Augurst 22: Grace for the Journey
Grace for the Journey
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| Dr. Terry Ann Robinson Kings SDA Church |
When I was pregnant with my first child, I read the book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” by Heidi Murkoff. It prepared me well for the symptoms and the various phases of pregnancy.
In preparation for motherhood, I read many books on parenting. Although these were excellent, I still wish there were an instruction manual for each of my children. A manual that tells me what to expect as they move through the various stages of life, which method of discipline will have the greatest impact, and how to ensure that they follow the right path. A manual that tells me what they will do, what they will struggle with, and how I can help them become all God wants them to be. I would have loved for the midwife to hand me this manual with my child’s name on it as soon as I had given birth, but no such luck.
Maybe you, too, wish you had this manual.
There are several times when, despite my best effort, I fall short as a parent. I regret my tone. I am embarrassed about the words I say to my children in anger. I spend more time on my device, instead of being with them. I prioritize other activities and place them on the back burner. I work so hard that I'm just too tired to play with them or give them a listening ear.
Parenting perfection escapes me.
Mary was the recipient of the most prestigious Parent of a Lifetime Award. God the Father scanned through the prospects and selected Mary to carry the Savior of the world in her womb. Mary must have felt so special. She knew who she was given the privilege of training and must have executed her duties with fastidious care. Yet, in Luke 2:41-52, we see Mary and Joseph forgetting their child in another city. They did not find him until 3 days later.
Mary must have lost herself for those three days. She must have questioned why she was chosen. She must have been filled with fear and guilt. How could she have lost the Savior of the world?
Nothing catches God by surprise. He had already looked through time and had seen that very day in Mary’s life, and still she was chosen.
God has already seen all the parental mistakes you will make, and He has still given you the precious gift of parenting or He has allowed you to be a parental guide to the children in your life. He wants you to be the best you can be and He knows it’s not an easy job. He knows you will make mistakes. So, He has given you grace. Our key text for today reminds us that His grace is sufficient for our parenting mistakes and His strength is perfect in our weakness.
Accept God’s grace as you strive to be the parent or parental influence He wants you to be. Your parenting journey will not be perfect, but God’s power remains with you. Give yourself some grace and give your children some grace too.
There are no perfect parents. There is, however, a perfect God that takes the best of our parental efforts and turns them into parental success.
Prayer
Our father, we know that you have given us an awesome responsibility as parents. Sometimes, we are overwhelmed by our responsibilities. We feel like failures when our children don’t go the way we expect them to. Help us the accept Your Grace for our parenting journey.
Amen
Awwww thank you God.
ReplyDeleteAmen 🙏
ReplyDeleteAmen! Praise God!
ReplyDelete