The blessings of being a parent

“You need to trust and

obey me.

I love you

and I know

what’s best for you”

That’s what I pleaded with my son a few weeks ago after a particularly difficult bedtime. In the midst of saying it – DING! – I had an AH-HA moment: this is what God is saying to me, too.

I’ve had other moments like that too, where, in the midst of whispering something tender or forgiving to my son I realize that’s how God feels about me. God’s taught me many times the truest blessing of being a parent: an insider’s understanding of the depth of His love. My love for my child is just a taste, a small example of God’s immense loving-kindness toward me.

Another thing I’ve learned:

Kids can be rotten. My kid can be rotten.

But do you know what? – I never hold that against him.

And, HMM, God doesn’t either.

Sure, I could [but I won't! ] name you a dozen rotten things my kid’s done in the last year. But the thing is, I barely remember them and I sure don’t think about them on a daily basis nor do I ever sit around thinking what an awful kid my son is.

Neither does God.

All I want my for my kid – and, I believe, all God wants for us – is to learn to

Trust me

Obey me

Because I love you.