Over my ten years of following Christ, I've come to realize that much of life lived in the gospel is a delicate balancing act between license and legalism. This holds true for all facets of life, including parenting. I posted an article recently about guilt and seasons of life for young mothers by Jani Ortlund. The article was really encouraging to me, but it also fed fears and stresses that I tend to dwell on about the weight of being a mom - which was clearly NOT Ortlund's intention. I believe that she was actually making the point that we should view our role as mothers as serious ministry, embracing the reality that raising up children is a strong calling and that every moment counts. That was just about where I started falling into the trap of legalism.
Being a parent does have serious weight. The choices that we make every day do impact our children in real and lasting ways. These are good truths to acknowledge and embrace as I go through my day, but I can't let them paralyze me. Every moment and decision I make counts, but they are not the sum of who my children will be. If I continually live with that mindset, I take all control away from God. Itwould be an unbearably heavy burden to live as if my children's souls were in my hands. How freeing to know that even as I fail as a parent (daily!), the Lord will continue to intercede. Their lives are inHis hands and although He will continue to use me as an instrument to shape them, He will ultimately control the people that they will become. So, a few extra cartoons and cookies here and there won't scar them for life....right?
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