Do I Really Believe God Loves My Kids?

I like to jot down my prayers on little index cards to use as a visual reminder while I’m praying. One of my favorites reads like this, “I pray that Emma, Evan, Caleb, and Rosie would walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which they have been called, with all humility and gentleness, patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3). I suspect the kids had been arguing the day I created that card because I underlined the phrase “showing tolerance for one another in love” THREE TIMES.

Probably because it has been underlined, my focus tends to drift toward that phrase: “showing tolerance for one another in love”. It’s beautiful, really. But yesterday when I was praying, a whole different concept caught my attention (isn’t the bible neat like that?). The idea of having faith to believe that God will help my kids walk in a manner worthy of the calling that He is calling them.

I know how I want my kids to walk. I want them on the straight and narrow. I want their lives to be steadfast and not filled with shame and hardships. I want them to make wise choices. But what if that isn’t always the way that God is calling them? Do I have the faith to believe that if my kids take a wrong step, that God is guiding their feet back to the right path? Do I have the faith to believe that if my kids make a bad choice that God can redeem that and even use that to minister to others? Do I believe that God will do what he says he will do?

If I have the faith it takes to entrust my kids to Him, then I must be willing to believe that even their crummy choices and wrong turns are part of their story that God is writing. I have a feeling this could really help with some of the burden that I carry as a mom. It could also make a really positive impact on the way I parent and discipline. If I could always remember and genuinely believe that God is writing their story, then I think I’d be more likely to accept a few plot twists along the way.

This belief won’t absolve them of the consequences of their crummy choices or mistakes, but I hope that if I’m able to hang on to this hope that it will help remind us all that one misstep doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path.