Parenting is hard! Like really hard, exhausting, and messy. I keep getting told it will only get worse the older my children get. I have seen and heard countless women say “Only a few more years and I’m free!” Or they count down how much longer until they are child free. As a mom who homeschool's her children I find it painful to read often mom’s ready for school to start back up because their kids are driving them nuts. This breaks my heart a little.
I understand they can drive us nutty and to the brink of some serious madness, but isn’t it beautiful? Think about it, you are there to witness to this person. To help them grow and change and you have a hand in developing their behavior. You are there for the moments some people never get. Through the pain, the mess and anger you get to witness to these little people and help push through to the light and the happiness. This is your chance to minister to them and show them what it means to be human and to guide them!
I am by no means perfect and there are times I snap at children. I wish and long for private time and have caught myself counting down the hours until bedtime, so I can sit with a glass of wine and unwind with my show. Yet.
I miss them. I never count down the hours until they are out of my house. I love hearing them work through their issues and even though I get tired of playing referee, I love to use those moments as a teaching moment. I love watching them learn life even the painful moments. I have been blessed with three small people who I am to mold and guide.
Now do not get me wrong for a very long time I had a hard heart and I did not find the joy in any moment. I did not enjoy any part of parenting and I shut down every part of me. When God broke me down and he softened my heart. I learned the only way to move forward was to start with love and what better way then with 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
EVERY moment where I found myself huffing at their incessant questions or rolling my eyes when I would hear mom. I would replace the feeling or the thought of “what now” with the Word. I wrote it on my hand and put it in my phone which in my opinion is the modern version to
So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.
Any and every time being a mom became too much I would stop, breath, relax and remind myself 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
This verse the parent's prayer has done so much for me in so many ways. Not only does this help bring me back to God when dealing with the stresses of motherhood, but if or when my dear husband is getting on my nerves I remember this verse and am more likely to approach him with kindness and love. Same goes for you, the people in the outside world! Y’all can drive me bonkers *smile* you know what I mean. People are crazy makers y’all!
Yes, parenting is hard, messy, exhausting but it is also ordered, pliable, and invigorating.
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