I think I need to make a plaque or something with this inscription because it really does seem to fit this season we are in around here. This can be applied to so many areas of our lives and to our parenting journeys… trust me I know about parenting challenges.

I hear these things so many times from my kids…

I tried but I couldn’t do it.

I did make changes in my attitude but no one noticed.

When I hear myself say those things I have to question myself. If you really tried then you would have made some changes towards the goal, but did you?

I know that God set the standards HIGH for what He expects of us and as parents, we need to set some HIGH standards for our kids. The standards need to stay high and not change… but we can’t expect perfection because we are HUMAN and we ARE NOT PERFECT and NEVER will be on this earth but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to live up to those standards.

We can’t lower our standards or our goals! I mean we can if absolutely necessary but we need to set the standards a little high so we can be the best we can be here on earth.

Don’t make excuses for yourself or others but do give GRACE just as God gives GRACE to us on a daily basis. If we don’t hold ourselves and our children accountable for things then we will FAIL and they will too!

We, and our children, have to know that God loves us and that He wants the best for us but in order for Him to give us that then we need to live as His children and we need to set ourselves apart from the world. The best way to learn this is to study His word.

We have to keep growing in Faith and keep learning and studying about God’s word so we can mature in Faith. God can and will change things if we are putting in the effort to make the changes so our daily actions need to reflect our goals.

If the actions don’t reflect the goals then that may mean that the effort to change is not being made. The outward appearance may look like things are headed towards changes but the inside isn’t showing any signs of change.

I have to hand things over to God on a daily basis, I have to pray about the things that I can’t change or the things that just seem too DIFFICULT to overcome. He always makes a way and provides the resources that we lack for the changes to occur. It may not happen overnight but it does happen in His timing.

As parents, we need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we are living the way God would have us to live? Are we modeling the behaviors and attitudes that God has asked of us? Are we setting ourselves apart from the world? So much of what our children do can be a reflection of how they see us.

• Are we dressing appropriately or are we trying to dress like everyone else?
• Do we lose our temper easily or make it known that we are upset with others by our actions, appearance, and attitudes?
• Are we doing things that we’ve said are not proper?
• Are we making excuses for our behaviors or do we admit our mistakes?
• Are we always courteous? Even when someone cuts us off in traffic? Or when we get the 20th telemarketing call of the day?

Just a little something to think about and maybe this gives you some things to pray about. Our ultimate goal is HEAVEN and we need to make sure that we are staying on the path that will lead us there.

We need to show our children the way to get there as well and teach them what to do if they happen to take a wrong turn somewhere, as that is bound to happen at some point in their journey.

Are we being a light to the world? A light that can lead others back to the path of God?

Some of what He expects is for us to be a light to others.

God Bless!