Leaning Into Parenthood at Christmas
Christmas Season~ what a time to be checking in!
So how are you feeling these days mom? Hard pressed and weary? Part Grinch or part Santa Claus in this wonderful, yet sometimes crazy, occasion to celebrate family.
The holidays are especially busy with extra choir practice, school plays and projects. I remember them well.
It’s easy to be hard on yourself as a parent with the pressures of training a child in the way he or she should go especially as the societal pressures have increased.
As young parents my husband and I had to deal with new math but not so much gender identification and other topics too complex for a young child’s mind.
Despite the challenges parenthood is one of the greatest adventures you can experience.
How does one protect her children from the instability in an ever changing society ?
I kept my kids close to home. I chose to be a stay at home mom. While I know that’s impossible for some couples there are multiple options for a mom and dad to share household responsibilities.
Last blogpost I stressed the importance of working on your marriage. It’s a huge help and if you haven’t read it you’ll find it here.
Along with agreement in your marriage, a strong community of family and friends who support you through the daily pressures and obstacles help the sometimes heavy task of raising kids for Christ.
A good school system which reflects your values, church family and sports teams are all great character builders. You’ll find them helpful for surrounding your kids as a ‘firewall’ against trouble.
As a mother who often wondered if I could do an adequate job I can honestly say that God is with you.
Priscilla Shirer stated, “whatever part of parenthood you are in, lean into it.” She was speaking about contentment in the day-to-day. Not worrying about when the littles become older when they can tie their own shoes. Or, that moment when they discover the gifts and talents God gave them.
Of course, spending time in the word and talking to our Father are imperative to giving you the grace to persevere, the strength to endure, and courage to know that with God’s help you are more than able to parent your beautiful child.
If you are going through a trial with your child now it may help to look again at a passage in Luke 2 detailed right after the birth of the Christ Child. The reason we celebrate Christmas.
“41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
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Have you ever lost sight of your child momentarily at a store or been late to pick him or her up after an extracurricular activity? I know I have.
In this passage in the NIV translation Joseph and Mary leave a city where Jesus is and don’t find him for three days. Can you imagine the panic Mary and Joseph felt when they noticed Jesus was not traveling with them?
Now if God chose these parents for his own son, how much more does he know the perfect parents for your child?
Your children are precious gifts my friend. Whether they are newborns, giving you fits as a preteen by testing your limits, or young adults, enjoy each moment.
I’ve found this book Praying The Scriptures For Your Adult Children by Jodie Berndt to be helpful in my current season of life as a mom. Hope this helps!
Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
