I began my parenting very confident that I had much knowledge to do a good job of it. I was quickly humbled; parenting does this. I again searched high and low for the knowledge of how to do my parenting “right”, and often lamented with other moms that the hardest thing about parenting was never being quite certain you were making the right decision. For every approach, half of the people around you would think you’re going too far, while the other half not far enough. What’s a parent to do?!
I do thank the LORD for His patience with me as He waited a long time for me to turn to Him. The best parenting advice can be summed up in what Jesus said was a summary of the Law and the prophets: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If it hurts me when my husband – whom God has placed in authority over me – does something toward me, then I should choose from love to do unto my children as I would have liked done toward me. If I am thankful for God’s patience and gentleness and forgiveness toward me, then I should gratefully turn and bestow these same gifts upon my children.
The best counsel, as always, is found in God’s Word.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”
“…we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”