YOUR CHILDREN WILL NOT BE PERFECT!

I went for a walk around the neighborhood yesterday with a friend who had just delivered a precious baby boy.  We were sharing about how the dreams and expectations of sweet tender moments can be eclipsed by the exhaustion, fear, pressure, and feelings of inadequacy.  We get intensely discouraged when we see mothers of 4 and 5 children just breezing through life easily.  (If you are one of those moms, PLEASE contact me and let me know the secret!!)

I am picking up several bits of vital lessons that I must write down for my own benefit before I forget, and maybe they will be of some help to you as well.  :)

"My children's faith and character are more important than their accomplishments.  And MY faith and character are more important than my accomplishments." 

I don't know about you, but I struggle constantly against the media's portrayal that success is having children who are brilliant, athletically successful, socially accepted, and attractive.  And that as a mom, if my children are succeeding in life, that equals my success.  However, I am forgetting a major point:  I can do nothing good apart from Jesus!  Anything good that my children do is because of the grace of God!    God is the one who knows how best to parent my children, and I need to be asking for His guidance every step of the way.

My pastor's wife told me over lunch the other day...."Your children are not going to be perfect."
"WHAT?!!!!  WHAT DO YOU  MEAN?!"  I jokingly replied in an exaggerated tone. But I felt a deep sinking feeling in my heart.

Why?  I think I really have this expectation for my children to be perfect (not entirely of course, but close!)  I want them to do well in school, be excellent athletes, have lots of friends, love Jesus passionately, desire to go to church, get a free ride to college, marry someone we approve of, not make terrible decisions, honor us......and the list goes on.   YIKES!

OUR KIDS WILL NOT BE PERFECT!  They will be who God has created them to be, and yes, it is Doug and I's job to teach, shape and pray for them, but I need to let go of my unrealistic expectations, or I will end up being sorely disappointed.