Tough Parenting
I forgot how busy college life can be! This summer marks 20 years since I walked across stage and then walked down the isle in marriage. In those 20 years, I seem to have replaced (in my mind) the stress and frantic pace of college life with all the fun memories and great experiences while an undergraduate. Today, all those stresses came flying back as we helped Katelyn get moved in and registered for classes.
Those ‘stresses’ brought out an insecurity and lack of confidence that I
haven’t felt in quite some time. For a few hours, I was feeling the pressure from a full load of freshman classes (and all the practice time that comes with majoring in Piano) and a work schedule that was quite demanding. Though I never once considered putting Katelyn in the van and saying “Let’s just head home!,” I was uniquely aware of the pressure of the moment as well as the weakness in my own spirit.
God is Greater
Today I had to choose to trust that God’s plans for my children are greater and more important than the fears and insecurities that I have as a parent. It was a choice. It wasn’t a feeling, emotion or experience. Believe me, my emotions were not telling me to trust in God at that moment! I was going through a personal time of ‘tough parenting.’ However, I can take you to the place where I was standing today when I simply said in my mind, “God, I trust that you can help Katelyn through this.”
Trusting in God’s plan for your children doesn’t come naturally. Click here to read about our journey to that point of faith when Katelyn was younger.
Sometimes parenting gets tough. Sometimes the difficulty comes from hurts or disappointment, but sometimes the difficulty comes when we simply have to say goodbye to our children! When parenting gets tough for you, trust God to get you through it!
tough parenting
God had helped me!
As I sat down this evening, my mind began flooding back to all the difficulties of my years in college. I remembered staying up till 1 in the morning working on projects. I had forgotten about the stomach ulcer I had when doing my student teaching. …the financial strain of college bills, trying to save money for marriage, wanting to leave my Freshman year, working 25 hours a week plus classes as a Junior, having to take my science labs at night…. As I thought through these things, my heart was encouraged. Encouraged? Yes… because God helped me make it through those times and he will help my children as well!
No one lacks faith!
You must understand this simple truth….no one lacks faith! You either are trusting in yourself or in God! Either you are trusting in your ways and understanding or in God’s ways and understanding. Don’t put trust in your own emotions when times get tough because your emotions will lie-lie-lie! Scripture says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)
Are you stressed? Have you walked into a whirlwind that has you feeling like you are unraveling at the seams?
Trust in God!
In Christ,
DJHarry
Isaiah 64:8