I don’t know about you, but I often find myself discouraged, as I give and give and give to my children, seemingly to no real end. It seems as though we are still correcting for the same things for which we’ve been correcting all day, every day, for 6-8 years. Mostly, our children are just ungrateful — for anything. And still disrespectful and disobedient. I am not saying any of that to complain about my children (not this time, anyway), but to offer the background for this post.
I get frustrated and discouraged and often feel that I’m just wasting my time, because we never seem to get anywhere. But when I read this Tuesday morning, it reminded me that God puts up with the same things from me. And, thankfully for me, He’s a lot more patient with me than I am with my children! Once again, I’m reminded of how much more I could be like Him.
For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
-Luke 6:35b-36
Thank you, Lord, for loving me while I was yet a sinner (Rom. 5:8). And help me show kindness and mercy to my children, even when they are unthankful and “evil.”
Yes, though I will never know what it’s like to be God, I think I have a little better sense about how he must feel after having my own child!
Hi there…just had a very discouraging day with my own teens, and was googling Bible verses for help and your post came up on the search. Thanks so much. I know it’s over a year old, but it is so helpful to me today anyway. Just exactly where I am. You are right, I’ve learned much more about God’s love and how my own ingratitude and apathy must hurt and grieve him, as I have experienced this with my children. I’m probably rambling (it’s late) but just wanted to say thank you. Hang in there….
Andrea, thank you so much for your comment! It was very encouraging to see it come through my email!
I pray that you are having a better day with your teenagers today.