More Daily Encouragement for the Smart StepFamilySample

Check Your Progress

On any journey, part of gauging your progress is knowing how far you’ve come and how far you still have to go. Those who study productivity and team efficiency will tell you that you need to be able to measure your progress so you can know what you’ve accomplished. 

I think parenting is like that. It’s easy to identify qualities our child is missing and what we need to work on as a parent. But sometimes we fail to notice how far they’ve come or how our parenting skills have improved. Stepfamilies can start to feel like a never-ending work in progress. And that can be discouraging. 

But why not take a minute and remember what it was like in the beginning of this blended adventure? Get some perspective on how far you’ve come—and celebrate that progress. And know that God is always with you, now and in all that still lies ahead. 

God, when I feel discouraged, open my eyes to see the progress our family has made together. I know that we are a work in progress and I trust your hand to guide us through.

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© 2018 by FamilyLife. Excerpted with permission from Daily Encouragement for the Smart Stepfamily by Ron L. Deal with Dianne Neal Matthews, Bethany House Publishers. Get more daily encouragement with this 365-day devotional that will keep your family blending and bonding throughout the year.