Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. -1 Thessalonians 5:14
This is something Drew and I have been working on since before Dylan even was formed in the womb. I use to get so upset with Tyson every time he would be moody or emotional or just plain dramatic and exhausting. For the most part, Tyson is a great kid more so than not. He definitely has his challenging days, but I couldn’t ask for a better kid. So why did I always think he was never allowed to be bad?
One day on Facebook, I was scrolling through my newsfeed and a meme caught my eye. It said something to the point, “We as adults are allowed to have sad days, bad days, moody days, emotional days. Why do we expect our kids to never have these kind of days?” And I am not sure a meme has ever hit me harder in the face than that one. I was so very thankful for it. Why did I always think he had to be perfect all the time?
I was ashamed at myself for this at the time. For not realizing sooner that my poor sweet innocent – just trying to figure out this thing called like at (then) 2 or 3 years old little boy – was being setup for failure. In what world would I ever think that a young child should be perfect all the time? Seems maddening now in hindsight.
We now have a saying, “Mommy, I’m just having a rough time/day.”
And I try to let him. Granted, my patience runs thin some days. I am not perfect either. And granted some days he abuses this sentence. But we are a work in progress.
Neither perfect. But making progress.
Father, thank You or being patient with me. Help me love and care for my kids in a way that is patient, kind, and wise. Remind me that perfection is fount only in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, thank you, honor you and love you, amen.
Resource: The Better Mom Devotional, thebettermom.com