The sincerity of parenting

Just a few months ago, I had a moment of awakening. “If your vision doesn’t make you a better person, nothing else will”. That was the sentence that rang on my mind. I just couldn’t shake it off. Then as I pondered and meditated, so much became even clearer to me.

Let’s look at that sentence again; “If your vision doesn’t make you a better person, nothing else will”. Let’s try  to interchange the word “vision” with the following words; “responsibility”, “passion”. “If your responsibility doesn’t make you a better person, nothing else will”. “if your passion doesn’t make you a better person will”.

These sentences appear to be a bit extreme, right? Especially, from the perspective of grace.  The knowing that God’s love abounds inspite of who we are, makes it a bit challenging for the above sentences to sit in our consciousness. By the end of this blog, you should at least understand my perspective.

Its my first blog post on The Ink newspaper. The first of so many thoughts to come. As I thought about what an ideal start should be, it seemed good to start with laying the right foundation on what blessing parenting can be. I title this post “the sincerity of parenting”.

Isn’t  it true that God is all powerful and amazing. Able to pick us up from where we are to where we ought to be. He is Omnipotent. He is able to do all things. However, we notice a trend. When God finds a man, He begins to build you up (Acts 20:32). He begins to show you “how to think” but He never forces you to think. I came to the realization that a whole lot of times, God builds us up through our responsibilities. He gives us work and allows the responsibilities make you into a person that can access the inheritance.

All over the world, we consistently hear that the most powerful parenting mechanism is modeling. Showing our children how to do it right? How would you feel if I told you that God gave you children so that they could build you up for the inheritance? Would you believe me?
Genesis 18:19

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
 This seems to mean that God had a deal with Abraham that was dependent on His confidence that He would model a way to His family. 

Sometimes, at the mention of “modeling to children”, parents begin to cringe. But it ought not be so. It is a journey, that happens one step at a time. Lets see a bit of what this journey can make out of a parent.

a. To get our kids to love God, which is the first step to right parenting, we must become God lovers and chasers. This means, we would study more, pray more and resultantly hear more from God. Please note, when your relationship with God takes off, it changes everything about you. From inside – (giving you peace, joy, an abundance of love), to your physical realities. Your internal change should reflect so much on your outside that it attracts favors and a great load of respect in all your relationships.

b.  As we strive to raise God lovers, we must be careful of what we expose our children to, in terms of friendships, television etc.. This could be a life saver to an adult that has set out sincerely to make a difference. It would help refine what you engage in yourself. From friendships to television addictions etc

c.  Your kids will expect you to consistently tell them stories especially when they are younger. This should make you scout on healthier reading materials. As a result, you should end up being very healthy mentally because kids always want a Philipians 4:8 ending.

d.  As they grow older, they want to hear stories of your life’s personal challenges and victories delivered especially from the hand of God. By this time it shouldn’t be challenging because right before your eyes you have seen yourself become the unbelieveable.

e. One of the most attractive ways of raising peer pressure proof teenagers is in being a parent who is grounded and not pushed around yourself. Your kids definitely don’t want a know-it-all parent but one who is open to learning yet highly objective, research oriented and not easily swayed  etc.. To be this, you must have attained an emotional health that earns you well deserved leadership opportunities in every sphere you are. 

You can go on and on with the list of how you are built up by your everyday parenting task. Proverbs 22:7 talks about parenting head long. However, the rest of the chapter talks about the building up of the parent. The parent has to be built up to house the development of his/her child. Just incase you are reading this and you are still expecting a child of your own, identify a child you want to parent. Not necessarily from your home. It maybe at work or in the children’s ministry of your child. It has to be a child with which you intend to communicate with as often as possible. A child you want to be accountable to. 

In all sincerity, parenting is here to make you the best that there is of you. Go ahead and shine.. Its true.

Do read Proverbs 22 and share with us your thoughts. Keep a date. Share. Broadcast. Help to raise a champion.
Great grace is available in our Lord Jesus Christ.