The Longer I'm a Parent...

I wrote this post a long time ago--I think a year ago--anyway, I don't know why I didn't post it then or what made me think of it today, but I'm posting it now. Hopefully you will find some encouragement for your situation.

The longer I'm a parent, the more I experience God and His infinite love and forgiveness for me. I'm often in awe of His relationship with me.

Out of exhaustion and frustration, I find myself saying things to the kids like, "Didn't I tell you...?" or "I've told you 100 times, please stop...." Then I think of God, our perfect Heavenly Father, looking down on me and saying, "Kristy, didn't I tell you all sin is forgiven and covered in my blood?" Or He could say to me, "I've told you 100 times, stop worrying. I'm in control."

No matter how frustrating my day with the kids is, I'll never stop loving them. I'll never regret they're in my life. I'll never stop disciplining and teaching them out of love so they can grow up to be men of God. Then, I think of God and how He never stops pursuing us. I wonder how hard it was for God to see His creation before the flood. Genesis 6:6 states, "The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled." From my perspective, "deeply troubled" probably doesn't even begin to describe God's feelings toward His creation at the time. But even then, God didn't give up. He could have wiped out all humankind, but he didn't. He saved Noah and His family. He gave humans another chance.

Or look at the Israelites. How many times did they doubt God and His power? How many times did they turn from Him and run towards idols or their own pride? Every time they turned, they faced consequences and they returned to the God who loved them and never gave up on them. He continues to pursue His people today--when we rely on our own knowledge or skills, when our pride overshadows His blessings, and when we tell Him we don't need Him in our lives. He pursues. He disciplines and teaches out of love to protect us, whom He created.

In church, I often say to the boys, "Whisper in church like me." I'm showing them what to do, not just telling them. Isn't that exactly what Jesus did when He walked on this Earth? The example Jesus set was: speak in love, serve others, love others, live selflessly. I know that I am far from the perfect example Jesus set, but if I (in my great sinfulness) can love and forgive my children, how much greater is God's perfect love and forgiveness? I can't even fathom it!

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13 (NIV)