Christian Parenting~ Our lives are not our own

So did your B.C ( Before Children) dreams or expectations of being the perfect parent work out the way you planned?

Okay, remember those B.C. days when you used to spout those crazy idealistic things about parenting?

Does this ring any bells?  ＞“My children will never have runny noses. They will not act like little brats. Their clothes will match and I will definitely not let them go out in public looking like circus rejects and wearing Superhero costumes.  Don’t those mothers care?”

Well, maybe none of you had those thoughts B.C.. Perhaps I’m the only one that went into this with the thought that I could do better, that I could be….wait for it…. da-da-da-dum!!!… SuperMom!

You know, those weren’t bad ‘ideals’ I had back then.  Just a little judgmental and extremely naïve.  Of course, A.C. (After Children) hit me in the face like an ice-cold bucket of water and I was left wondering where I went wrong! 🙂 course I didn’t lose those expectations right away.  Oh no!  For me, after Josh was born I thought, Hey! This is easy. What are those other Moms complaining about?  They just need to man up and get it done! 

Then not too long after that arrogant thought Grace was born!  After awhile I thought to myself, Hey, I got this!  To which I can just imagine God saying with a twinkle in His eye, You do? Really?  And then- BAM!   We have Jesse..and so on, and so on… ( we have seven)  😉

More and more I am being taught that our lives are not our own.  That every part is for a purpose to teach us and to be a living example of God’s love for us.  

Christian parents,  when you find that other children seem listen to you and respect you more than your own do, think on this:  the children of Israel did the same to Jesus.

But never give up! Just as He has not given up on you, but continues to work in your life  to perfect your faith and creating in you , whom He has planned for you to be.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”~Philippians 1:6

Don’t Quit (unknown author)

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low, and the debts are high;
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are;
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things go wrong..

that you must not quit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You want to mess up the minds of your children? Here’s how – guaranteed! Rear them in a legalistic, tight context of external religion, where performance is more important than reality. Fake your faith. Sneak around and pretend your spirituality. Train your children to do the same. Embrace a long list of do’s and don’ts publicly but hypocritically practice them privately… yet never own up to the fact that its hypocrisy. Act one way but live another. And you can count on it – emotional and spiritual damage will occur. “~ Charles (Chuck) Swindoll

Read more:http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/inspirational-christian-quotes-about-raising-children/#ixzz2R8HGLHMM

Originally pinned by Brian Laing onto Isaiah – English and Thai Script Follow Brian Laing, Saved By Grace ^_^ @ http://pinterest.com/bravidphoto/

Brian Laing / Isaiah – English and Thai Script

God is working not only in the lives of your children but yours also!  We each have distinct  paths that God Has prepared before time for us to walk in; however, we are privileged to have our own paths interweave with those of our children. And if we do not get too caught up in the day-in and day-out of life, we can (sometimes) be blessed by stepping back and seeing how God is working  in their life and directing their path.

I do caution, we must not confuse their path with ours. This is where the guiding and directing can become controlling and dominating.  Especially concerning our children that are now young adults. When this happens, we are saying that whatever plan God has for their life is not good enough.  That our plan is what matters. That we are a better parent than God!  That’s amusing…. not to mention prideful.

The promises from God that we hold on to for ourselves, we must also believe for our children.

Such as:

If He has a plan for you, surely He must have a plan for them, RIGHT?

Or are we so self-centered as to not believe that? 🙂

 

“If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it.”~Tennessee Williams