I have some bad news.
This is for those of you who have just had your first baby. I know you can probably hardly read this because the words keep blurring on the page due to lack of sleep, but it is going to get worse…
Right now that sweet little baby does actually take naps. They can’t speak yet, I know they cry, but they don’t talk back, or tell you how stupid you are, (in not so many words so that they get themselves in trouble) however, they roll their eyes at the same time so that you understand, that they understand, that you do not have two working brain cells in your entire head! Oops, getting a little ahead of myself.
Back to your baby, who probably does go to bed by about 8:00 in the evening. I know they get up by 6:00 am, but that is still TEN whole hours that you have. Here is the bad news, at least for those of you who end up with either several children or children spread out in ages: when they become teenagers they come alive at night even though you have been up early with your younger children.
You will literally spend all day trying to drag the older ones through whatever it is they need to accomplish, from getting up on time in the morning to schoolwork to chores. Then, when you are worn out in the evening from still being up early with your younger children and from dragging the teenagers through the day…voila! They wake up like giggling, nonsensical vampires ready to suck the last of the energy out of your exhausted body.
And of course, because you are a good, loving parent who realizes by now that time with your kids is short and that in just a few years these kids will be leaving home, you stay up and listen to them. When my children were all still small, I thought that was the time that I really needed to rely on God’s strength. Now I know that that was nothing and that the only thing keeping me going some days is the fact that my Father is always ready and available to listen to me no matter what time it is.
God has encouraged me over and over again in my parenting journey. If I begin to worry about my children’s education, He will remind me of the verse that says that all of my children will be taught by Him and great will be their peace. If I worry that they are not really paying attention to the Bible, I remember that He promises that none of His words will fall to the ground. And above all, when I feel like I am failing as a parent, I remember that He loves my kids more than I ever could and that He is ultimately their good, good Father. Like I said, these days are short…and I can always catch up on sleep when they all eventually leave the house!
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be.” I Peter 5:2
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