That person is a born fill in the blank…
You might say leader or business person or communicator. People certainly can be born with certain skills and abilities, but no one comes out the womb as fully capable in any area. We all have to experience life and grow in anything we want to excel at.
Sometimes I think this is even more true with parenting and family. As we’ve been foster parents in the past, we have seen some pretty awful things where children were concerned. Some parents had no one to turn to, learn from, gain support from. My wife sat and helped one mother who was trying to get into a drug rehab program but with a lack of education, was overwhelmed with even filling out the entry form.
So many become convinced that they simply aren’t “parent material” and don’t realize that because of sin, none of us are. We are selfish and want our own way. We don’t like to make sacrifices. We like sleeping in consecutive hours. The list could go on and on.
Some are better equipped than others, but no one is fully ready for the highs and lows of taking care of and being in a family. Reading this week’s chapter, Katie had this to say,
We either let the struggles define our happiness or we let the joy of living in family propel us forward. Difficulties, fears, worries, doubts, problems–they will happen. If we see that we are growing into something, we’ll excel in the grace God provides and not get disheartened.
It’s not a level playing field. Our family history, experiences, culture, and even education can play a part, but we don’t have to give up. Grace is the great equalizer. You have access to divine wisdom, patience, and love.
10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. –Colossians 1:10-12
What role have you had to grow into? What helped you stay strong in the hard times?
This is part of our book club discussion on Week 6 of Kisses from Katie (disclosure) by Katie J. Davis and Beth Clark. We are taking a sentence, paragraph, or passage that inspires, encourages, or challenges and writing about it. If you have a response on your blog, add it in the link widget below and be sure to check out the other entries. Also head over to my friend and co-facilitator, Sarah Salter’s blog for another great take. Whether you’ve read the selection or not, please share your thoughts! We always appreciate a vibrant conversation.
10 Comments
Amen Jason…I used this quote today and it certainly seems to fit your post.
“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”
C.S. Lewis
Appreciate you thoughts bro’!
BTW…I’m not a spammer but a Cookinghammer!
Jay Cookingham recently posted..The Magnificent Seven
This is so true, Jay. Thank you. And yeah, I’m glad you’re not a spammer!
We are all indeed selfish in our own way. Being at the bottom with no where to turn but to God is what set me on the path that God’s chosen for my life.
Understanding my weakness in this flesh and having to rely on God for everything has become my strength. Not that I don’t have times of human weakness that tries to rob my peace and joy, but God always comes through… In His way, not mine…
floyd recently posted..I HAVE A SECRET
Nicely said, Floyd. I’m with you completely. Thank you.
Eleanor Roosevelt once told the story of learning to swim. Her Uncle Teddy (that’s President Theodore Roosevelt to us) simply threw her into water that was so deep she couldn’t reach the bottom. She had to either sink or swim. She swam.
God does that to me, too. All of the time. He throws me into water that’s so dark and deep that I can’t see or reach the bottom. And He waits for me to swim. He knows I have it in me-- He put it there.
And I, like Eleanor, know deep down that God (like her Uncle Teddy) wouldn’t really let me drown.
Sarah Salter recently posted..Being Part of a Picture
He certainly will never let us drown and ‘immersion’ is actually a great way to learn new things.
I may start out one way, but by grace, I learn and grow and change. It’s a beautiful process. Thanks Sarah.
“We either let the struggles define our happiness or we let the joy of living in family propel us forward. ”
I love that Jason! That is awesome.
Kevin Martineau recently posted..4 ways to find rest during times of pressure
Thanks so much, Kevin.
Great post, Jason. It is hard to see so many give up. None of us are naturals and parenting isn’t easy. But it is worth it.
Frank recently posted..Annoyances or Blessings?
So worth it. Thanks Frank.