Thankful Thursday

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"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6


You know, this parenting gig can be tough some days. It is certainly a blessing from God and it is a joy and I can't even begin to tell you how much I love my children... but it still can be tough!

We are responsible to see that they have food and clothes and a safe home and that they get to school and that they learn to be responsible and loving and kind on and on and on. AND, most importantly, we are responsible for seeing that they are raised to love and serve the Lord.

And, let me tell you, there are days when I find that completely overwhelming. And, you guessed it, today would most certainly be one of those days! We've had a week filled with temper tantrums and displays of disrespect and days of not wanting to do homework and I'm just about done in. I want to teach them both how to behave and how to be respectful and how important it is to do their homework. I want to do it in a loving and kind way.... in the way the Lord would want me to teach them all these things. While, at the same time, I feel like my head might explode from all the fits and the struggles (not to mention that all the struggle makes me just worn out mentally).

By now I'm sure you're wondering where the thankful part is, aren't you? Well, here it is.... I am thankful that when I have days like this where I am just completely overwhelmed with parenting, that I have God to turn to for guidance. I have God to turn to and pour my heart out to... to tell Him how much I love these precious little kiddos He has given me, but how it's tough right now and I need Him to show me how to guide and direct them. I am thankful that He is there for me to ask "How do I go about training them up in the ways that they should go"?

He is always RIGHT THERE when I call out.. and I've been doing that everyday for the last week or so. But, you know what? Every. single. time. I have called to Him, He has been right there. And, tonight? Well, after picking up everyone and getting home for dinner, we had what started to be ANOTHER one of those nights. I took a break and went to room and prayed. And then I came back out and prayed as I cleaned up the remains of dinner. And, then all four of us sat down and had a family discussion about all that has been going on. And, God was there with us. By the end we were all discussing and it wasn't just my husband and I talking, the kids joined in too. My son began making suggestions for how we could make it better (don't argue, listen when Mom and Dad are talking, do your homework w/out complaining) and my daughter was naming off all the ways in which we show love and respect to those that we love (don't yell at Mom and Dad, be nice to my brother, etc). Yes... God was definitely right there with us!

"Dear Lord, thank you so much for being with us as we travel this road of parenting. Thank you so for these sweet children you have given to us. And, while the responsibility may be daunting some days, we KNOW you will always be there there with us every step of the way. AMEN. "


For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Laurie at "Women Taking a Stand"!




30 Thoughts Shared:

Unknown said...

Oh Melanie,

You are such a beautiful mother.. This post has touched me because it is real life and you are real. Your family is precious even if they get onery.... I love you my sis..

Jesus, send a special love note to my sister this day. Tell her that her faithfulness and servant heart for her family is precious in your eyes. She is building lives and loving her family as she honors you. Love on her for me. In Jesus name Amen

LAURIE said...

Awesome TT post today Melanie! Glad that you shared your grateful heart with us! -Laurie

Pia said...

melanie, i'm thanking God our Father along with you. isn't it amazing that He's always there for us? blessings to you, melanie.

Grammy said...

I remember those days with my kids. It is so much easer with grandkids. As now I know it is not my job to control them. I can let them be there self. And make there own choice. But too I tell them if it is right or wrong. They need a wind down time when they get home. Then a time to do home work. If you put your self in there place do you want to come home and continue to work. Or take a break and finish what you need to do later.

Omah's Helping Hands said...

Melanie, this is one of the best Thankful Thursday posts I've read! So very true. I share a lot of those days with you taking care of the grandkids, and then sometimes become an air head and wonder where the strength comes from to get through those really tough days when you just want to quit. But all the thanks and glory goes to our Father. Without Him...well lets just say, I don't even want to thank about it. Thank you Father for keeping us together. Amen!

Denise said...

Such a beautiful post.

Unknown said...

Melanie - I thank God He is always there too - we just need to remember to cry out!

Hugs and blessings today! Enjoy the lovely spring weather!
Jill

Raise Them Up said...

I can relate. Totally. :) We definitely need God on this parenting trip. Great post!

Blessings

Erica said...

Hey girl...were you really writing a post about my life lately? HA! We are right there with you, but I am so thankful that I can go to the Lord for wisdom and discernment. Thanks for sharing!

na said...

Thanks for sharing...it is especially tough today here at our home.

Jerralea said...

Thanks for sharing. I am so glad that He is always right there when we call out to Him. Thanks for reminding me.

annies home said...

I truly agree that this up and downs of parenting can be very upsetting but the rewards of watching them as they mature into moral great adults oh the reward of that good for your children and you for being open that is a hard step in its own

GranthamLynn said...

What a great Thankful post. Thanks for sharing. What a Blessing to see God reveal himsself to us when we need him.
Happy Thankful Thursday,
Sherry

Laurie Ann said...

