Parenting . . . It’s a physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial investment. And like all investments, we want it to grow, and hopefully, gain some huge dividends! So how do we make wise investments in our children? First, we need to look at the goal, and we came up with this one:
Parenting is a process of helping your children live successfully on this earth and to prepare them for heaven.
Our homes bridge our sons & daughters from dependence to independence. When they were infants, we responded to every cry because they were wholly dependent on us for their needs. As they grow, it is the desire to gradually release them to full responsibility so that they become independent adults. Of course, there are risks. Our kids have their own responsibility to make choices. There are no guarantees that all the choices will be “good” ones. Parenting involves sacrifices. It may feel like years before we see the dividends (sleeping through the night, potty-training), and it may be years before we see the outcome of our investment (responsible, caring adult).
So how do we nurture our investment? By making deposits!
The health of a family is dependent on your health, so it is important to invest in yourself so that out of your overflow, you can give to your spouse, children, and family. Make some deposits into your spirit by having time with God daily. Keep yourself accountable through a bible study, small group, or Sunday school class. Deposit into your soul by stimulating your mind by learning something new. Make some long-term plans and follow through with them. Lastly, don’t forget to make deposits for your body. When you work hard and play hard, you also need to rest well, eat well, and exercise so that you can manage stress and practice forgiveness through the day.
We are responsible for own maturity at every level. Don’t wait for your spouse to change before you do. Instead, work on the changes that you need to make personally. Also communicate with your family the changes that are needed with your spouse and children so that you can grow as ONE body. Be encouraged that you working toward a common goal and enjoy contributing to the next generation!
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For the light and momentary troubles are achieving us for an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
[2 Corinthians 4:16]