We have had our eldest grandchild this week for Vacation Bible School and swim lessons. He is a good boy for the most part, but he has his 5 year old moments. I realize more and more why God gives children to the young. By the end of the week my wife and I are exhausted.
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
I admit, I was harder on my children than I am on my grandchildren. Part of that is being older and having more patience. Part of it is, as a grandparent, you can give them back at some point. However, you never let go of your kids. Even though mine are grown, married and having kids of their own, you still end up parenting, and parenting adult kids is a lot harder!
Dynamics with little children, who my wife as a 1st grade teacher is simply fantastic with, and dynamics with grown children are vastly different. While this goes without saying it is important to note because as parents we have to consciously change our approach as our relationship changes. I think this is why it is so hard to get it right parenting through a child’s growth. I am sure that God sees us the same way, He changes His approach perfectly as we mature in our faith life.
Reflect on: how you have grown with your children and how God has helped you grow in your faith.
