Difficult
Glenn and I are making our way though Devotions for Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas
In today’s short chapter, Gary highlights the story of a family whose second-born was a very challenging child. This child could break out of 4 different car seats by age 2 (safety issue!) and was kicked out of his first preschool by age 3. Although their first child was very well-mannered and well-behaved, the parents felt the constant criticism and judgement of others because of the difficulty they were having with this second child. Over the years, that mother learned, "While people may judge us by our children’s actions, God judges us by our reactions to them."
Gary concludes that
If you have children, think about each child and what God has taught you through that child. How has he shaped you? What can you change today in how you relate/react to your child in order show love like God’s? If you don’t have children, consider who else God has placed in your life to teach you how to love. How is he using them to point out your own immaturity and selfishness?
In today’s short chapter, Gary highlights the story of a family whose second-born was a very challenging child. This child could break out of 4 different car seats by age 2 (safety issue!) and was kicked out of his first preschool by age 3. Although their first child was very well-mannered and well-behaved, the parents felt the constant criticism and judgement of others because of the difficulty they were having with this second child. Over the years, that mother learned, "While people may judge us by our children’s actions, God judges us by our reactions to them."
Gary concludes that
God uses parenting to shape and mold us into his servants. We must learn not only how to love compliant people but also how to love difficult people, overly active people, strong-willing people, and even, on occasion, cruel people.
If you have children, think about each child and what God has taught you through that child. How has he shaped you? What can you change today in how you relate/react to your child in order show love like God’s? If you don’t have children, consider who else God has placed in your life to teach you how to love. How is he using them to point out your own immaturity and selfishness?
posted by Sherri Lavender at
9:06 AM
2 Comments:
This is such a good thing to think about. I want to show my children mercy but they also need discipline. The thought of how God would treat me in some of the situations I have had with my kids makes me sad with how I have reacted. But, I am learning and growing with each new situation.
Bethany is a handful!
By
Welcome to our crazy blessed life, At
6:13 PM
those devotions sound great. I would just echo the comments I left on Glenn's blog about this subject. I love the ways that God teaches me. . well i don't always LOVE the ways, but I love Him. Its one of the greatest things in life, being a parent. . . no greater than being an aunt, uncle, friend, whatever. . others help teach us to live and even how not to live. we're all in it together.
By
kathryn, At
9:47 PM
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home