Settle down for a few moments with a mug of coffee or tea and take a look at this great article Lynne Hybels has written about bringing up her children.
I loved it because I found out more about her daughter, Shauna Niequist, who will be speaking at REAL next month. I also loved it because it's such a great lesson for us parents to learn - and to keep on learning. My children are not "mini-me's".They may have some inherited traits, but they are their own person, a unique individual , a unique combination of God-given gifts, talents and strengths.
Now that our children are all teenagers, I have turned into the parent that says "it goes so fast" - I wasn't saying that when it all seemed endless when they were under 10. But now I know that it goes fast, and we share meals, fun times, TV programmes on a different level now.They have their own interests, their own schedules. One thing we do all enjoy together is eating out, so that's where my Tesco vouchers go! They just eat, you don't need to coax or bring crayons any more; and we all chat, it's a great way to connect. I'm very aware that they have their own personalities and I pray for God's wisdom to continue to parent them , to draw out their strengths, to bring out the best in them, to nurture them and love them the ways they need to be loved. They are a gift, but they're not mine...gotta keep letting go!
I loved it because I found out more about her daughter, Shauna Niequist, who will be speaking at REAL next month. I also loved it because it's such a great lesson for us parents to learn - and to keep on learning. My children are not "mini-me's".They may have some inherited traits, but they are their own person, a unique individual , a unique combination of God-given gifts, talents and strengths.
Now that our children are all teenagers, I have turned into the parent that says "it goes so fast" - I wasn't saying that when it all seemed endless when they were under 10. But now I know that it goes fast, and we share meals, fun times, TV programmes on a different level now.They have their own interests, their own schedules. One thing we do all enjoy together is eating out, so that's where my Tesco vouchers go! They just eat, you don't need to coax or bring crayons any more; and we all chat, it's a great way to connect. I'm very aware that they have their own personalities and I pray for God's wisdom to continue to parent them , to draw out their strengths, to bring out the best in them, to nurture them and love them the ways they need to be loved. They are a gift, but they're not mine...gotta keep letting go!