Parenting is Hard!

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Dear Diary,


Parenting is h-a-r-d! Should I say it louder for the people in the back to hear? Parenting is hard! Yes, I said it and before you come for me, let me explain myself. As a single parent - single black, Christian parent, raising a little boy, who spends 99.9% of his time with me, I’m saying it’s hard. It’s not hard in the sense where I have a very difficult child who drives me up the walls. Well, at times I do feel like I am being driven up the wall.


I wake up each day trying to train my child in the way he should go while praying that when he is old, he will not depart from the training - Proverbs 22:6. And - it is not easy, not even the least bit! I wake up praying that God will grant him the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that he needs to make godly friends, good decisions, walk in sexual and moral purity, and respect those in authority throughout his life. Sometimes I find myself being anxious about the influences outside of the walls of our home. The influences that do not align with what I’m teaching him, the influences that do not align with God and His words. Those influences. And...not only the influences but also people out there that may treat him badly because of who he is, what he stands for and the colour of his skin. With that said, I have been constantly praying and reassuring myself that I’m not in this alone. Reminding myself that God has our backs. Reminding myself that God will make a way.


Parenting is hard but I found out that I don’t have to do it alone. “It takes a village to raise a child” and I’ve truly come to realize that. We do not need to be anxious about the outside world or the influences. Besides, the bible tells us “to be anxious for nothing but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let our request be known unto God” - Philippians 4:6. Parenting is hard but if we look around us we will see that God has given us a body of believers who are willing to help us along the way. Instead of being an “island” reach out to the trusted people that God placed in your life and say, “Hey, I need your help.” I am learning to do that.


Parenting is hard but if God brought you to it, He will bring you through it. It is downright hard, stressful, tear-jerking, hair pulling and grey hair popping but you can do it with God if you allow him. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that, “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary,

They will walk and not grow tired.” Yup, God will help you through all the grey hair popping situations.


God’s word has really been a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path when it comes to parenting. I sometimes find myself talking to God and reminding Him of His promises to my son and I. I remind Him of His written word by reminding myself. I am trying my best to dry up those tears and rely on God. Parenting is not easy when you’re worried about the future of your children. However, the bible states that we should not worry about tomorrow because it has enough troubles of its own. Let us live in the moment, model the life that we want for our children, train them up in the way they should grow. We should also keep in mind that children are like sponges and you’re the first bible they will read; therefore, live a life for God. Not just one foot in and the other foot out - all in! Also remember to study the word, fast and pray with and for your children.


I know parenting can be super hard but let us not allow it to be hard. Jeremiah 17:7-8 reminds us that, “Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord And whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord. For he will be [nourished] like a tree planted by the waters, That spreads out its roots by the river; And will not fear the heat when it comes; But its leaves will be green and moist. And it will not be anxious and concerned in a year of drought Nor stop bearing fruit.”


Love,

Christian Girl

 

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