If you are a parent, chances are you might share this feeling with me: I want the very best for my kids! I want them to have experiences, learn, develop, and then, eventually grow up and live a full life. I want them to be successful, happy, and have deep relationships and a rewarding career. I want them to follow after God and for him to be at the center of all they do. I'm a mom and of course I want the best possible life for my kids.
As my kids have grown up, I've encouraged them to do well in school, be active in church and sports, and build friendships with other kids. I've done everything I can to help guide them and teach them. When they were little, I'd ask them what they wanted to be when they grew up and what kind of person they wanted to become. All the while hoping and praying for what I thought was a good future for them.
My kids are now teenagers, and I have much less control over their decisions and direction, and honestly, I get nervous. Ok, let's be real honest, I'm terrified at times.
If they make poor choices or don't follow my instruction, what will their lives look like? The truth is, my kids are great kids, but they don't always make the decisions I would hope they'd make. They don't always see into the future, play it forward, or think of the impact their choices will have. As a parent, that can be discouraging and frustrating.
I have a feeling that my husband and I are not alone, and that there are other kids out there who aren't exactly following the path their parents have laid out for them. For quite a while I let it really bother me. Why didn't my kids want the things that I wanted for them? Where did I go wrong? Why did they make those choices? Do they even understand the consequences? What will their life as an adult be like?
I spent a lot of time feeling frustrated, defeated, discouraged, and just at a loss for how to move forward. Some days, I'll admit, I just wanted to give up. And the worst part of it all: I didn't trust that God could possibly love my kids more than I do. I didn't trust that His plans for them were greater than the present circumstance. I didn't trust that He would use their mistakes for something really beautiful later.
God loves my kids more than I do—way more, actually. In fact, He loved them first.
He has a plan for them and he wants the best for them too. He will use their mistakes and poor choices to create character, perseverance, and hope. He has a plan for my boys that is bigger and better than any plan I can come up with. I know that God is walking right alongside them, every single step of the way. I just need to continue to trust and put my hope in the mighty Creator who loves us in the midst of mistakes and makes beautiful things out of the worst circumstances.
More and more these days, I trust God with my boys and feel free of worry. After all, as I reflect on my own path, my own life, I can clearly see His plan was so much better than my own and I'm thankful for that.
Parents, how about you? Do you believe God loves your kids more than you do? That He loved them before you did? Can you let go of some of the control, and truly trust in God's plan for your kids? If you're having a hard time with this, why? What are your barriers? What is one thing you can do this week to break down those barriers and trust our Creator even more?
