7 Things The Bible Says About ParentingSample

I’m the youngest of two daughters in my family, so my childhood was filled with dolls having tea parties, cooking in our play kitchen, and playing dress-up—all rather calm, well-mannered, and safe activities. Now, as a mother myself with two boys under the age of five, my house looks and sounds nothing like my own childhood. Praying for my children has become a necessary part of my motherhood journey, mainly because of my boys’ energy. As my mother-in-law warned me about life with all boys, I will eventually get to know the nurses at the ER on a first-name basis!

I don’t think I ever would have imagined that just a few years into this adventure I would have already seen my oldest fall on his face (ultimately leading to a root canal) and then, just a year later, fall on his head (resulting in three staples). I also never could have imagined my 10-month-old baby undergoing surgery for a condition he was born with. Each situation has been completely out of my control. There was nothing I could have done to prevent any of those things from happening—a realization which brought me to my knees in prayer for my children.

As a parent, our children are gifts from God to provide for, protect, show the love and grace of Jesus, and prepare for their own journey through life. Neither their daily circumstances nor the overall course of their lives are things  we get to decide—or have any control over. And so what do we as parents have left to do at the end of the day, when we’ve poured every ounce of energy into raising kind, respectful, God-honoring children and keeping them healthy and safe? We can take our worries, our doubts, and our unfulfilled expectations to God—grateful that we do not have to be in control.

May we never tire of praying for our children and holding them with open hands through trust and faith in our Creator—who loves our children more than we ever possibly could and is holding them in His all-powerful hands. 

Lisa Gray

YouVersion Localization Manager