Thoughtul Parenting

I feel like a lot of my posts relate to living purposefully, but lately I have come to realize that making purposeful decisions and making thoughtful decisions are not always the same thing. We all have moments when we wish our kids (or husbands or dogs or fill-in-the-blanks) had come with an instruction manual. Some handy, consisely written pamphlet that covers any situation we might ever find ourselves in and also has a handy, always manned, toll-free number that we can call if anything out of the ordinary occurs. A number that will connect us to the expert that can clear up our every curiosity and tell us how to resolve any problems or clear up any glitches we might encounter in the course of life, whether our days be routine or strange beyond strange.

We all want this manual because we want to know what to do without doing any of the legwork or experimentation or though-process ourselves. Because all of that is just too messy and we might have a setback in the process or even -GASP- fail. We might no do everything perfectly and that's scary. That's why moms generally want dads to use the instruction manuals when they but something new or fix something old. And that's also why dads are a necessary part of the parenting process. Because they tend to be hard wired to think outside of the box and experiment confidently with parenting.

So what do you do when life is not ideal and you want to reach for that instruction manual that does not exist? Reach for th one that does. It has been said that the Bible is a universal instruction manual, that it can instruct you in all manners of life. And so far, I have yet to find a problem it won't help me with. And whenever I am just to frustrated to read my manual, I hit my knees and talk to the expert. He's just a toll-free (price paid by Jesus) prayer away.

As one of my friends posted on Facebook the other day, no one ever makes a lock without making a key and God doesn't allow problems in our lives without a solution being there, too, even if that solution is just as simple as calling the expert.

Today, I encourage everyone to practice thoughtful parenting. No cookie cutter was used to make us all and there isn't always an easy fix, but check out your instruction manual and call on the expert and do your best. Only you and God know what that is and only God can help you tap into that best, whatever it may be. And while you're at it, live thoughtfully, too. I am a firm believer that we would not deal with all the problems we deal with if everyone thought before they did. Have a great day in the Lord.