I’ve been an In-Real-Life parent to this Tiny Human for more than three-and-a-half years now.
And almost every day, I am reminded that parenting is not for the faint-hearted. Especially now as I am growing another Tiny Human in my currently occupied uterus.
Maybe you are a current (or future) parent sitting out there wondering what my issue is. I mean, perhaps you were born and bred to keep Tiny Humans alive, all while raising them up in the way they should go, complete with daily Pinterest projects that would make Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper envious.
If that is you, congratulations. Teach me your ways, Yoda. Because parenting is still very much a learning curve for me– even when I intentionally leave out all things Pinterest.
See, here’s the problem: I am still a sinner. I still struggle daily with “doing this right” by the standard that God sets for us.
And good news/bad news is I am a sinner, married to a sinner, both of whom are trying to raise a sweet little sinner that is just like us.
Feel free to come over to my house to lay hands on us a pray.
But the absolute best news in ALL of this is that God does not call us to be perfect. He just asks us to strive for progress.
And, if I don’t mind tooting my own horn, I think I have made a touch of progress in the last almost-four-years of parenting. (Toot, toot!)
Let me give you an example of a real-life lesson I recently learned involving my very strong-willed Threenager, breakfast and strawberries.
It was just another morning in our new-to-us-Georgia home. My kiddo was sitting (mostly) contentedly at the kitchen table chowing down on her oh-so-nutrious breakfast of Cocoa Pebbles swimming in now-chocolate milk with side of orange juice. (Sounds like a gross combo to this preggo, but I ain’t judging.)
I was fixing my own breakfast, knowing that it was kind of a race against the clock. Low blood sugar upon waking in the morning can make this Mama a bear if I don’t get calories in my body sooner than later.
I asked my sweet daughter if she would like some strawberries with breakfast. Her reply was “No.” (ahem, “No THANK YOU, daughter.) I sliced some up for me, and asked again. She stood true to her pattern. No strawberries.
I continued to prep my breakfast and asked two more times about the strawberries, because she had been on a strawberry kick lately… and one I sat down to eat breakfast, I did not want to have to get back up again.
But, true to her word, she rejected my offer of strawberries. Feeling affirmed and confident in her answer, I took the container of fruit and put it back in the fridge.
The moment the fridge closed, I heard the words that sent me over the edge: “Mama, I want strawberries.”
Thus ensued my finest hour. I slammed my plate down on counter and legitimately yelled, “ARE YOU SERIOUS, CHILD?!? I asked you FOUR TIMES!! NO STRAWBERRIES!”
Charis’ little puppy-dog eyes got wide and started to well up. Sigh. “Great going,” I thought to myself. “Somebody nominate me for mother of the year.”
As my child blinked at me (and I choked back unnecessary feelings of pregnant rage) I sat down beside her with my plate.
I heaved a heavy sigh and immediately was reminded of a conversation I had nearly a year ago with some sisters at Protestant Women of the Chapel Bible Study.
I remembered that there can be a lot of power in an apology. And in this case, an apology in parenting.
I turned to my daughter and genuinely apologized. “Charis, Mama is sorry for getting upset and yelling about strawberries.”
She responded without missing a beat: “It’s ok, Mama. I forgive you.”
And our day just went on from there.
In the past, I would have let that moment ruin my entire day. I likely would have held onto my frustration for hours. But, because God nudged me to live the way I was (trying) to teach my kid to live, my sin was forgiven and forgotten just like that.
Just like Jesus did for us on the cross.
Friends, whether you are parenting or trying to do the marriage thing or just living life in this messed up world, know that there is a lot of power in an apology and in repentance.
So let’s tap into it without hesitate. Repentance trumps our pride, every time… As long as we give it permission.
Becoming an apologizing professional,
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” ~Matthew 3:8
