Always a Miracle, Never an Accident

Today in my stories, I poked fun at my questionable parenting technique which consisted of bribing Abby during soccer. One jelly bean for every high five, pass, and teammate encouragement. No shame here!

I'll readily admit that, as we have grown as parents, we've loosened up a bit when it comes to exercising control of our children's actions. Years in the game has taught me that 1. Kids can't be perfect all the time. What an unrealistic exception and too heavy of a burden to place on their shoulders. 2. We are in it for the long haul and my child's breakdown one day isn't a reflection of who they are going to be nor who I am in my parenting. 

But don't let the loosening up fool you. There is a clear and intentional aim over here to raise our children to know who they are in Christ, learn how to love Jesus and pursue Him on their own, work hard, and to share that love. We'll never master the task. In fact we stumble through the mistakes and land on the ones that work for us. Because they are always growing, we will always be stumbling in the effort. Always a miracle, never an accident. I read that recently from Crossformed kids. 

The work of discipleship is primarily a work of God. Without his miraculous intervention in the lives of our kids, all of our effort, all of our strategies, all of our tactics would be for naught. God himself is our source of hope and help.

But discipleship is also not accidental. The same God who is sovereign over every molecule and every moment calls us as parents to be the primary disciple-makers in the lives of our kids. 

Always a miracle, never an accident.

Earlier this year I came across this poem from Hosanna Wong that used bible verses to say who we are in Christ. This past summer if the kids memorized it, they would be able to pick out a toy. The two older ones did it.

And just last week it came in handy when one of my kids was down on themselves for something in school. The foundation gave me a chance to ask them what Ephesians 2:10 says about how God sees you.

He calls me His masterpiece mommy.

He calls me His art.

He calls me purposed and fashioned for good things. 

YES, child. Who you are is not defined by if you are good at this in school. Thank you God for the chance to speak life this one time. But for every hit, we've also had a miss too. Which is why molding my heart to God's every day has become my very lifeline. I need it. I thirst for it. I am better parent with it. I am missing something when I don't have it - studying His Word, learning about His character, sitting in His presence, pouring out my adoration and my supplications. Scripture has become my life source, my beacon of light. 

I've learned to not wait for the perfect moment to be with Him. My bible is almost always with me so I can pick it up in the transitions - carpool, filling up gas, waiting for the water to boil, stopped at a light, waiting for a doctors appointment, on a plane, at a hotel. And every snippet of His living, breathing heart draws me closer to Him and prepares me better for the parts of the day that aren't perfect- the criticism, the meltdown, the disagreement, the tiredness, the overwhelm.

There was a time I felt guilty for not giving them my time when reading scripture. But I've realized that it's when I don't that I'm short changing them. Not only does it change how I respond and lead them, but it also teaches them, without saying it, what to value and prize. 

Always a miracle, never an accident.