Pray Before You Parent
Does God hear the despairing cry of a mom or dad in the midst of that trying moment with their teen or toddler? You had better know it! Not only does He hear, but He is there; ready and willing to give wisdom from above – wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocricy.
Every parent needs to realize that they are not alone in this matter of parenting. When I say alone, I am not referring to the countless couples who struggle with some of the same parenting perils you do, nor the many who have “been there - done that”, but I speak with respect to the One who parents WITH you; the One who fearfully and wonderfully made each child you parent; the One who prepared and equipped you to be the father or mother of your children. He is your Heavenly Father, and He is their Heavenly Father too!
Perhaps you are thinking – yes, I know that. But may I remind you that knowledge alone will not satisfy your needs; nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific. We need more than a casual acquaintance with God; we need an intimate relationship with Him. And for that relationship to have any real meaning it will involve prayer.
What do you do when that little tike decides he is not going to eat his broccoli? How about when he refuses to submit to the discipline he deserves. How do you respond when your teenager can’t seem to put anything back where it belongs? Hey Mom, are you totally frustrated with the potty training experience? And Dad, how helpful have you been with that algebra homework? And what do you do with that child who has only one speed… slooooow?
I’ll tell you what you do, you PRAY! Just like looking before you leap; pray before you parent. Involve your Heavenly Father in the parenting process. He never meant for you to do it alone – remember they are His kids too.
Back in 1855, Joseph Scriven wrote these familiar words to his dear mother who lived back in Ireland: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O, what peace we often forfeit. O, what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” That’s good advice for any mother or father.