Wisdom from Trial and Error

Of all the things that we did wrong, we did some things right. For example – in teaching our children to be brave, faith-filled, optimistic, daring, strong and responsible human beings.

I’d like to think that my young husband and I did everything right, but without a doubt, a lot fell through the cracks because of our immaturity and lack of wisdom. Our children are much better at raising their children than we were. A lot of it has to do with them being older and wiser than we were at 18 and 19. We were still raising ourselves, for goodness’ sake, but we did our best to raise them right. Thank God for our praying and supportive parents who helped us pick up the slack.

I’m not apologizing, because our weakest moments were the catalyst for our children to see how we sought God’s strength and power. We didn’t keep our needs hidden from them, and, ultimately, they saw our true source of strength.

They saw us find refuge in our prayer closets, in our cries out to God for help, and they saw us surround ourselves with strong people of faith who encouraged us and helped us to get so much better at life.

We were the ones who introduced our kids to Jesus. They witnessed their dad pass on and handled it with faith and grace. And I’m thankful they saw me continue to depend and rely on God daily. And in this more mature-and-wiser season of my life, they continue to see the blessings of God when He brought a precious, God-fearing man into my life.

Please, may I share some of that wisdom with you younger-in-wisdom-and-age parents?

** If our children don’t see God at work in our homes, how will they learn to lean on Him when they leave our safe spaces?

** If our children don’t serve and love those closest to them, how will they live out this biblical “serving” principle later in life?

** If our children haven’t seen our dependence on God, will they grow up to be overwhelmed adults, forgetting Who can rescue them from their lowest moments?

** If we pretend to have it all together, how will our children know Who really holds us together?

If there’s one thing I would have changed in my motherhood, I would have been more open about my weaknesses and asked them for help. I would have been honest with my kids when I was worn thin and could barely hang on.

Just as the Lord instructed the Apostle Paul, He reminds us how God’s power comes alive in our weakness: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We never want our children to see us so strong that we don’t need anyone or anything, while we fall apart at the seams. They need to see an incredibly strong, grace-filled man and woman who loves Jesus more. They need to let go of pride and invite others to be a part of their journey that is authentic, real, and purpose driven.

They’ll see us dependent on drawing strength from our great God of strength and mercy. That will be the greatest gift you and I will pass on to our children daily. I’m praying this will be my legacy — how about you?