Growing Up

June 8, 2023

From Jackie Payne

Parenting is hard. Raising tiny humans to love Jesus and be nice and respectful is hard. I think the most surprising thing that no one told me before becoming a mom is how many times I would think, “What the heck am I supposed to do about THIS?!” New things emerge all the time, from random sicknesses or physical maladies to emotional issues to a feeling that “homework” shouldn’t be a thing to pushing siblings’ buttons in new and exciting ways…it is a bit exhausting and frankly, overwhelming at times.

I saw a quote that came across my Instagram feed the other day that said, “Parenting is stressful. But, so is childhood. I try to remember that my kid and I are actually (and perpetually) growing up together.”

While adults, we are still children. Whether you have children of your own or not, God is still trying to teach all of us when we screw up or see things from a perspective He’s been trying so hard to change or when we, yet again, choose the wrong thing. He does all this because He desperately loves you and me, and He’s willing to put forth all that effort because He desperately wants us to give our hearts to Him and to spend eternity with us.

Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you.”

May we remember that we are all children, learning and (hopefully) trying to do and be better. And may we deeply understand that the ONLY way we can do that is to lean on God and ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and teaching.