Too Blessed to Be Stressed for MomsSample

You-nique Parenting

“The tongue can bring death or life” (Proverbs 18:21 NLT).

The truth is, there’s no one best way to parent. Each child is different and each mom is different. If there were a single “right way,” everybody would be doing it. 

I hope none of us are pompous enough to believe we’ve got it right and everybody who disagrees with us is wrong. Our only example of the perfect parent is Papa God. And the way He responds to us—His children—when we sin, is the way we should respond to our own children when they mess up. 

“God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. . .” (Psalm 103:8-18 MSG).

According to this passage, let’s consider our heavenly Father’s optimum parenting qualities:

· Shows mercy

· Extends grace

· Not easily angered

· Loves generously

· Doesn’t endlessly nag and scold

· Doesn’t hold grudges

· Doesn’t deal out justice unmercifully

· Doesn’t inflict revenge

Wow. I’ve blown every item on this checklist. Today. Before noon. 

Most of these attributes don’t describe me, even on a good day … but I’d sure like for them to. I aspire to parent my children (and grands) more like my heavenly Father parents me. I’ll bet you do too. 

So what does it look like to parent like Papa God while still being you-niquely me? With my runaway temper and critical nitpicking, I’ve got a long way to go. But now I have goals. Goals that I truly want to achieve. Why? Because they’ll make me a better mom. 

How about you? 

If you can’t check many attributes off on the list either, don’t despair. There’s good news: no behavior is permanent. If it’s learned, it can be unlearned, right? 

Sometimes we have to backpedal a bit in order to finally move forward. 

Additional Elements:

BFF Prayer: Beautiful Role Model, You’ve inspired me to work on these godly attributes one by one so that I can parent more like You. And thanks for making me you-niquely me. Amen. 

Digging deeper: Romans 12:2 NLT.