on raising children.

this is my 300^th post.  i debated writing about blogging... about the constant tug of war in this ol’ head of mine about the desire to enter a technology-less cocoon, have a private life, less exposed, versus wanting to be transparent, to speak of the works of the Lord in my life and to preserve memories of my family.  i constantly battle between the two and usually come out somewhere in the middle.   but who really wants to read a blog post about blogging?  so, i will turn to more important matters, things of eternal value.  and, thank you for reading.  your kindness is more than encouraging.  you are a blessing to me.

i remember the day we found out we were pregnant with baby #1 - hunter.  we rejoiced, thanked God for this precious gift of life, and schemed over nursery plans and scoured baby name books.  i didn’t think about how often i’d feel clueless about  how to train up a child.  needless to say, the terrible twos were the last thing on my mind.  as the newborn stage came, i thought surely this had to be the hardest part.  - no sleep and sometimes feeling helpless when your child cried and cried. but we are now approaching hunter’s 2^nd birthday and his will is sprouting new wings and flying high. (i have a feeling i'll look back at this time and realize it was a piece of cake... ha!)

i’m learning about being intentional.  discipline can never take the day off.  we live in a culture that shuns authority, walks on tiptoes so as to not offend, and in a nutshell, lacks self-control.  so raising a child in today's day and age (i just sounded like my mom with the "today's day and age" phrase) takes a lot.  we have to correct that mindset.  

i do believe that the Bible gives us all the Truth that we need to raise children.  i also believe that God has given us resources to help us understand His word even more so.  and this frazzled mama needs some help, along with a whole lot of grace... to say the least.  i think much of last year felt like merely survival so i'm thankful that i now have some time to read.  i picked up "shepherding a child's heart" by tedd tripp and dove in head first.  i'm only in the intro (i didn't say i had that much time to read!); it's already convicting, challenging and encouraging all at once.   and not formulaic.  which i like.  hello, your child is not a chemistry problem.  just saying.

the book is completely Gospel centered.  just as life should be.  just as parenting should be... 

"God is concerned with the heart--the well-spring of life (Proverbs 4:23).  Parents tend to focus on the externals of behavior rather than the internal overflow of the heart... When we miss the heart, we miss the subtle idols of the heart...when we miss the heart, we miss the Gospel." (page xii)

tripp goes on to say that when our focus is the external issues rather than internal, we miss the need for grace.  if a child doesn't realize that they are self-serving, angry, bitter, etc, then they don't realize their need for grace.  Jesus came and lived a perfect life because of our need for grace.  when we miss the heart, we miss the power of forgiveness, we miss the glory of God.

wow.  and like i said, i'm only in the intro.  there's so much to learn.  i'll keep sharing tidbits with you along the way.  : )  

do you have a parenting book that has been a blessing?

time passes by so quickly... the days are long but the years are short.  i can't believe that this newborn in my arms is now seven months.  all the more reason to not take any time for granted.

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