Parenting Pride

I am sitting here at my desk, scanning the posts on Baby Center and I realize how many people are so concerned about if the baby's name sounds right, whether they are having a boy or a girl (and being upset if they don't get the gender they want) and so many other interesting things. And then I had a thought: "How prideful one can be about parenting!"

When a couple gets pregnant, in their eyes, the child automatically becomes theirs. They feel as though they can do what they want to and for the child, they can say what they want to the child, they can treat the child how they want, etc. But what they all fail to realize is this child is not theirs. The child belongs to God. It is not a play toy or an image booster or anything of the sort. The child was born for God and given to us to help teach the child the ways of the His Kingdom and prepare them for the day that they hear God's voice calling. Some people wonder why it takes 9 (or so) months to have a baby. Maybe we are supposed to spend that time talking to God about the child. Finding out what His plans are for him/her, what He wants their name to be and how the child should be raised.

In biblical days, the family used to wait a period of time after the birth before they named the child. They would watch the child's mannerisms and named them appropriately. When Mary and Elisabeth were pregnant they knew the name of the child BEFORE the child was born. But how did they get that name? From God. He has a plan for all of us; as He is our creator and he knew us from the time we were in our mother's womb. Very often, when it's time for the plan to be revealed, we have to spend a considerable amount of time undoing what we learned when we were children instead of building upon it.

I implore every parent to really think about the purpose behind what they do for and say to their children. Ask yourself: What are you motives? Why do you do what you do and say what you say? Are you teaching your child the ways of God or are you teaching them what YOU think is right? For God to add children to your life is a great responsibility that can be fun and joyful when you follow His plan instead of parenting pridefully.

Construction Zone: Imagination at Work

Where else, but in the eyes of a child, can magnetic alphabet letters become the main ingredients of a chocolate cake? In the world of make believe, anything can become anything! Just this morning I enjoyed the finest delicacies of my imaginative girls: hot dogs and beans (also known as cooking spoons) and chocolate cake (also known as magnetic letters).

"Mommy, whatcha want?" "Chocolate cake, please!" "Okay!" I sat down and ate happily. Then I helped by tapping into my God-given imagination: I found a few balls in their toy box that served as eggs, maracas that served as mixers and pretend coins that became butter before our very eyes.

God gave us our imaginations to do just that: Imagine that something that is not, as though it was. This imagination is what helps us to propel our faith and cause that which cannot be seen to manifest itself into our present day and future. God enjoys it when we meditate on His word and imagine it coming to pass in our lives. If we can see ourselves healed, delivered, free, rich, etc, then we are. Using our imagination allows God to show us things we would not have ever seen had we not took the time.

I have learned that the television can squash our imaginations. I am not saying that television is bad but sometimes it can cause us to turn off our minds and accept whatever we see. When I turn off the TV and pull out the toys, I have noticed that my girls' imagination starts to flow. And, believe it or not, God can show them things that they have never seen before!

The Big Little Things

I was on the computer yesterday and my daughters were playing in their room. I heard one cry out in pain and come into the room where I was, with her sister following. "Sorry, Summerlyn," Samaya said, "do you want me to pray for you?" And then she commenced, in her own way, to pray to God for her sister. I watched in amazement.

But why was I amazed? Isn't that what I want? Don't I want them to learn that when they have a problem they should pray first? Yes, this is what I want them to do but I didn't think it would catch on so quickly. I thought it was a little thing to pray with them for healing when they hurt themselves, or pray with them at night before they go to sleep for rest and protection, or pray with them in the morning when we wake up and are having a rough time getting it together. But that which looks like a little thing in God, is a big thing.

There are a lot of big little things that God desires us, as mommies, to teach our children; asking forgiveness of the offended, and of God, when we hurt someone else; learning to share those things that we really don't want to give up; and choosing to be kind even when others are not. They all seem like little things because we are teaching it to little people. But they are little things that are big things in the eyes of God!