A friend shared this recently, and I found to be such a profound insight into my thoughts about parenting - captured so powerfully and so succinctly - I just knew I had to pass it along.
This weekend, as we think about all things mothers, mothering, and all things motherhood, I am so thankful for those who come alongside me with words of hope, inspiration, and purpose:
A recent conversation with my sister (who parents in complete opposition to me) had her saying this:
"We have the same goals for our children, but we have very different ways of trying to accomplish that goal. We are very concerned that your methods will not get you the result you want."
I said, "I would gently suggest that our goal may not actually be the same, and, as such, you may not be able to judge our methods by what you think the goal is."
She went on to say this:
"Don't we both have the same goal of ending up with kids who love God and serve Him?"
I would say that is absolutely NOT my goal, nor is it a reasonable goal for any believing parent to have.
Is it the cry of my heart? Is it something I long for? Will it be one of my greatest joys?
Absolutely.
But a goal? Nope.
A goal has to be something that I have the power to actually accomplish.
And no parent, no parenting method can save a child. That goal is solely in the hands of an ever-loving, perfect God.
So, what is my goal?
To live out the gospel in my home. To accurately teach about and represent God in my home. To show my children their need for God by living out my own need for Him.
God is entirely lovable, and it is a joy to serve Him. God is entirely capable of winning my childrens' hearts to Himself. I don't need to parent in fear for their souls.
God lays out in His Word what my goal in parenting is in Deuteronomy 6 in the Shema:
HEAR, O ISRAEL: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
So many thanks to my friend for granting permission to share her wisdom here.
photo by NewGaboX
