Mom Heart Moments #312

Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

OLD BOOKS, WORN WITH TIME, are some of my dearest companions. I often find that classic writers carry the feelings of empathy and grace toward children better than contemporary ones seem to, and this understanding seems more like the grace of God I actually experience. How very grateful I am for the patience of God as He leads me, His child. He is committed to my holiness and sanctification, but is so wise and patient with me as I make slow progress.

Thank goodness, He has never shown me all of my sin at once! God gently works on one of my sin areas at a time, rather than bowling me over all at once by rebuking all of my immature attitudes. At sixty-five, I am still disappointed at my great ability to sin and to be imperfect when I am trying to learn and grow every day. Still, He loves and forgives me and shows me His path.

While I have tried to live in this same way, copying His example with my children, I also trained and corrected them, teaching the truth of God’s Word and showing them consequences of their choices. However, the more mature I became, the more I understood God’s parenting of me, and the more I had the desire to reach the hearts of my children with grace, just as God had won my heart that way.

Whether a baby, a toddler, a teen, or an adult, our hearts are open to those who develop a loving relationship with us and those whom we can trust to do us good and not evil —all the days of our lives.

I pray that God will show you His love and mercy today, so your heart will spill over to your children with love and mercy, and that you will become their advocates for good, even as our heavenly Father is our advocate and the gentle Shepherd of our souls.