Melanie, isn't it wonderful to have a Father to rely on when times get tough like these? As I was reading through this I thought, "Oh, I was acting just like them to God the week before last." Not one of my better weeks. He gave me the wherewithall to make it through and come back to Him, disciplining myself and being comforted by Him.

I'm so glad your family discussion went well. When the kids do make suggestions like that they tend to stick to their "own" rules. Hopefully they'll follow through and give mom and dad some peace. :)

Around this time of the year Kristyn went through that quite often when she was little-little. I'm talking like up to 4th or 5th grade! I chalked it up to spring fever but we still had our rounds and our rounds of prayer.

God bless you, Melanie, as you train your children up in Jesus and may He give you an extra portion of His peace and patience in times to come. He loves you so much!

Great post, girl. Sorry I wrote a book for a comment. Much love this Thankful Thursday. Have a great day, my friend!

Aunt Angie said...

A hearty AMEN! from me! I remember those days as if they were YESTERDAY!!!

You blessed me with this reminder of the NEARNESS of God!

Raye Ann said...

God is so great. He can be the arms we rest in and the peace maker in our home. What a great post.

Blessings

Tammy said...

Isn't it amazing (well at least I find it amazing) that when we call out He answers. :-) It still causes me to be amazed at how wonderful He is! I am thankful He is the perfect parent and He is there to help us out because I don't know about the rest of you BUT I sure need it. :-)

P.S. I will pray and think about sharing Revelation on my blog. I have always been nervous about studying it because there are so many viewpoints and it seems like the end times get everyone all worked up but I realized as I was studying it that John writes it is a revelation of Jesus Christ and those who read, heed and hear the words are blessed. I began to wonder if it isn't a lie of the enemy that we need to be afraid of this book. Hmmm....just something to think about...it has caused me to do a lot of thinking.

Debra Kaye said...

Melanie,

This is such an honest post! I just loved it! Thanks for sharing your heart and the truth that we can go to the Lord for wisdom and discernment and He is faithful!

Happy TT!

Bonnie said...

How true it is - tough to see the thankful part in the midst of all of the rough stuff. What a wonderful, truly loving mother (loving parent!) thing you did to sit down with the kids and your husband to talk it out. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in the "just do as I say" we forget to explain it to them in a way that helps them see what they're doing it and how destructive it is to them. Thank you for your transparency! Blessings.

GodsOwn/Bernice said...

I could relate with your post...."those days"...
But praise God..That we can rest and refill ourselfse on our "Daddy's" lap.....

Blessed TT
Bernice

bp said...

Melanie, I've felt that way too and am so thankful I have God to turn to. It seems totally overwhelming sometimes and I think what if we're not doing this right or handling this correctly.

Thanks for the encouragement and reminder that God is there.

Tricia said...

What a wonderful reminder that when we have those hard days that make us want to scream and run, we need to run to the Father and ask for help and wisdom, just as you did, and He, who is always faithful, will come through!

Thanks for sharing this and for the encouragement!

Blessings!

Donetta said...

oh, I just needed this right at the moment! A break from packing for a trip. Frustrated, tired and my back in tremendous pain.
aoligies and forgivness, we are all undr the stress.
I will stop.
Pray, eat a snack, take a pain pill (pain=grumpy.

Thanks :)

Anonymous said...

And He makes sure we all have fun.


Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.comTwitter: AboutParenting

Natalie said...

Your heart is so tender. Thank you for sharing!

Marsha said...

Hi Melanie,
I admire your honesty here...just layin' it out there. It is tough. I don't know how people without the Lord do it.

My mother in law always used to say, "When they are little they step on your toes, but when they grow up they step on your heart."

Oh how I understand that now.

Thanks for sharing your thankfulness amidst the trials of child rearing.

Have a blessed weekend.

PS - Thanks for praying for hubby. We had a very good dr visit today. We feel this guy can really help.

Michele Williams said...

Great honest post.... You never stop parenting.... My baby is 33 years old! Blessings...

Rita T. said...

God is faithful!

Sab said...

That is sooo sweet! I love that you are thankful for things that would normally be difficult to be thankful for! Difficult days are ... difficult! Bless you for seeing God in the situation.
God Bless.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

You might as well have ripped a page from my parenting journal on any given week over the past 20 years! Yes, it's exhausting raising a child; but, it is our privilege to do so. Keep to it with the guidance of Father God alongside. He is the underpinning for success; even when it doesn't flow pure, it flows good. With God, all is good and leads us each one (parents and kids included) into our becoming more like Him everyday.

Here for you, friend, if you ever need to "talk" further. I'm walking this particular road with you!!!

peace~elaine