Today we get to hear from guest author Stephen Altrogge, who blogs over at theblazingcenter.com as he shares some great insight and perspective on some of the frustration we as parents experience. If you like this post, be sure to check out more on his blog!
I believe it was Albert Einstein who said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I can only assume that he was talking about parenting.
When you read the parenting books it all seems so simple. If you shepherd your child’s heart, and don’t get angry, and get to the heart of the issue, and get them to apologize, your kids will be obedient, godly, and full of good hygiene. It’s a perfect formula. But it never works out that way.
My daughter, Ella, is seven, and she has a Jedi black belt (which is one notch above a black belt) in the skill of whining. Jen and I have been working with her on the issue of whining for a long time and I don’t see the issue going away anytime soon.
I think I correct Ella for whining at least five times a day. We talk about doing all things without grumbling or questioning. We talk about a cheerful heart being like good medicine. We talk about being respectful to mommy and daddy. And yet she still whines. I do the same thing over and over. I expect different results. Sounds like insanity to me.
My dad could say the same thing about our family devotions time when we were growing up. Dad fought the same spiritual battle every morning.
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DAD: Stephen, I want you to sit up and open your eyes when I’m reading. I don’t want you sleeping.
ME: Dad, I’m not sleeping. I can listen better lying down.
DAD: Stephen, drool is leaking out of the corner of your mouth. You’re sleeping. Please sit up!
ME (rolling eyes): Alright. But I really can listen better lying down.
DAD: Okay, what did I just read about?
ME: About Jesus. The Bible. God.
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To an objective, mostly sane observer, parenting seems like insanity. Same action over and over again. Expecting different results. Why is it not insanity? Because Jesus takes the insanity out of parenting. Galatians 6:9 says –
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
When will we reap the benefits of our work? When will we actually see a different result with our children? When will Ella learn to stop whining? In “due season”. When God takes the truths that Jen and I have been communicating to her and makes them stick. When God, by the power of his Holy Spirit, moves her little heart to do all things without grumbling or questioning. We do the planting, God does the growing, and in due season we see the fruit. Parenting is not insanity because Jesus takes the insanity out of parenting.
My dad didn’t see immediate fruit in me. He faithfully did devotions with us for our entire childhood, but he didn’t really start seeing fruit in me until I was about fourteen years old. But he stuck with it. He didn’t grow weary in doing good. He didn’t let the apparent lack of fruit cause him to give up. He kept doing devotions. He kept pointing me to Jesus. He kept correcting me where necessary. And finally, after a number of years, the Holy Spirit brought all those things together and made them click.
Sometimes the due season is a month. Other times the due season is twenty years. Don’t give up. Parenting feels like insanity but it’s not. Jesus takes the insanity out of parenting.
Stephen Altrogge is a writer located in Tallahassee. He’s married to Jen, has three kids, and loves coffee.
Jesus is the only reason I am sane as a parent. There is no way I would be able to do it otherwise. He gives me wisdom and patience. He gives me understanding and love. So thankful to have Him.