Parenting tests us.
Parenting pulls at our heart, questions our strength, stretches our emotions, measures our fortitude and commitment.
At times it is the sheer amount of service parenting requires that tests us. Other times it is our children testing our boundaries and maybe our patience. And sometimes it is life circumstances outside our role as a parent that test us the most.
It doesn’t really matter what form the test takes, the question is, do we maintain our heart connections even when we are tested, or do we do damage to the hearts of those we love?
When a lack of sleep leaves me exhausted, does my tone of voice cultivate heart connections or squash them?
When a child turns up his nose and proclaims, “I don’t like your food,” do I respond in loving firmness or do I give attitude right back?
When finances stress me, do I find free ways to make memories with me children, or do I become a sullen non-fun mom?
When outside commitments take more time than anticipated, do I push my children to the side, or do I get creative in ways to include them in serving others or accomplishing tasks?
When I am at the end of my rope, do I let it snap, or do I lean on God for the strength and grace to continue?
None of us are enough on our own to ace the parenting tests, but God is. When we go to Him for our strength, our patience, our grace, our joy, we will find we can keep pouring into our children and cultivating heart connections with them—even when they test us.
Pingback: 31 Days of Cultivating Heart Connections with Your Child