Parenting

Being a parent is one of the best jobs in the world but often one of the hardest jobs in the world. I'm reading this really great book called "The Power of A Positive Mom" and it is very challenging. Tonight I read a chapter that hit my heart in a huge way.
I guess I will start here, just a couple of days ago I was at Walmart doing my shopping with both of my kids. I had to get one of those big oversized, embarrassing carts (mom's you know what I'm talking about) Anyways, my kids are at a stage where some days they love each other and other days that don't like each other. So I made it all the way up to the check out lines and as always I picked the WRONG line!!! Seriously I really complain about this all the time. (I think God's trying to teach me patience) Anyways, I standing in line for over 10 minutes now and my kids jump out of the cart and grab at all the candy and gum, basically anything they can get their hands on. They start bickering about what they got and who's is better, you know great stuff to fight about. So the wait gets longer, my kids start getting louder, I'm getting more and more angry. Then, I turn my back to unload my cart and Alexia pushes Cayden and he falls flat on his face. Yep, crying louder then you can imagine, people staring and I'm wispering in Alexia's ear how she's going to get a spanking. Now, their both crying, Alexia is yelling out I don't want to get spanked!! Everyone now thinks I'm a child abuser!! Then the stupid, im mean wonderful cashier makes a comment, "oh it must be naptime" I was thinking NO, maybe if you would stop working so SLOW maybe I wouldn't have had any issues at all. Believe me i know it was the wrong attitude. Once again I left Walmart frazzled and stressed out!

So I said all that to say this, the chapter I read was talking about our lives are like lesson books. Our kids may read books all throughout their lives and may not remember any of it, but our lives are like books and they are learning everyday what's in it. How do we handle situations? Do we yell? How do we treat others? Are we givers? Do we gossip? How do we act in traffic towards other drivers? Do we yell out? call names? Are we negative and have attitudes? How do we act in grocery stores? How do we treat our spouses? All these questions I had to ask myself. I can honestly say that I fail at some of these at times. I think this chapter hit me so hard, because I want to be like Christ and be a Godly example and handle situations the right way. I think with God's help we can recognize our weaknesses and change our ways and be the parents that God called us to be. So just a last thought, Like it or not our life is an open book, continually read by our little ones at home.
Trying to be an example in our own power leads to eventual failure, but abiding in Christ is the answer. We need to stay connected to Christ daily. Without his power and strength and Him being the center of our household we will fail. The cry of my heart is that I will be a Godly mom that will train up my children in the way of the Lord. I think we can all do that will God's help!

Philippians 4:13
I can do ALL things through HIM who gives me strength