Perspective

~Yesterday I was reading a blog that had a link to Lysa TerKeurst's blog. She is a wonderful Christian author and Bible Study leader. She is also a Momma and her post yesterday put my thoughts on Motherhood into a better perspective. You see, I too have a very spirited child..her name is Kiely-Grace! Some days I feel as though I have no idea how to parent her, mostly due to the fact I think she may be smarter than me..Ha! She fills my heart with so much joy, I call her "My Life. She is spunky and social, and could have very lengthy conversations with just about anyone. She is compassionate and is very concerned about the welfare of others.  She is also very spiritual and loves the Lord, even at the ripe old age of 3.  K.G. is a natural leader and likes to do things in her own way. Some days she is hard to contain, not because she is a wild child (well not always), but because she is strong willed and persistent. I will admitt, some days I feel like a total failure of a mother. Not because I think I am a bad Mom, but mostly because sometimes I find it hard to know how to parent her and her personality. Its because we are the same person you see. God is funny! She is the kind of kid who constantly needs to engage, she always wants to learn, and she asks a million questions until she has the answer she needs. Some days I am simply worn out!  Trust me, I am beyond grateful she is how she is..I wouldnt change one thing about her...she rocks my world!  Its just that I am trying to find the balance in parenting my two different children and being effective in the process.  I am always so encouraged when I talk with other Moms and they are open about their parenting frustrations.  I think our frustrations are really due to our own insecurities, or maybe I am just speaking for myself . I think I have the tendency to be overly cautious about how my children are acting for worry that they may percieved as acting "naughty", when really they are just being kids. They are curious, they are learning, they are exploring..I need to get over it! My kids are rad, I am a good Mom and I am just doing my very best on this parenting journey.  I love this part in Lisa's post. She say's regarding her daughter Hope: "Maybe God's goal for me wasn't to raise a good rule following child. God's goal was for me to raise a God following adult. An adult just determined and insistent enough to fufill a purpose he had in mind all along".

~ Wow, totally needed to hear that! I don't need to raise "good rule following children". I need to raise "God following adults". When they are following God, everything else falls into place.....UMMMM DUH! Total perspective shift right? Yes, I think so. Love my kiddos and are so grateful for who they are and who they are going to become. Praying that the Lord will show me day by day how to love and direct them in the ways they need to be led!

**Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.**
~Proverbs 22:6