I have been a full time mom for 3 years and 4 months. it has been an interesting and challenging time for me. i have learnt a lot about myself and about children.
I like things to be calm and peaceful in my home, because i am a calm and peaceful person. So when my 3 year old is busy (and she is not even as busy as some kids are and i know a few) i get quite overwhelmed. sometimes i don't know how to handle her. i inquired of the Lord concerning this matter and He showed me something i realized that i already knew. i knew it, but i didn't understand it! you can know something very well, but it is the Lord that gives you understanding and understanding establishes you.
i have always known that children are full of energy and are busy bodies. Psalm 128:3 says (the NLT version has a nice explanation) Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. and then the Psalm ends with this is the Lord's blessing. there is more in this Psalm, but you can go and read it for yourself. the word vigorous describes children so wonderfully. it means energetic, strong, full of life. when i look at the words vigorous young olive tree i see my little Rachel.
the Lord has blessed me with this young olive tree full of life and energy.
i have also learnt (from some of the ladies that shared at this months ladies meeting) that we need to receive our children and not just endure them. this cancels out a lot of frustrations of parenting.
something else that was shared was what do you do when you don't know what to do? you love and you love and you love. when you are faced with a situation with your child and you don't know what to do, wait on the Lord until you have an answer. and while you are waiting...love. love is patient...your child needs to know that he/she is loved they need to feel secure. they need to know that daddy, mommy and Jesus loves them. the tender love of Jesus working through us, parents, is what they need.
i have to put aside what i think parenting is all about and put on Christ's yoke and constantly ask for wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit to raise my vigorous young olive trees.
