Partnership Parenting - Parenting with the Mind of Christ
My precious son was a blessing from God my husband and I were very aware of this because we were told by doctors that we couldn't have children. When he was a baby I could sense a call on his life and that too came from The Merciful Father, but somehow the responsibility of raising a 'man child' became frightening. Doing things by the book became almost an obsession. Frustration started palling around with Worry as I became burdened with my parenting. There was no joy and no peace. What a curious position to be in. I was/am a Christian woman, but my faith was not involved in my parenting. I allowed life to dictate to me what God invested in me even before my birth. It was like someone gave me a beautiful car, and had it customized expressly for my husband and I, but instead of driving the car we locked it in the car garage, covered it and just read about how great the car was. We did enjoy it we just looked it to make sure it was okay. Well of course a child is more precious than a car. When God gives you gift it is for you to enjoy not being paranoid. Everything had to be perfect. When you strive to reach goals that are unrealistic you find yourself very alone and very burdened.
I knew that something was not right early on when my then three-year old prince looked stressed out. We had him enrolled in the best classes and the best schools and the best this and the best that. He had the schedule of a CEO.
My son became an idol in my life. Thank God for Jesus! I was on the wrong path but because God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, he was able to find me where I was. It was time to get back to basics! Worry and Frustration was replaced by Prayer and Faith in God's Book of Books and the garment of stress went to Good Will with righteousness as its replacement. Prayer and the Word of God became my final authority. Yes I prayed for my children, yes I knew that God was involved in my life but now it was time to be specific with every area of my life. God was already there but I had to give Him the control.
I had to willfully make Him Lord over everything in my life.
While studying the bible and praying some very simple truths were deposited in my heart. Truths like; if I teach my children about the Lord and his ways they will have great peace and when they grow older they will not depart from Him. I also learned if I need wisdom I just needed to ask God for it and He gives it liberally and that the fruit of my womb is blessed! We all know these things right? Sure, in our minds but does it translate to our businesses, our child rearing, our everyday relationships?
Then while on my search a gem from my own childhood jumped out to me in Jeremiah 29:11-13. Which reads:
"11
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, They are plans for
good and not evil, to give you a hope and a future. 12 in those days
when you pray, I will listen. 13 You will find me when you seek me, if
you look for me in earnest." TLB
That scripture rang like a
church bell in my heart! I realized that the same God that created the
universe has a definite plan for my family and that our success was
already in His plan. I needed to look to the Master Builder's
blueprints, to the original plan, from the Ultimate parent - God!
The realization that my son's destiny was no longer head knowledge was
now alive in me. I was a young mother, yes but, my Counselor was and is
the Ancient of Days and through the Holy Spirit, I had instant access
to Him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I realized that being a covenant
child of the most High God myself also meant my husband and I have a
Senior Partner in our marriage and our parenting who never runs out of
answers and is always available.
What a simple revelation, but no one can describe the amount of relief that I experienced with my new perspective.
God was/is just as interested in my son's destiny as I am, if not more. He was so interested that He invested His own blood to ensure all of our success.
So what did I do? I had to trust the Lord with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding. If I don't know what to do that very second, but I acknowledge Him in all my ways he will direct my path, my husband's path, and my children's path.
Now, everyday my husband and I place our children into the hands of a very capable Father- our senior partner. Do I still watch their diet, what they watch on television and all that parental stuff? Yes, absolutely, but only with the knowledge that the destiny God has for my children is set in stone. My job is to be a steward over them mentally, emotionally, and physically. They are a gift not a possession. That perspective is a point of agreement with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus, not agreement with the worry.
My three-year-old prince is now a teenager and his baby sister is almost 10 years old. I can rest in God's promise and plans for their lives. God's plans are for good and not evil, to give all of us a hope and a future! Yes, my precious blessings love pizza, skateboarding, and video games, but they also love to praise the Lord and fellowship with their peers in Christ. No, "they are not done yet", but none of us are. God is directing their paths. I can thank God that I am a wife and mom who is not stressed out about their future.
Remember? You may not do everything perfect but the Perfect One is always perfecting us.
About the Author
Tina Boursiquot is the founder of www.DramaFreeRadio.com with her husband.
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