Parenting: What Do I Know?

-



 Today, I read Proverbs 6:20-21. My thoughts may not be in line with the context of the chapter but, then again, God rarely teaches me that way. He usually takes me to an idea that comes from the passage and then shows me another thought. That's what He did today so I thought I'd share my tangent.

"My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck."

Sheesh!! No pressure! That's how my mind first experiences these words. Moms and dads are to give guidance to their children. 

It sounds easy enough until you have to put it into action. The basics are easy, but the new stuff, the stuff that feels beyond the scope of my abilities to handle myself much less help my kids handle, is incredibly befuddling. It is hard not to feel like a sub-par parent. So I choose the things we know I can stand on and work from there. 

My heart has always wanted my children to know Christ the way I have; to experience Him in a personal yet larger than life sort of way; to want to be in step with His desires for their lives. In order for this to happen, there have to be examples and guidance. Where would they get this from? Me. From watching me look for those things and striving for a closer relationship with God. That doesn't just happen. Like anything you wish to teach, it takes discipline. Focus is needed to educate someone. It's also needed to learn.

Ugh, again it comes back to the parent. Discipline has never been at the forefront of my being... except in those things I value most... so why would it be important to them? A friend once said something that I'm sure has been out there forever but it has never left my mind. Kids will not learn as much from what is taught than they will from what is caught. So discipline and education are useless? No, they are reinforced by what is observed. What do my kids see as something that's important to me? 

"Bind them (the teachings of your parents) upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck." 

This passage made me picture a charm I've had since Jr. High. It has always stayed with me and I have always valued it's symbolism in my life. Not sure why it struck so deep in my soul but it did. The charm has an anchor, a cross, and a heart. Now, I'm not a hearts and flowers sort of girl, in fact I have always avoided anything with hearts on it, especially jewelry, but this didn't mean the same thing to me. It is the teaching that I have "fastened around my neck," and bound to my heart. It is the one thing I wish my kids to be struck by as well. 

The Anchor - represents Faith or being anchored and steadfast in... I believe in Jesus and His love for me. 

The Cross - represents Hope or what Christ gave me by dying on the cross for me... a hope that I am saved and His.

The Heart - represents Love or the beautiful commitment to walk through life with someone... the knowledge that I am fully known and still wanted.

Perfect parents don't exist as proven multiple times in the Bible but for me, if they teach these things, if they live like they believe these three things, they're pretty rock solid. No my kids won't be perfect. They'll still make mistakes like I did and do. They'll still struggle to figure out what they believe and value most in life. Being anchored in Christ's love is what I hope my kids "catch" from me. If I stick close to God and do my best to stay focused on Him, then their chances are so much better. 

So they burp at the table and aren't always the perfect child. That'd be great but if they love Jesus, I did my best as a parent.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sacred - Just As I Am

-
Image
Some of my favorite places to walk are cathedrals or temples when they are not in use. There is a feeling I cannot find anywhere else but there and in nature. The space holds a stillness and quiet that’s unmatched. It can feel vast with its arches, windows, pillars, and light. It can fold me tightly in its comparable smallness to God. There are few man-made things that give me that feeling. One such church is the Chartres Cathedral in France. I was able to visit during Easter weekend one year and it really was spectacular. There were so many things that gave it a feeling of comfort for me. So many features that brought my attention back to my Creator and just set my heart at ease. I felt peace…. Just peace. Many of us have heard that our bodies are a temple. This scripture is often quoted, spoken on, and for me can be a constant reminder of how poorly I care for my physical and mental being, but it shouldn’t be. Or at least that’s what God wanted me to hear to day.  " Don’t you kn
Read more

... In Love

-
Image
I went to a private Christian school for my elementary years and one of the requirements throughout the years was the memorization of scripture. It was something I actually liked doing, although I can't say I remember more than 4 or 5 long passages and a handful of verses, but one such passage that "stuck" was 1 Corinthians 13. I'm currently going through that chapter, taking it one verse at a time. I don't know if I have ever done it so slowly before. It affords an almost out of context focus on their meanings.  Today was verse three:  "If I give away all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."  First, it seemed interesting that we could gain anything by surrendering. Why would that be a motivator? Sadly, I'm guessing that humans don't do much of anything without some promise of gain. Paul, the writer, knew that.  I tabled that thought and went on to the meaning of the word surrender. To su
Read more

It's All Colton's Fault...

-
This is most likely for all you moms and grandmas to enjoy laughing at me, the one who did this to you. For the life of me I've been trying to figure out why I haven't been able to keep up with my household chores the last few months. I am usually able to work, do the bills, pick up the house, clean the bathrooms (HAH!), do the laundry from start to finish , keep the kids entertained, and do the dishes (although, that is something my hubby has said he would do for me but doesn't do until my head explodes or there's no more counter space... which is pretty incredible considering the amount of counter space we have. (I love you, Sweetie :) )). Lately, I can't tell if anything is actually getting done without great efforts to dig out from under the pile of whatever it is! A usual day's routine is to get everyone ready and out the door to take Kayla to school and then take jr. to the store for groceries or to run whatever errand needs to be run. I return in time to
Read more