Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
When I was a little girl in children’s choir, we learned this verse set to music. Now, my children have a CD with the very same song. It is a catchy little tune, and once it gets into your head it is hard to get it out. Once again, a verse that was hidden in my heart has come to the front of my mind in reference to how I parent my children.
This is another look at the whole wisdom angle. There is no way I can do this job under the power of “my own understanding”. I do not understand my children some days. Sometimes, I quite literally don’t understand what they are saying as the words come out of those little mouths in a constant stream of whining and fussing. Other days, I can’t figure out what alien being has over taken my sweet little child and replaced him or her with a monster. OK, so maybe no aliens haven’t taken over, but on those days, I simply don’t understand why they just won’t behave the way I want them to behave. It is in these moments that I have to trust that the Lord has a plan for my crew. He alone knows who and what my children are to become. I have to trust God to lead me and control my tongue as I engage in virtual trench warfare with behaviors that are so common to little ones. Temper tantrums, biting, fits, stealing for siblings….all those lovely little issues that crop up when we have a house filled to the brim with young children.
Trust also comes in the realization that God has given these children to me on purpose. It wasn’t an accident that he filled my arms with these specific personalities. The straight path that I want to follow is that of a mother who guides her children with a loving, Godly, and wise hand. Only by trusting God to bring that wisdom into my heart, and trough practicing that wisdom, am I able to continue to daily with this job we call motherhood.
I challenge you to teach this song to your children. Make up your own catchy little tune to the words, or look it up online. However you do it, hide these words in your heart and theirs. You never know when they will pop up in a time of need.
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