A couple weeks ago I was attending my Women's Bible Study. We were talking about Life, Marriage and Motherhood. I had been struggling that week and honestly questioning myself as a mother.
Some days, I just feel like I'm doing it all wrong.
There is another woman in our group who also has teenagers. We have shared our concerns and lifted our children up in prayer, however we never really opened up and shared our struggles as Mothers.
That evening, she sat next to me and we began talking. I shared my concerns with her about raising teenagers and she shared a little of her own. It was if, God placed us next to each other for this reason.
I shared my fears as a mother of teenagers. The Partying, Alcohol, and Drugs that are out there. The fear that my children will make Wrong Choices and my greatest fear that I will somehow Mess them up!
I question myself all the time!
Am I training these children up in a way that is honoring God? Some days, I feel like I am doing a great job and other times I feel like I am messing my children up.
~Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Do you ever feel like if you could just find the right Balance?
I do, all the time. In fact I remember asking this sweet woman, "How do you find the right balance in giving your child freedom, but not too much. For instance, if your teen comes to you and asks to go to a party, and you know there may be alcohol there, what do you do?
Her answer was spot on! She said, " There is NO Balance." We do our part as parents and we have to fully surrender our children to the God." It was almost instant freedom knowing that as long as I am doing my part, I need to trust the God with the rest.
Have you surrendered your Teenagers to the Lord? It can be hard at times because, we Love our children so much and want to protect them from anything that could cause harm.
I have great news for you mama!
God loves your children so much more and he wants every-Single- part of them. The truth is, God knows your children better than you do! He wants the messy and broken parts of their lives. God wants use your children in ways beyond your imagination.
~ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
So what do you say Mama, will you do your part and trust God to shape and mold your teenager into who he has called them to be? I encourage you to let go of your fears and trust God who cares so deeply for your children...
This speaks to me so much as I also have a teenager, now 18 and living at home until graduation..Being a parent of a teenager is so very, very hard, especially in this culture..Ultimately, you're right we need to remember God is the ultimate parent for our children, yet we also need pray without ceasing! Looking back on the teen years, we made many mistakes, contributing to entitlement, not setting stronger limits with consistent consequences, but we're still learning and getting better..I think we need to be co-creators with God as parents. My son turning 18 was hard, suddenly he thinks he can do anything he wants..but under our roof, we now learned firm house rules we expect him to follow through with and have clear consequences now. The culture out there is nasty and we need both tools, lots of prayer, and knowing God is in charge! Visiting from Christian Bloggers Unite on Facebook. Keep firm and loving as you rest in God's promises for your teen..
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy!
DeleteThank you so much for your comment! I love that we are co-creators with god as parents. That is such a great perspective. I feel that the teen years are teaching me so much as I lean on the Lord to help guide me in raising our teens up in this culture. Its tough and I am so thankful for the grace God provides! God Bless You!
I don't have kids, but I am a school counselor and have 350 I work with daily. With social media pressures now, it is so much more difficult.
ReplyDeleteRaising a kid (or teenager) today with a passion for God takes patience, prayer, and like you said TRUST. :)
Wow Jessica! I know that you are impacting so many lives being a school counselor. God Bless you friend! We all need a lot of patience, love, and grace!
DeleteI think it is such a tricky situation. I thought my parents did a great job in raising my sister and I in the Lord. However, my sister rebelled and did everything under the sun breaking my parents hearts. I did the opposite. i think all you can do is to do your best.
ReplyDeleteThis is so important. We do our best as parents. Ultimately they are all children of God as well. He has a plan for them and we need to learn to trust and let go and allow them to find their own way.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post! I am already praying hard for when my little 8 month old is a teenager. You are doing a great job!
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