Ramblings of a Christian Mom

  • Essential Oils
  • Homeschool
  • Encouragement
  • Recipes
  • Advertise/ Contact Me
You are here: Home / Christian Living / Puppy Walking for God

Puppy Walking for God

August 9, 2011

Because I totally hate how often I lose my cool with my kids, I’ve been trying to look at them through God’s eyes. And, go figure, I’ve realized some things I hadn’t fully appreciated before.

My kids aren’t my kids.

They belong 100% to God. Not to me.

So what made me think I had the right to treat them badly when I yelled at them because I felt they were inconveniencing me or disrespecting me with their actions? Yes, they need to be corrected and disciplined. But yelled at? No. Jesus corrected people lovingly. How can I expect my child to stop yelling at me when they’re learning it from me.

I was trying to think of an analogy to compare child-raising to, and the best I could come up with was puppy walking. (Now let me explain before you get offended, thinking I’m calling your children dogs.) You know, when people take in a guide-dog in training to teach the pup basic doggy manners in different situations. That’s what we’re doing. Soon, our kids will grow up, and they’ll be in the real world. They’ll have responsibilities, just like a guide dog does. They were created to live for God, just like guide dog puppies were bred to be guide dogs. And, just like how guide dog puppies don’t belong to the family raising them, our children don’t belong to us.

God has given us this remarkable honour, privilege, responsibility to raise His children for Him. He’s trusting us to do a good job! And He gave us our children because He knew we CAN do a good job. Can we do it alone? No, of course not. God is willing to help us each step of the way!

It’s much easier to keep my temper with my kids when I realize that they aren’t just a job God has stuck me with. They aren’t a burden, even when all 3 of them are screaming at the same time when I’m trying to get dinner started. God sees them as a joy and a blessing, and who am I to contradict?

God trusts me enough to raise His children for His glory, and loves me enough to bless me with their presence in our family. (I’m not saying that those without children aren’t as loved and trusted. God loves us all the same, in His immeasurable ways, and He trusts us each with different responsibilities for His works.)  And you know what? I’ve found it so much easier to keep my temper with them and react in a more God-like manner when I remember that they’re a GIFT from God, one that can be taken away at any time, so why should I waste time being wrongfully angry at them and causing them hurt with my temper?

And for those times when I’m about to yell at them and it feels like I can’t hold it in? “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” And, of course, one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control.

 What is one area in parenting you feel like you need to work on in order to glorify God better?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Related

3 Comments
Filed Under: Christian Living, Encouragement, Family, Kids, Parenting, Raising a Child

Comments

  1. Christina from Baby Shower Depot says

    August 9, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    Stopping by from the Alexa hop. Great blog post!

    Reply
  2. Lara says

    August 10, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Hi, new follower from VB christian blog hop! I really enjoyed this post. Great reminder, I needed it!

    Blessings,
    Lara

    http://www.lillarose.biz/proverbs31

    Reply
  3. childcare yorba linda says

    August 18, 2011 at 3:58 am

    Wow really a touching post…What a true saying that kids are the part of God’s glory and they are growing for Him.We are just a way to help them.I just love the part “God has given us this remarkable honour, privilege, responsibility to raise His children for Him.” really very nice writing…Thank you so much for sharing this post with us…Keep it up..

    Lots of Love
    childcare yorba linda
    http://www.ikidsyl.org/site/kindergarten.html

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Blogging about the ups and downs of raising and homeschooling a houseful of littles, striving to grow closer to God.

Subscribe to never miss a post

* indicates required
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Popular Posts

  • Easy Knitted Dishcloth Pattern for New Knitters
  • Easy Chunky Crochet Baby Blanket
  • 2 Recipes for 5 Minute Homemade Silly Putty
  • Young Living Essential Oils and a Chest Rub Recipe
  • Why we don’t do Halloween
  • I Am, I Can, I Ought, I Will: Free Charlotte Mason Printable
  • Finished our Castles Unit
  • Contact Me

Categories

Bible Bible Journaling blogger opportunity Blogging Tips Blog Hop charlotte mason Christian Books Christian Living Coupons Craft Encouragement essential oils Family Food Allergies Frugal Funny Garden Giveaway Guest Post Handmade Homemade Homeschool Household Kids Kindergarten Marriage Meal Plan Networking Organize Parenting Prayer Prayer Request Pregnancy Preschool Printables Quiverfull Raising a Child Recipe Review Scripture SEO How-To Tot School Tutorial Uncategorized Ways to Save Money
blog award

Archives

Thank You!

Thank you for visiting Ramblings of a Christian Mom. I hope you come back soon!

Recent Posts

  • The Trick to Using the Inexpensive Yarn Winder
  • Pregnancy Update 32 weeks
  • Get $5 when you sign up for Swagbucks during December
  • Handmade Christmas Ornaments
  • Swagbucks November Referral Bonus

Subscribe before you leave!

* indicates required

Theme Design By Studio Mommy · Copyright © 2018

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.