Another huge worry as a mother is that our children need to be perfect, but perfect kids don’t exist. Our children are born sinners and our children will sin. With this in mind, we don’t totally give up as mothers and let them run their own course, but we cannot allow the mistakes of our children to control our self-worth. We are to train up our children for the pursuit of godliness and lead them in a way that promotes the faith. Ultimately, however we must trust God with the results. Just as we have been shown amazing grace by Christ, we must show the same to our children. We don’t love our children because of their performance, but because of their position as our child.
Perfect Kids Don’t Exist-The Story of Eve (Genesis 4:1-16, Proverbs 22:6)
Eve must have dealt with this as a parent as she raised Cain and Abel under the same roof (or hut or whatever they were living in). Both children received similar upbringings, but one turned out drastically different than the other. Can you imagine the anguish she must have felt as a parent when she learned that her oldest child had murdered her youngest because of an offering? Eve surely second-guessed herself and her actions as a mother as many of us would. As parents we must realize that while our job is to lead our children, in finality it must be their faith that carries them through, and our trust must be in God to continue them on the correct path.
- In what ways have you used your children to value your self-worth?
- Do you trust God for the future of your children?
- What are some practical ways you can show love to your child based on their position and not on their performance?
