Counterfeit: Parenting — Tuesday
Psalm 127:2
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves. (NIV)
I’m not sure there is a verse more comforting to new parents! God designed your body to need sleep, and he wants to give that to you because he loves you, but there are certainly seasons in life and parenting when that may be hard to come by.
We thought we were out of the woods once all our kids started sleeping through the night. We had a good stretch of years when bedtime was routine and they stayed put in their bedrooms all night. What we didn’t see coming was the high school years. I think we got more sleep when they were babies! Homework often kept them up later than us and waiting up for them to come home often kept us up even later! But high school was also when the adolescent angst began to soften and I often found myself up late at night with a daughter or two who were ready to chat. That was not an opportunity I was willing to pass up no matter how tired I was!
Much like Psalm 127:1, verse 2 reminds us that our striving is in vain. Yes, God calls us to take care of our families and sometimes that means we have to get up in the middle of the night with a child who needs us, but He will take care of the things we can’t. In light of eternity, perfect outfits and cute notes in their lunchboxes will not be enough. God has promised us that we can trust him with our children and rest knowing He loves them even more than we do.
What children need from us is the overflow of our own hearts in tune with the creator of the universe. In John 15:5 Jesus says, “ I am in the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (ESV) You can only give your children what you already have. Parenting is above all else an opportunity to rely on the Lord - you will not be able to “bear much fruit” on your own. Parents, we are called to be branches, connected to the true vine, Jesus, so that he can produce fruit through us.
Tuesday’s Reflection
Southland’s Parenting Podcast is a great way to be encouraged and challenged. You can also find our other podcasts here!