Faith it ‘til He makes them!

It’s easy to lose hope when circumstances are glum.

Today I turned 36 and initially this revelation was anything but a happy one!  No, I’m not old enough to experience a mid-life crisis, but I was uncomfortably aware of how much I hadn’t accomplished…especially in parenting.

So when my son burst into my room to wish me Happy Birthday, I wasn’t exactly the welcome wagon. An hour later, I couldn’t stop crying. I tried to hide my tears only to erupt in anger of how tired I’d become!  Perhaps, my explosion was prompted by my pastor’s sermon referencing when Paul got tired of the demon-possessed girl who’d been following and taunting him while he preached.

I felt like all I’d done for my children had been for nothing because they have an attitude of entitlement that made my blood seethe!

Thankfully, as I dressed for work, I listened to an old J-Moss CD

I was reminded to work my faith!  I apologized to my children and explained (CALMLY this time) how underappreciated I’d felt.

I wasn’t trying to guilt trip them, people! I just needed them to know why I’d had the patience of a gerbil lately.

I was grateful for the reminder. Yet, God didn’t stop there.

In fact, as soon as I got to work, a co-worker sent me a link to modern parables.   The prodigal son no less!

God still wasn’t done with me!

Just as I finished the video, an anonymous caller commented the following about our broadcast.   I was so moved, I transcribed it below:

“A family is a community of people on the abundant life adventure.  It’s about development, it’s about someone loving them, somebody knowing them and becoming themselves.  Do you agree with that?”

<I DID>

“Well, pass it on to those brothers talking. And let’s remember this, children are to be celebrated.  They are a heritage of the Lord and we don’t know a thing about them. We know what we want them to do, but we don’t know what they are going to do. That is their uniqueness. We have to balance those two things.  Train them and help them become. Ok. You see I’m a grandpa, and I didn’t get any of that from my family and I hated it, it is as good as being dead, sister.

I said, “Well, sir I thank you for your comment and I’m glad that I was the one that received it.”

His response, “Hallelujah.  They are becoming.   We have the right to become children of God and sister, what’s our Pa like?  Our Heavenly Abba?  He wants us to talk all the time.  You have a glorious day!”

The icing on my cake

I received an e-card that provided me with three scriptures and the following additional reminders:  Simply stating:  May God grant you:  Mercy for the Sins of Yesterday- Isaiah 55:7… Grace for the challenges of today- 2 Cor 12:9…Hope for the uncertainties for tomorrow-Jeremiah 29:11 

With that I smiled and understood that as a parent, single or otherwise, it was my responsibility to be the example.  I was to be merciful and not hold grudges against my children for past mistakes… I was to extend grace as God had done for me countless times, and more importantly, I was to continue in my faith and not allow satan  distract me from the future I know God promised.

So yes, I had a brief bout with amnesia (I was trippin’) and it almost wrecked my whole day.  Only, even as I type this message now, I’m rejoicing in the knowledge that I’m a Daddy’s girl.

©2014 Nadia Davis. All Rights Reserved.