Welcome to the Set Your Mind Above podcast, where every day, ordinary events teach us extraordinary eternal truths! I am your host BJ Sipe, and I’m so glad you’ve tuned in today! I am excited to share my life & my faith with you, and I sure hope you’ll do the same with me along the way.
Well today I had the opportunity to go out and grab lunch with one of my adopted “little brothers” here in Danville named Silas. Ever since his family started worshiping with us over the past year we have gotten close with them and have been so edified by them. While we have spent a lot of time together as families, this was the first time that Silas and I had the chance to have some one on one time. Silas is bright, kind, thoughtful, and all around just a great kid – I wish I could have said the same for myself when I was 15 years old. It’s not surprise to me that he and his sister have turned out so well, because they have two wonderful, godly parents in Ronnie & Gina. While they are reaching the last few years with their children in their home, my wife and I are just getting started down that road with our 2 year old and 1 year old. And I’ve got to be honest with you, sometimes raising kids is just plain hard. I was reminded of this truth towards the tail end of our lunch. Silas and I had finished our meals and our waitress came back to check on us, and naturally we started visiting. Turns out she is also a young mother of a three-year old girl, and I immediately started to grin and told her I had a daughter not much younger than hers. The waitress started to share her experience as a mom with me, and said, “I never knew you could love someone so much that just knows how to push every single one of your buttons.” I laughed as she went on. She talked about how her daughter tries to manipulate her and her dad against one another & work the system. She talked about the raging fits over nothing, the inconsolable and irrational moments like how her daughter got sick in her bed once so now she refuses to ever sleep on it again. As she shared with me some of the challenges of parenting, I started to share my own. I talked about how stubborn Ava is, and how she can go hours and hours carrying on crying at night if she doesn’t get what she wants. I talked about how tired Kylie & I get and how frustrating it can be as you do your best to parent in a godly way to a child that cannot be reasoned with. The waitress understood exactly that I was talking about, and joked about how we needed to make a parent support group to meet on a regular basis here in Danville. We chatted for a few more minutes before saying goodbye and leaving the restaurant. As I walked back to the car with Silas, I couldn’t help but think about our conversation we just finished with the waitress. I love my children with all my heart, but the truth is that raising kids is hard. Sometimes you can feel like you’re going to go crazy or pull your hair out. It can be exhausting, confusing, and scary at times. But you know what…it’s worth it. Because those kids that test you so much when they’re so young can grow up to be someone like Silas. But it doesn’t happen on it’s own, it takes consistent training, discipline, encouragement, and most of all love on a daily basis in the home.
While I as a young parent do not have much wisdom to offer at all about parenting, the Bible has much to say about it. Consider the many following passages, and then let’s discuss a few things together.
Psalm 127:3-5, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
Proverbs 29:17, “Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.”
Ephesians 6:4, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
While there is much more scripture has to say about children than this, let us consider four truths for us to understand and take encouragement from as parents. First, children are a blessing from God. No matter how challenging parenting can be, there is nearly no greater blessing on this earth that that of our children. They fill our lives with love, joy, and hope for tomorrow as they carry on our legacy. Second, rest comes after work. You cannot coast through parenthood believing that your children will be perfect little angels, always obey and be kind & respectful. Children must be trained & instructed, it takes years of hard work to instill in them what is right. You never get “a night off” as a parent, but one day you can take great delight in the fruit of your work as you watch you children become godly, independent adults. Third, your children are your responsibility. It is not the job of the church, the elders, a preacher, a youth leader, or some other teacher to train up your children. As parents, you must actively be involved in the daily instruction of your children. They need love from both parents, affirmation, discipline, and correction. It falls to no one else but you. Finally, don’t give up. You are going to make mistakes as a parent, just like our children make mistakes. That does not make you a failure. Be diligent to make things right when you get it wrong, both to your spouse and to your children, but then get back to work! Your children need you, your spouse needs you. One day your children will thank you for the hard work you put in, especially once they have kids of their own and make their own mistakes. So don’t give up, because one day, it will all be worth it. May God give us wisdom as parents to know how to raise this next generation, that from generation to generation they may rise up to call him blessed! As 3 John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode. Tune in, Tuesday-Friday’s, as a new podcast episode will be uploaded each day. Also, be sure to follow the Facebook page for the Set Your Mind Above podcast for future announcements and weekly video sessions that are uploaded on Saturdays. As you have the opportunity, share these thoughts with your friends and family, and share with me what important lessons you are learning from every day, ordinary events. Until next time know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above!