Parenthood

Have you ever seen the movie Parenthood? It's the one with Steve Martin in it, and it can make you weak in the knees if you don't have kids yet. It spotlights 3 different sets of parents, and all the ups and downs - some hilarious, some cringe worthy, some deeply sad - that go with it. I remember seeing that movie before I had kids, and thinking that, you know, maybe I didn't want to have kids so much.

It seemed to me that because I knew I wasn't perfect, and I was destined to do some things wrong if I became a parent.....why do it then? Why go into something KNOWING you are going to screw it up in some major way?

Well that was my Type A, logical brain thinking. Then I got pregnant, and warmed up to the idea of being a mom, and lost the baby. I was devastated, and realized I really did want to try. I wanted to not just try, but to do my very best at it, and give it everything I had. I threw myself into mothering the way I threw myself into dance - with both feet. :)

Well needless to say, I can name a million things I have done wrong, and a million things I've done right. There is no "perfect" in parenting, despite what anyone wants you to think. Part of that is because of course I am not perfect. The parts I do get right is because I firmly believe I can only be as good of a mom as Rob encourages me to be. What I mean by that is that without his words of encouragement, prayer, support, the time he spends with them, the time he spends with me, and the time he gives me to myself, I could not be the mom that I am. I have an amazing husband and as Father's Day approaches tomorrow, I am just reminded of the blessing that I have in him. He truly is a gift that I never want to take for granted.

The other day on the radio, a little parenting minute was on there (from Focus on the Family I believe) and they just said simply "God knew you were imperfect when he gave you these children, and yet He chose to give them to you anyway." I was in awe of that. I felt so humbled that God would trust me with these three precious little ones, though He knows my every fault. I also felt encouraged that despite these weaknesses, He still thinks I am the best person to raise them. I hope to remember that in the coming years.

I hope you also as a parent can find encouragement from your spouse, or friends, church, or the bible in the many ways that I have. A scripture I came across that helped to still the worry I have felt in my heart over being inadequate is found in 2 Corinthians 9:8. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound to every good work"

If you are a father, Happy Fathers Day! May God bless you and fill you with every good thing you need to be a parent to the precious children he has trusted you with.