Parenting Is Hard
Proverbs 22:6 New King James Version
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Parenting Is Hard
Anyone with children knows that parenting is not easy. Parenting pre-teens and teenagers is even worse. We are currently entering the teen years with our daughter and to say it has been a challenge would be an understatement.
Yesterday I found myself in a place where I needed something. I didn’t know if it was guidance, a miracle from God or what, but I knew I could not continue with the way things were going. My mind was caught somewhere between I don’t want to damage her with yelling and too much punishment, but I also know that if you spare the rod you spoil the child and discipline is vital to raising children.
Help Me Lord
My prayers were not even forming words. Then the Lord reminded me to do what I would about any other situation. Go to His word. I hate to say I was a little hesitant but then I jumped right in and started searching.
God created every single one of us. I know that His word gives us direction on what to do for everything we will ever face and this situation is no different. I looked for parenting scriptures and then He said something to me that I pray stays in my spirit forever. He said “treat your child biblically like you should anyone else”. And that took the haze out of my thinking immediately.
If we had issues with anyone else, we wouldn’t handle it with yelling. We would sit down, talk to them calmly and try to work things out, if we were trying to do it God’s way. There would be mercy, grace and forgiveness so a mutual respect could form. Now I realize most teens are not rational, but that is where the parenting comes in. We are the adult. We are the teacher and it is our responsibility to keep our cool even when they don’t.
Respond Don’t React
The Bible says that when we respond with love and kindness, we will heap coals upon our enemy’s head. While our children are not our enemy the same rules apply. If we show love and kindness during their irrationality there will come a moment (probably not during that conversation) when they see the truth and how we responded will make all of the difference. It will also train them on how to handle similar situations in the future.
I know that we, like others, have a long way to go in raising our children and I am thankful that even when I don’t know what to do, which is most of the time, God will lead me in the right direction. I just have to follow where He leads.
**Lord, thank You for never leaving me. Help me to be the parent You created me to be. Lord, I want to raise my children to follow You and Your ways by my example. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.**
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