By Suzan Braun
Parenting problems are universal. They come in all shapes and sizes and can relate to our children’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health. We worry about their relationships, their education, their careers and job opportunities or lack thereof. Who will they marry and will they eventually be good parents themselves?
And parenting clichés abound: “These kids certainly don’t come with instruction manuals.” Or “Parenting is the toughest job you’ll ever love.” And then there’s, “We thought empty nesting was a permanent phase, but guess what—they’re back!” From birth through adulthood these people called children consume our lives, form our families, and bring us the greatest joys and challenges we could ever imagine.
As parents we are shaped and transformed in ways we never thought possible through parenthood. The day-to-day responsibilities are immense, but the rewards usually far outweigh those tough times. And our best life lessons in parenting are usually forged on the anvil of working through the parenting problems of unforeseen difficulties. Family life allows us to learn time and again about God’s love and grace through our daily interactions with our children and each other as parents. And we see through it all— the painful seasons and the joyful times— that our Heavenly Father’s love for each of us is far greater than we would have ever dreamed.
As Psalm 127:3 states, “Children are a gift from the Lord, a real blessing.” And as parents we long to honor God and train up our children in the ways that He would want them to go.
Parenting is a long journey. Fortunately, we have a God who gives us the strength to accomplish the tasks He lays before us (Phil. 4:13). We never stop training, teaching, and cheering our children on. As Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” And best of all, this parenting and family life thing—we never have to do it alone—He is by our side each and every step of the way!