Victories
by Deanna Gworek / Global Missions Ministry Assistant
Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Not being raised in a Christian home and sometimes still feeling as though I’m new to my walk with Jesus can be difficult, especially when it comes to raising my children. There is so much negativity and self-centeredness in today’s world. It often worries me that I’m not doing enough to combat the outside influences, that my children will never remember their manners unless I repeat “what do you say…?” let alone to live like Jesus. But recently I’ve been seeing the fruits of my labor.
There’s the small victories such as our 4 and 5-year-old playing together and helping each other instead of grabbing and shouting, or last week when they took each other’s hand in the parking lot on the way into school and stopped to look both ways before crossing without being told. The fact that they more often than not put their laundry away, place their dirty dishes in the sink and remember to flush after they go to the bathroom is promising.
Then there’s the bigger things, like watching our 7-year-old daughter go from being too shy to pray out loud to a remarkable prayer warrior that prays aloud daily. And even better, I’ve watched God answer her prayers and give her confidence like you wouldn’t believe. It sure does make this momma’s heart burst with love and gives me encouragement that I’m on the right track. It’s also shown me that even when I’m not being a good example, He can erase it from their little minds or use it as a teaching moment.
Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Not being raised in a Christian home and sometimes still feeling as though I’m new to my walk with Jesus can be difficult, especially when it comes to raising my children. There is so much negativity and self-centeredness in today’s world. It often worries me that I’m not doing enough to combat the outside influences, that my children will never remember their manners unless I repeat “what do you say…?” let alone to live like Jesus. But recently I’ve been seeing the fruits of my labor.
There’s the small victories such as our 4 and 5-year-old playing together and helping each other instead of grabbing and shouting, or last week when they took each other’s hand in the parking lot on the way into school and stopped to look both ways before crossing without being told. The fact that they more often than not put their laundry away, place their dirty dishes in the sink and remember to flush after they go to the bathroom is promising.
Then there’s the bigger things, like watching our 7-year-old daughter go from being too shy to pray out loud to a remarkable prayer warrior that prays aloud daily. And even better, I’ve watched God answer her prayers and give her confidence like you wouldn’t believe. It sure does make this momma’s heart burst with love and gives me encouragement that I’m on the right track. It’s also shown me that even when I’m not being a good example, He can erase it from their little minds or use it as a teaching moment.