Parenting is HARD, it isn't for the light hearted or weak minded. Parenting is NOT always joyful. Parenting is heart wrenching sometimes. We pray and pray and pray for our boys, and sometimes it doesn't feel like it's enough. But God asks us to come to Him for direction. He is the ultimate parent. I have been looking through scriptures last night and today for direction, comfort and leadership...here are some that I have found.
Proverbs 14:26
"He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge."
Proverbs 22:6
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Matthew 18:12-13
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off."
Ephesians 6:4
"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
James 1:2-3
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
3 John 1:4
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
(one of my ALL time favorites)
Micah 6:8
"And what does the Lord require of YOU? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
There are times in this parenting journey where we need help, wise counsel, people to step in...we have been doing that. We continue to...we have friends who have stepped in when we have needed them. We are so grateful. There are dear friends praying. I have been crying a lot. We love these boys DEEPLY. We care about the men they become. We care that their relationship with Jesus is THEIR OWN and not ours. We pray for deep roots in faith.
I know we are not alone in this journey of parenting. Just keeping it real today....
Love you, friend.
ReplyDeleteI am glad we are in the trenches and on the mountain tops of parenting together. Love you friend. Keep on.
ReplyDeleteWe're in this together.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a village. In these moments I love to think of how our congregation stands after baptisms and vows to help the families raise the children.
ReplyDelete