Parenting is Tough....

As parents, we have the difficult task of raising children. I think children are God’s way of teaching parents more about themselves and Him than any thing else. When you are young and free of responsibility (only responsible for yourself), you are the most self-centered you can be. When we marry we learn to let go of that in order to share with our spouse. When you have children, you have to really let go of your selfish tendencies. Even though we can’t control our children (sometimes I wish we could), we have to impress on them what’s truth and righteous is by living the kind of life that backs up that notion. In the end, it’s up to God to reach them with His love and presence. Our job is to direct their paths, pointing them to God. We have to ask, listen to God, and pursue Him daily in order to keep our own growth and closeness to Him. And we are to model what we want them to know and eventually become. It’s not an easy task, and there are no guarantees. Each person has their own free will. You heard the saying, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can make him drink”. As a parent you might want to throw in the towel at times, especially during those dreaded teenage years, but just as this proverbs directs to do, “we can put salt on their food to make them very thirsty”. Never forget the power of your words and the influence of a good example. And when you mess up (we all do), be honest enough to make it right (for that might be your greatest witness). God will use it to make a difference.

6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. Proverbs 22:6