My 2 year old is finally at the point of almost being completely potty trained. She just became tall enough to open the door herself and is independent enough to get the stool to reach the toilet, flush, and move the stool to wash her hands. She had been doing such a good job that I started to let her go by herself with the door closed so that her baby sister doesn’t follow her in. The other day I was washing dishes and the house seemed so peaceful. I enjoyed it for a moment, and then suddenly I panicked. Have you ever heard of the calm before the storm? Having 3 children 4 and under, you realize that when it is too quiet, there is something wrong. My 3 year old was in the bathroom with her baby sister. It was a whirlwind of water, toothpaste, soap, and toilet paper that they managed to play with quieter than they ever played before. My first emotions were anger and frustration, thinking about how they could’ve hurt themselves and also about the mess that needed to be cleaned up. Then I began to think about the enemies tactics. I thought about how he waits for the perfect opportunity to tempt our kids. He waits until we are not looking or paying attention and he makes their curiosity stir until they have to fight to resist (he does the same thing with adults when we are alone). This is why it is so important to train our children boundaries and consequences. It is also important that we teach them integrity (what are they doing when nobody is looking). God never gives us more than we can bear.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
So as parents, we shouldn’t give our children more responsibility than they can bear. We have to study them and know their growth and increase them according to their maturity. Otherwise we are setting them up for failure. I believe that I have made this mistake with all of my children. They show the smarts and ability to do something so I let them try before they have reached the maturity to handle the responsibility. (Wow, that’s a word for the church)! God wants our children to be successful. We have to be good stewards over their lives until they are old enough to make their own decisions and exercise their free will. It takes a lot of prayer and patience being a parent!
Father, we thank You for Your revelation. Continue to show us strategy in raising our children through everyday circumstances. Forgive us for not showing patience or exercising discernment when assigning our children to new things. Help us be more aware of their maturity so that we don’t set them up for failure. Help us give them the tools that they need to grow, make good decisions and resist temptation. Help us stay focused on Your will for their lives and not what would seem easier or more convenient for us. We want them to be successful and reach full maturity. Help us not stunt their growth, but show them how to thrive. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
So as parents, we shouldn’t give our children more responsibility than they can bear. We have to study them and know their growth and increase them according to their maturity. Otherwise we are setting them up for failure. I believe that I have made this mistake with all of my children. They show the smarts and ability to do something so I let them try before they have reached the maturity to handle the responsibility. (Wow, that’s a word for the church)! God wants our children to be successful. We have to be good stewards over their lives until they are old enough to make their own decisions and exercise their free will. It takes a lot of prayer and patience being a parent!
Father, we thank You for Your revelation. Continue to show us strategy in raising our children through everyday circumstances. Forgive us for not showing patience or exercising discernment when assigning our children to new things. Help us be more aware of their maturity so that we don’t set them up for failure. Help us give them the tools that they need to grow, make good decisions and resist temptation. Help us stay focused on Your will for their lives and not what would seem easier or more convenient for us. We want them to be successful and reach full maturity. Help us not stunt their growth, but show them how to thrive. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!