time you are leading them to know Christ.
I was deep in thought pondering this daily dilemma earlier while running away taking out my frustrations on the treadmill at the gym. This happened to be a family gym day and we had our crew of kids with is at the gym today. Today is one of those days it was a struggle to get some of them to come to the gym. A little bit of whining about not wanting to go, questioned on why do they have to be dragged to the gym to exercise. I find this battle quite frustrating and feel like it’s a losing battle most of the time. We have our good days when they come to the gym willingly and put forth good effort and leave the gym smiling after enjoying their workout asking when we are coming back. But then we have the bad days when it’s struggle, and it is on those bad days that I am so tempted to give up and tell them fine just to stay home while my husband I get in a good uninterrupted work out without distraction. But giving up is not the answer.
We certainly cannot force them to want to exercise and most definitely cannot force them to enjoy it. This really leaves us with one option; what we can do is continue to bring them and set the example, lead them and teach them by showing them how it’s done. We can simply show them that we enjoy exercising and being healthy and let them see the positive results from this. Then praying that the example you set takes hold and one day they can recognize the importance of exercise and maintaining the health of their body.
We can face our children’s salvation in the same manner. The best we can do is be a good witness, to set the example for them, show them how to live a life for Christ, pray for them to be saved and LET GO, get out of the way and allow God to handle the rest. Put down on paper it sounds so stinking simple…
Not so simple though, not for me anyway. I struggle each and everyday and fail in many ways in my witness to our children. I get so frustrated when I fail, I have really good intentions but am human and frequently fall short. One of my biggest downfalls is not being joyful in all circumstances, letting my emotions and circumstances of the moment control my words, actions, facial expressions and moods. I am working at this, slowly giving it over completely to the Lord and I am His work in progress, some days I do better, but each day a step in the right direction.
“Come follow me” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people” At once they left their nets and followed him. —Matthew 4:19-20
I don’t want our kids to make the same mistakes I made. I don’t want them to know God in their mind but not truly know Him in their heart, I don’t want them to be consumed by this fallen world and slipping into the darkness before living in the Lord’s light. So with each day I will continue working on allowing God to strengthen and mold me into the mother and wife He created me to be and let my witness and example be what our children need to come to know Jesus. And I will fight for them on my knees in PRAYER…..
Heavenly Father above, please guide me and give me strength and courage at a mother and a stepmother. I pray my witness will be true and bold. I pray that our children will be able to look to me and see You, that I will let Your love shine in all areas of our life, I pray for a joyful heart even on the trying days when I want to be short tempered and rude, please soften my heart and strengthen my spirit to let go and let You take over. Lord You know my heart and the areas that I truly need to surrender and allow You to take over, please God take all of me and let me be the woman, mother and wife You intended me to be, I pray to have the courage to chose Your way over everything else in this fallen world. God thank You for the honor, privilege and responsibility of being a mother, our children are truly a blessing directly from You, let me never take this for granted and always treasure being a parent even during the difficult moments, let me praise You and bring You Glory.
In Jesus Name- AMEN
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus 1Thessalonians 5:16-18
Thankful Children of Christ 