Trust, faith, control, fear: are they all part of good parenting? Questions, so many questions, have been pounding away in my brain this week. But the one I keep coming back to is this – am I willing to trust God with the “gray areas” in my life? In my children’s life? To relinquish control (or the illusion of control), and trust that if I seek God and simply make the best decisions I know how with what information I am given that He will take care of the rest. That I don’t have to try to protect my child from everything, every thing, in the entire world? That I don’t have to walk in fear. That I can make decisions based on freedom and love and joy, and not on fear. That I don’t need to control my children with fear? I must be willing to push through being afraid and live bravely so that my children will be free to become who they are to be. I am willing to give it a try.
10 Comments
paula
3/6/2014 02:24:12 pm
That is what I found to be the hardest part of parenting. Relinquishing control. And not taking all the blame when something goes wrong. A very good post.
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Jayna
3/6/2014 02:32:19 pm
Oh, I think I like the idea that not taking all the blame is a benefit to relinquishing control? Hmm...I will have to think on that one! Thank you.
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Thanks for sharing your heart with us today - I'm not a parent myself, but I can really relate to this need to grow in 'ambiguity tolerance' - in so many areas of life God allows the 'grey', the 'what is going on?'. And he seems to like to fill that place with his love and power. It's the room he needs to manouevre in order to do his miracles: those things which are 'more than we can ask or imagine.' The more I understand the grey and the 'I don't know'-place like this, the more expectant I am becoming that he is about to do something good. Trouble is, the 'fears and forebodings' want the same territory! x Ruth
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Jayna
3/8/2014 10:17:33 am
Ruth, I love the term "ambiguity tolerance"! Mine is very low. And how beautiful is "the more expectant I am becoming that he is about to do something good." Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.
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3/7/2014 04:25:46 am
Jayna,
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Jayna
3/8/2014 10:18:26 am
Dolly, thank you for your encouragement and comment. This is my first time ever to share my writing in public. Your feedback is precious to me.
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Jayna, i struggle with this all the time...i feel like when i was little i was controlled by "fear" not because my parents were trying to, but because they were fearful...my husband and i will get into disagreements about my overprotection and his go with whatever-everything-will-be-alright approach...makes for some heated moments...but i know that I don't want my kids afraid of life or death...I am trying to speak courage into my girls and you have to face this when the incident happens that all your "protection" didn't plan for...didn't stop real life from happening and you see that despite all your well meaning efforts...life happened and you couldn't prevent everything!...its always a slap you in the face reminder...i had that happen about a month ago...everyone is ok, but it was a great reminder to me that God is the ultimate protector of my kids
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Jayna
3/8/2014 10:21:01 am
Thanks for sharing, Somer. I am glad everyone is ok. Funny how "opposites attract" and it seems God pairs us with partners who are very different from us sometimes!
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I'm a blog-at-home mom who writes because my sanity depends on it. I'm a Jesus-lover, family gal, coffee addict, recovering hoarder in a small New England town that bears a suspiciously close resemblance to "Stars Hallow" (and if you know where that is, we're friends already!). I am working towards simple living, one step at a time.
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