My parenting life looks much different than I ever thought it would. As a single mom of one son, I met and married a wonderful Christian guy, and we had two more children. John and I embraced the parenting years, but we were also looking forward to having an empty nest. After all, we’ve never had a season when it was just us. That’s when God stepped in with other ideas—namely a heart for adoption. In the last five years John and I have adopted three children, two from the foster care system. Currently we’re in the process of adopting four more, also from foster care. Let me do the math for you. That’s ten children. Ten!
I won’t lie; growing up I always liked the idea of a big family . . . but then reality hit when I was a young mom of three kids five and under. I was DONE having kids. Yet through the years as I grew in my relationship with Jesus Christ, I learned something important (and Biblical). My purpose in life should not be to set out to fulfill my dreams but rather God’s dreams. Parenting is not about me—or even our kids—it’s about Him.
If you dig into Christ’s purpose on earth His desire was to show His disciples (and us) what truly is important, what to focus on. Now that we have Christ-in-us, His focus should be ours. Our world looks very different than the one Christ walked in 2,000 years ago, but the heart of Christ has not changed. The key to parenting is seeking Christ’s heart first.
The easiest thing I ever prayed was, “Lord, give me your heart.” But the hardest thing I’ve every done was to put feet to that prayer. When Christ’s heart becomes ours, our purpose is clear:
Give sacrificially.
Love unconditionally.
Serve Christ with humility.
Isn’t this a model of good parenting? Parenting is sacrifice. Parenting is unconditional love. Parenting is humility. It’s giving up pieces of your life for the kids Jesus has given you. It’s extending grace when you least want to give it. It’s focusing on what’s eternal, rather than what won’t last.
Read the rest of this post at forthefamily.org.
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