Well, a deeper challenge lay before us. For eight years now, a small boy has lived under our roof alongside us. Also, now for 4 years a precious girl has grown up under our noses. The two remain innocent, naive and unsure of the next steps to take. The past years, their parents slid through the cracks in the area of rearing. The children never hurt physically for anything and received numerous hugs and kisses. But, they remained standing on shifted sand alongside their parents. Nothing stable appeared in their home. Their mother lived on an emotional rollercoaster and the father worked hard to provide financially so she could stay home. Stay home? For what? Well, mostly to clean the home, avoid full-time careers and take care of physical needs. What is missing???
God was not invited into our home. We forgot the most important piece to the puzzle and continued to wonder why everything kept crumbling around us. Our lives did not align just right. We felt unhappy and chaos appeared in the home often. Why? We did not stand firm on our Rock. My husband and I had it all wrong.
Read Deuteronomy 6.
But, guess what? We now have seen the Light. We know what God expects of us as parents and the way He intends for our children to be taught. These two children are true blessings straight from God. These children yearn to hear Truth, consistent teaching, clear direction and to be loved. God provides all of these needs within His Word. Reading the Bible will enable us as parents to better rear our children and set them upon a Rock. It took me 26 years to realize standing on sand never brings stability. The beliefs, directions, words and love I found here, OF this world, continually shifted and pulled my feet right out from under me. I had nothing to stand firmly on and kept reaching for solid ground.
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)
I do not want my children to grow unstable, continually falling. So, what can I do to better equip them for the plan ahead of them? Teach them to turn to the One with all the answers and the exact direction they should travel. He knows the plans held for each of their lives. I do not know what tomorrow will bring for them; but, I know Who will be there for them through everything coming their way. My husband and I want our children to have the unexplainable peace and love we now feel.
On March 4, 2012 we will commit our lives to follow Christ in the area of parenting. We will take a stand and stop doing our job half hearted. Since we activate the Holy Spirit daily, accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we now see the correct steps to take and are led by our God. We will profess commitment in front of witnesses and be held accountable for this task God presented to us eight years ago. You could say we are slow learners, but God is just thankful that we finally got it! Now, this does not mean we will be perfect parents. There will still be those moments when we are pushed to our limits, busy schedules consume our days and we fail. But, with God at the center, He will work all things out for His good. He will clearly show us when we drift from the correct path, forgive us as we admit to our mistakes and lead us back to His path. What an awesome God we serve!
"Train a child in the way he should go.
When he is old, he will not turn away from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
When he is old, he will not turn away from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
God, thank you for another day. Thank You for blessing me with two children. We need You to teach and guide our every move with rearing. We do not know what we are doing, the words to say or how to lead. Consume our hearts and lead us down the straight path. Continue to reveal our wrongdoings so we may correct our own lives to set the example right for our children. Equip us daily with the armor provided so we may display Your Glory and shine for our children. Help us remain focused on their well-being completely and not allow outside influences or chaotic schedules to steal our energy and faith. Help us. I love You.
Keep praying harder than the devil can work.
Sheree Craig
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