Jesus, Not a Parenting Method
Posted by TulipGirl | Under GFI / Ezzo / Babywise, Mommy-Inspiration Files, Pearls / TTUAC / NGJ Tuesday Mar 16, 2010For the mommy-inspiration files, from katiekind:
And lastly, and I say this gently, as the parent of grown kids, knowing *insert parenting guru* is also the parent of grown kids: we have wonderful children — he does, I’m sure — and so do I.
But without even knowing his children I can know this about them: they are not perfect. They hurt. They make mistakes. They struggle. They are prideful and overly simplistic at times; and crippled by shame and hesitancy at others. Yes — they are beautiful examples of human beings, his children (I assume), and mine (I know.) But they are not perfect. If they were, they would not be human.
If it were possible to raise children to perfection, then God would have sent a parenting method, not Jesus.
Our marching orders are not to raise our children by a method to be like *insert parenting guru* children. Our marching orders are to be Christians to and with our children.
Amen!! I e-mailed that to my husband when she first posted it. So true, and so timely-again!
Wow. Now that is wisdom. To be given permission to have imperfect children is such a breath of fresh air.
That quote has stuck with me over time, wow. Thanks for the continuing encouragement to see how the Gospel plays out in our parenting.
From the NGJ website:
“This Thursday March 18, 2010, Michael Pearl will be interviewed live on CBS’s The Early Show and given the chance to answer the critics. The Show airs from 7:00 – 8:00 am EST and the interview will be at approximately 7:30 am.”
What can we do to make sure that Michael Pearl and his lack of Christian grace, love, and mercy are shown clearly to the television audience?
I blogged about Pearl being on CBS tomorrow with some thoughts and a link back here.
I listened this morning to
Family Life today, and the guest, Mother of six Leslie Leyland Fields, author of “Parenting is Your Highest Calling and Other Parenting Myths” was discussing myth #3, “Successful Parents Produce Godly Children.” She said this:
“It’s important for us as parents to recognize that we cannot work or earn our children’s salvation; we cannot work or earn our children’s sanctification. Sometimes we get just a much too exalted view of ourselves as a parent. That’s God’s work and God’s amazing and powerful grace that is not limited by anything. Not limited by our imperfections, not limited by the imperfections of our home. God can break through at any moment and bring that salvation and sanctification that we so desire for our kids”.
This was a very encouraging discussion,and liberating for every guilt-ridden parent. Listen to more here:
http://www.familylife.com/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dnJHKLNnFoG&b=3832113&ct=8035665
“If it were possible to raise children to perfection, then God would have sent a parenting method, not Jesus.”
Wow…that’s a good quote.
A friend of mine has challenged myself and several of my girl friends to do a BIBLE-CENTRIC study of discipline. The Bible is to be our only source.
Incidentally, I posted the link to the article by Rev. Randy Greenwald that you posted on a few weeks ago, on my blog (nice run-on sentence). I have quite a bit of traffic to my blog (not anything close to yours); this is the ONLY post of late that no one will comment on. I don’t know why this is still such a taboo topic amongst conservative Christians! Why do we HARP on grace (as we SHOULD) but so many expect perfection from our children!? I JUST DON’T GET IT!!!!