I know many of us understand the challenge of parenting. A lot of times it feels like my children are pushing me to my very limit of sanity and patience. There are many times where Erin and I have felt like we have exhausted all the resources we have and we just don't know what else to do. Those are some very hard and frustrating moments. Take for instance last night. My 7 year old Hailey threw a fit/temper tantrum for over and hour. She was crying, screaming, yelling, pounding and everything else you could imagine. There was nothing we could do. She wouldn't listen to anything. She wouldn't go to her room. She wouldn't close the door. She wouldn't take a shower. She wouldn't change her clothes...nothing but screaming. I wound up having to put her in "the hold". It's a technique her counselor told us about when the parent wraps their arms and legs around the child's body pinning them so they can't harm themselves or you. After holding her for 20 minutes that didn't even work. Sometime later she finally calmed down but the damage was already done. Our lives and our house felt like a tornado had just blown through. My adrenaline was rushing, we were all agitated and irritated and on edge.
I have to tell you the times I feel the most inadequate in life is as a parent. Sometimes it can be the most lost and lonely feeling even though you have a supportive spouse like I do in Erin. We struggle with this together. It has been so good to be able to take some of our children to a counselor so we can work on helping them get better and also hone our parenting skills. It has also helped working closely with their teachers and talking openly about their struggles and ours as a parent. It reminds me that we all need people in our life to help us. People that have walked in our shoes before or who are trained to deal specifically with the issues we are facing. Having these "guides" walk with us through life has been priceless.
What struggles are you facing in life right now that maybe you haven't even admitted are struggles? What struggles do you have that you have identified and have been hesitant to let somebody walk with you through them? You are not alone. Even pastors need help from others. None of us are meant to walk through life alone. For sure none of us are meant to be able to figure out the jungle of parenting on our own either. God is so good! He is to our family and I hope you recognize His work in yours. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
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It seems I will be the first to leave a comment on your blog. I enjoy reading about things that are currently going on in your life. I understand completely where you are coming from with the kids. I want to let you know that I really enjoy your sermons and I am glad to be coming back and plan to make it a ritual. I need to put God first in my life and realize that I'm not in control and I can't walk thru life on my own. I have a wonderful husband and together we shall become one before God. Our lives have been missing hope, faith, and we have felt lost, tired, stressed, and depressed. God helps us thru that and we see that now. Thank you so much, Pastor, for being so kind and inviting to our family and the many others God has put in your path. I could never thank you enough for God introducing us to you, Erin, and your kids. God Bless and Merry Christmas to you all.
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