Each month, our church adds a Focus on the Family bulletin insert into the church bulletin. I always enjoy reading through it and almost always find some good information for myself. Yesterday we got our monthly insert. While it is directed at father's, I am challenged by it as well. As a preschool teacher, I know that children often relate to God as they do their parents. I've never really stopped to REALLY think about the implications of this. Since God is neither male or female and we are all created in God's image, women need to think about this just as much as men when it comes to parenting. So here is the question that is challenging me as I parent my three blessings. How do my children see God if they see God like they see me? Hmmmm... I'm not sure I am always giving the right vision of God to my children.
I think of the attributes of God: loving, just, merciful, slow to anger, always available, protecting and providing. I'm not sure that this describes me as a parent, even on my best days. I know I will never be perfect and will totally mess up many times, but I do want to be a good example to my children. I want them to know that God loves them in the same way a mother loves her children. The Bible even describes God like a mother hen gathering us under her wing.
So I am thinking of ways to be more loving and just, merciful and slow to anger, available and protecting and providing. But most importantly, I want grace to pour out of me, like grace pours from God onto me. I want to be a parent who shows grace at every chance I get. This doesn't mean my children won't have consequences for bad choices, because we endure the same when we sin. But I do want them to know that always, they are forgiven and the offense is forgotten... and, God willing, maybe they will do the same for me!
No comments:
Post a Comment