Thoughts on parenting

Tough parenting day today. I am beginning to get a glimpse of what my parents went through with me and my siblings.

For privacy sake, I won't go into detail. For the moment, my heart just needs to be heard in some way. I have prayed already, I will pray again...

A thought came to me today after a tough parenting moment: there must be humility in parenting. There are times when a parent must be humble enough to be silent. And times to be humble enough to wait.

Silence in allowing your kid to express himself/herself without forcing your way on them; without correcting to the point where you are doing it all out of force. Silence in allowing the tears, the tantrums, without always trying to fix it or explain it. Silence in keeping back sharp words and yelling.

Waiting for the "aha" moment when your kid finally "gets it". Whether it happens within hours or years. Waiting for God to intervene. Waiting for Him to work in your kid's heart, trusting that He has been and continues, even if you aren't seeing much change.

I'm not a silent person; it's difficult for me to be quiet when I see something wrong. But that was a thought that came to me today: there's humility in silence and waiting.

There's humility in parenting, or at least, there needs to be, since God merely uses us as a tool.  There are times when tools are used for only a moment or two, or to do a specific work. But most of the time, the tool is set aside and the hands at work are what make the changes.

I'm reminded again that Mary took the humble role as Mother when following Jesus. She was always silent, and always waiting...