Sermon Note #6

Sermon note: Successful parenting isn't defined by what your children do. Successful parenting is defined by what you do. 

I once read that "raising kids" is better described as "lowering parents." Isn't there so much truth in that? Parenting often puts a spotlight on my weaknesses, my worries, my bad behaviors, my fears, my lack of trust in God. 

When I was growing up, my parents used to always say "we don't care how well you do as long as you've tried your best." Of course, what they knew but never said was this: your best is an A+. They had high expectations for me, but more than that, they wanted me to have high expectations for myself. Success in school wasn't about perfect grades; success was about me. 

Success in parenting isn't about raising perfect children; it's about raising me. 

God, my heavenly Father, knows my best. Am I giving it?