When I first started my studies in our church’s lay counselor training class, I was extremely discouraged about the fact that I had children.
Let me explain...
I had read book after book which explained the “ideal” way to parent children, and I knew I had failed time after time. I felt helpless and hopeless of ever being able to make up for my own shortcomings as a parent as I reflected and realized how I had been negatively impacted by my own parents’ influences and choices. What a burden to try to be perfect so our children will grow up to be healthy adults who contribute positively to the world.
Then, as I prayed so passionately for God to help me understand all of this, to understand why He would even allow imperfect people to become parents in the first place, He spoke so gently to my spirit when He said, “Shelley, even if I made you a perfect parent, it still wouldn’t guarantee that your children will ‘turn out’ the way you believe they should. Even if you were absolutely perfect, they would still have an enemy who is out to steal, to kill and to destroy.' (See John 10:10) He will do what he can to distort the good you do and overemphasize the wrong you do in order to annihilate them. THAT is why YOU need ME and THEY need ME. THAT is why I sent my Son.”
So parents, take heart. We all desperately need a Savior! I need one, my parents need one, my children need one; and so do you.
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I originally wrote those words in 2006. So much has happened since that time. I can look back and reflect on the amazing goodness of our Heavenly Father and the incredible truth in what He showed me. My family and I have weathered so many storms these past several years; but I can say with all sincerity that God is good and that He has been very good to us. I'm quite frankly, really impressed with how God can take the worst things thrown at us, and, in His time and ways, redeem even the worst things into something beautiful.
I don't know what you're going through--whether in parenting, marriage, work, school, or whatever--but I do know this: there has never been a moment, and there will never be a moment, that your Heavenly Father will disengage from the story He is writing in your life.
He's so good!! :-)
