This past weekend Payton was having a sleepover at a new friends house. On the way over to her house, I kept reminding Payton to "be a good girl" and "use your manners". Even when we walked into the house and I was hugging her good-bye I gave her one last "be good, honey"! Today Jim, Connor and I were waiting at the car wash for the truck to be finished and Connor was bouncing all over the place, making noises, etc. I looked at Jim and, somewhat quietly, said "can you control him...people are staring at him like he has something wrong with him!" (LOL)Sometimes, I am so worried about how my children reflect on me. I'm worried about what they are going to say and do when Jim and I are not around. Sure, I want Payton and Connor to behave appropriately....but, it struck me today that they are not here to glorify me as a parent. Their purpose is not to make me look good. God placed Payton and Connor in my hands for HIS purpose. I might not know what that purpose is right now, but I believe that it is my responsibility to teach them WHOSE they are. They are God's. They are His and ultimately accountable to Him. In every decision Payton and Connor make, every action they take and every word they speak, I pray that they will always remember whose they are. From now on, instead of telling my kids to "be good" or "use your manners" I will not let them walk out of this house or get out of the car without telling them to "remember whose you are". And, I will strive to do the same.
2 comments:
Nancy,
Great to see you in "blogworld". It's been neat getting reconnecteed with you and Jim. I loved your post on getting your kids to behave. I used to worry about my kids behavior and how it reflected on me too, especially since I was a pastor and everyone knows how "bad" the pastor's kids are. I still "worry" about it some, even though Matt and Tim are in college. Nevertheless in the end I want them to realize that I love them no matter what and that in the end God loves them too. Hopefully they've learned to "behave" because they're already loved, not so that they will be loved!
Funny how you posted this...because I wanted to tell you what happened the other day with Ry...You are the first one that came to mind when I wondered what I could have done differently...
After arguing with Rylan for at least 10 minutes, after she JUST woke up, about what she was wearing to school that day....I prayed....out loud...to God for his help. This has been going on for months. I have tried everything that I can think of...read about, suggestions..(letting her pick out clothes night before, letting her pick out what to buy, time-out, priveleges taken away...etc)and I just didn't know what else to do. So I prayed. Rylan just looked at me. She couldn't beleive that I did that. And then it hit me....have I not opened their hearts to God?
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