7 Kids, 49 lessons
Articles about parenting are continually being published. There are even magazines entirely dedicated to the topic. You can find articles titled things like: “Tips and Tricks,” “Things that Work,” “How NOT to Mess-up Your Kids,” “What My Parents Did Wrong,” or “How to Avoid Being Your Mother to Your Kids.” As parents, we are constantly second-guessing ourselves, doubting our instincts, and needing affirmation.
I have sought out and read my share of these articles while sitting in waiting rooms, having left the book I am trying to finish before the year is over back home. Usually, I am disappointed or frustrated by these articles. They are over-simplistic or cheesy. Often it is clear that I disagree with their focus.
We have seven kids. When we started out, I thought I had it all figured out. Boy, was I wrong. So, as a sort-of response to the other lists, here are some of the things God has taught me so far.
- This job is bigger than me. I need God every day, every hour, every minute – all the time.
- Less is more. That is, less of me and more of Him.
- I have the opportunity to teach my children to worship by my example. Sometimes I have not realized what I was worshipping until, to my horror, I saw my children bowing down to the same thing.
- All TV needs monitoring. And living without it is not only possible, it is liberating!
- There is a real, usually invisible, but sometimes clearly visible, spiritual battle for my children.
- In my weakness, He is strong!
- I will never again be well rested, but He will sustain me.
- Pride, anger, and selfishness are ugly when I see them in my children. But uglier still in my own mirror.
- My husband is his most handsome when he is holding a newborn, changing a diaper, drying tears, washing the dishes, camping out, or on his knees for his family.
- There is real power in the truth of God’s word and much more than in my sermonettes.
- Laundry multiplies in the laundry room, even though socks always come out as singles.
- A well-appointed home is overrated; well used is far better.
- God’s sacrifice of His only son for my sin is beyond my comprehension. Amazing grace!
- My parents did a good job.
- The beauty of “I’m sorry.” The power of “I was wrong.” The necessity of “I love you!”
- Bible references, books, chapters, and verses are invaluable in the discipleship of my children. “It’s in there” just doesn’t cut it.
- Prayer is powerful, calming, bonding, encouraging, necessary, continuous, sustaining, and joyful.
- Even a king-sized bed is small on Saturday morning.
- Lightening bugs, Lady bugs, worms, and frogs are still fun to catch and amazing to watch.
- My kids love to hear me laugh. I should do it more often.
- Spontaneous adventures are often more fun and less expensive than pre-planned ones.
- I do not always have to answer the phone; it will not blow up.
- It’s exciting when someone accepts Christ as their Savior.
- A song sung together makes chores go faster.
- The more, the merrier.
- Sheltering my children is a good thing.
- Candlelight at dinnertime is fun, even with the kids.
- Time spent with my children is never wasted – NEVER.
- I cannot get lost opportunities back. Neither can I allow guilt to steal my hope of going forward.
- A popsicle is a popsicle is a popsicle. Sticky, cold, and sweet.
- You are never too young or too old to learn something new.
- Love never fails.
- My children are watching, listening, and imitating me all the time – yikes!
- Never interrupt a child who is happily playing unless it is an emergency; everything else can wait.
- God answers prayers, especially those of children.
- The Gospel message is really simple; adults make it complicated.
- One hour playing Legos equals a lifetime bond.
- It hurts when people are mean, and it’s hard to be nice back.
- It is fun to consider “Why?”
- Children are actually quite easily and inexpensively amused. Playdough, bubbles, and new crayons are just three examples.
- At the end of the day, I cannot choose for my kids.
- I will always have reason to be on my knees.
- It is invaluable to have family jokes that strangers don’t understand and you cannot explain.
- God has got this. Really, He does.
- I love cooking in the kitchen with my kids – it’s worth the mess.
- Kids are never too old for reading time.
- This is the best job in the world!
- The “someday” – when everything is in its place and it’s quiet – will come too fast.
- Cheering for each other builds self-esteem.
