Imperfectly Perfect Parents

(Psalm 127:3-5, Genesis 3:1-11)

Hi there! This is the first of a series of write-ups on issues that affect everyone at one time or the other in the realm of life. Today, my focus is on Parenting; the challenges, the demands, the highs and lows and rewards of being an imperfectly perfect parent.

So you have decided to be a parent? Let me start by congratulating you on making a good choice and stepping into this high call of parenthood. There is no doubt that it is a demanding calling and only a few people can attest to reaping the reward from the onset. Some parents have heavy responsibility with their children at different levels; from childhood to adulthood. Kudos to you all! You are doing an awesome job, in the lives of your children (Lamentations 3:22-23).

I commend the parents who have special needs children and have to cope with the demands as well as other responsibilities. It is my prayers that God will reward you and give you the grace to overcome the challenges ahead of you and those you might be battling with right now.

Parenting

Parenting, hmmm. It’s not an easy job bringing up children in any circumstance, but for GOD. The demands of parenting in carers’ lives and wellbeing could be draining! Every parent has gone through difficult times of inadequacy, incompetence, inability to carry on yet kept on going on like a wounded soldier; weak but focused, bruised but determined, seeing no positive results, yet hoping against hope that it would be well. It is well with you all. God sees all your struggles and tears and He is ready with open arms to embrace and comfort you. He is there for you.

Imperfectly Perfect parent

The society expects you to be “perfect”; having no slip-ups, getting your act together at all times, being resilient, and not confident enough to confess to not coping. Some mothers are depressed because there is no one to give them a break! Many are struggling to make ends meet whilst still keeping a work-life balance coupled with emotional trauma! If you are in such a situation, let me assure you that you are not the only one at the end of their tether with parenting.

Even God had a tough time with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-11)! They disobeyed him at a cost. But it goes to show that parenthood is not perfect, but God’s love for us is perfect and unconditional (Read Isaiah 49:15) and that is the assurance that we have that we could lean on Him, holler at Him and key in to His divine wisdom for all our children and the challenges we are confronted with.

God loves you and understands the difficulty involved in child rearing. He knows you cannot cope all by yourself and He is available to help you and guide you on what next to do (Phil 4:13). I know some of you are about to throw in the towel even as you are reading this. Some are plagued with guilt and condemnation because of their past experience and mistakes.

Some have given their children up for adoption because they could not cope with the difficulties. Maybe you are reading this right now with tears in your eyes for the errors you have made, the decisions and choices that you made, the stigma that you are going through. Etc. Let me assure you that God loves you (Read Jeremiah 31:3). He cares for you. God will forgive you when you call on Him. He will comfort you of the hidden pain and will give you a new name for the labeling and stigmatization you have gone through. He cares for You.

Till next time, remain radiant and rapture ready!
First Lady Honour Adewole