Oh Baby: 14 Devotions for New ParentsНамуна

You Make Your Child Better

Parents are the pride of their children. PROVERBS 17:6 NIV

You are the right parent for your child. All of your gifts, personality traits, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses line up with who your child needs you to be. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a ton of room for every parent to grow. But it does mean that there’s nothing innately wrong with you that will scar your child for life!

When children are young, they think the world of their parents. They don’t know any better—they even think dad jokes are funny. They willingly accept their mother’s hugs and kisses. Children learn how to play, dream, process, and interact in their home setting. It’s not until years later when they become more self-aware and understand that there are as many different ways to live as there are people on the planet, that it becomes natural to question what they know. At that point, parents may become “uncool” as the young person finds their way in the world.

Jesus didn’t change Himself in order to please others. He was, arguably, the most controversial person in history. He stuck to His guns as His Father’s Son, loving the unlovable and teaching the truth. Imagine what would have happened if He had listened to the naysayers! What if He had backed down when it got hard, running away and refusing to submit to the process of dying on the cross so that we could live? That would have been the end of humanity. But instead, Jesus accepted His identity, rejoiced when people chose Him, and interceded on behalf of those who haven’t.

You will most definitely waver between being the best and the worst parent ever throughout your child’s life. But truth be told, you—just by being you—make your child a better person. As you follow the Lord in parenting, you are adding to the wonderful testimony and legacy of your children.

Prayer:

Father, make me the kind of parent who brings joy to my children. Help me to stay consistent and strong like Jesus, even when we struggle as a family. I know that in the end, we are meant to be together for Your glory.