When Mike and I first married, Mike was not a committed Christian. He loved me and treated me well, he would even go to church on occasion. Once we had children, I began to grow in my faith and yet he was not in his. He made decisions, concerning the kids especially, that concerned me(looking back I know that I made my fair share of bad decisions).
One day I remember sitting on my bed sobbing and asking God why this was happening and trying to figure out what to do to help my children grow up in the way that I thought was best. At that very moment God taught me something that has helped me, and many friends in need, countless times. I want you all to listen to this wisdom and let it really soak in.
God knew the father and mother that our four children would have. He gave us to them on purpose, in order to help them become the people he has planned for them to be as adults. All of our frailty and faults and failures make us the perfect parents for the children we are given.
Does this mean that we stop growing and learning how to be better than we are today? No, we only need to have this information so that we can stop beating ourselves or our spouses up. We only need to pray and give it all to the Lord, asking that He raise up in our children who He has planned for them to be.
The truth that God blessed me with goes for the father you were given and also the husband you were given.
When we are young and dumb and in love we may make mistakes, but as God’s word says “the Lord your God goes before you and he will be with you, he will never leave you, nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.” (That was my daughter’s AWANA verse for this week, see how God works.) He knows it all and it is either part of his plan or He will use what Satan meant for harm and use it for good. God is good all of the time. He can’t help it, it is His nature.
All of these years later I do see God at work then and now in our family. My husband is now a committed Christian and loving father and husband. And I know for sure that he is the father that God intended for my children. I just had to learn to submit to God first and then my husband in order to see this clearly.The picture at the top was taken on our 20 year anniversary, the day we were dropping our oldest off at college, a Christian college that she choose to go to. God took those experiences early on in our daughter’s life and raised her up into the incredible woman that she has become.
Learning to live for God right where you are now will bring you a peace that passes all understanding.
Check out the rest of the series Living a life of Excellence that fits you Here
Jeannie
I do love that we can trust God to put our families together with just the right people when we're trying to do his will. Thanks for sharing your story--I love the happy ending. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is such an up-lifting, hopeful post. Thank you for reminding us to put our trust in God when it comes to our dear children.
ReplyDeleteVery good post!
ReplyDeleteJeannie, it is nice to meet you!! I don't recall being on your blog before or seeing you on mine. This was such a good post!! So True!! I hope it blesses many young married ladies and encourages those of us farther along the way. We need encouragement too ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking up over at WholeHearted Home this week.
Newest follower here! I found you through the Friday blog hop! Cute blog, I can’t wait to read more!
ReplyDelete-meandmr.com
I so totally resonate with what you are saying and I appreciate it so much. It is so good to know that God can work everything out in our children's lives although we were imperfect parents. Thanks so much for sharing this.
ReplyDelete