"Life is Like a Roller Coaster"
6.14.15
In the 1989 film Parenthood, Steve Martin works through the ups and downs of being a parent. In one scene, he struggles with his own fulfillment hinging on his young son catching the ball in a baseball game. He stresses and worries about what the future might hold wondering what it would be like when they do drop the ball. To help him have perspective, his grandmother steps into the room and shares a story about her husband taking her on a date to the fair. She recalls riding the roller coaster and feeling scared and excited all at the same time. She mentions that some people only rode the merry go road, but it only goes around and around. It is safe, but not as fun. She preferred the roller coaster.
In parenting we sometimes wish it was the smooth ride of the merry-go-round, In reality, it is too often the ups and downs of a roller coaster. The thrills, the fear, the unexpected. When those times come, I believe there are four things to know from the bible concerning faithful parenting.
1. Keep trusting God in the dark times.
Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us that with God, "his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." We can turn to His Word and find hundreds of promises. Check the local Christian book store or online vendor and you will find thousands of books concerning the promises of God. We can rely in those promises and rely on the God who made them.
2. Real hope comes from God.
What do we put our hope in? Our kids? Their grades? Their future employment or future spouse and kids? Romans 5:5 that we should boast only in the hope of the glory of God. But how do we boast in the glory of God when our kids turn away from wise counsel or openly rebel? In those moments of trouble, lean on the Paul's words in the last part of Romans 5:5 which tells us that "we know suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame. Hope in God is never misplaced hope. And even when we or our children are going through difficult times, we need to realize that God can work with and through those times so that character and perseverance are being developed.
3. The goal is Christ-likeness.
We strive to raise our kids to be good people. Good Citizens. But God does not want just good Americans, he wants godly offspring. We read this in Malachi 2. So when things start to go astray, take heart, because Romans 8:28-29 reminds us that all things can work for good through God so that we can become "transformed to the image of his Son." The reason God sent Jesus to die and take away our sins was not just to have forgiven people, but to have adopted children who were remade in the image of his only begotten son: Jesus. Our goal then as parents is to raise kids who reflect the image of God. Regardless of profession, income level, or "success" in life, the quality God seeks in our kids is Christ-likeness.
4. The Heavenly Father Understands
Did you know that God has rebellious children? In Isaiah 1:2, God laments, "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me." If God, the perfect heavenly father, can raise kids that rebel, then we should draw two conclusions from this: a) We should not be surprised if and when our kids may turn their backs towards us. If God, who is perfect, has us kids who rebel and disobey, then we should not expect that our children would behave differently. And b) We cannot or would not blame God, our father, for the rebellion of his children, so why do we blame ourselves when our children fail? If we can say with good conscious that we have tried our best along with the help of the Lord, then it is the responsibility of the child when they rebel.
A final thought. We can worry and stress and strive to do our best as parents, but we can take comfort in Romans 8:37-39 which states that there is nothing in all of creation that can keep our kids from the love and will of God's plan for them. So we fail, and we will, but God is bigger than our shortcoming. If it is his will for our children to be saved, then nothing on this earth can stop it.
Hang on, make sure the lap bar is in the locked position, and enjoy the ride! This coaster of life and parenting is the best!
No comments:
Post a Comment