Daughters

What a pleasure it is to raise two beautiful daughters adopted from China! My cup is full! They are precious little girls, but as sweet as they are, their little hearts are full of the wretchedness of sin... just like mine. They need a Savior just as I do. I find it such a challenge to communicate that in the midst of conflict. Going to the heart of the matter is no easy task. It takes patience, discernment, and plenty of wisdom, all of which I lack tremendously. I am so grateful God does not call us to parent our children alone. He is our Father and He is their Father. He promises to give us wisdom. Now all I need to do is receive it!

Having been trained as a behaviorist in the study of Special Education, I find I tend to focus on what they are doing instead of what they are believing about God when they choose to sin. Sadly, I often do the same in the evaluation of my own sin as well. It is so much easier to just make a "plan" to stop sinning in an area than to look at the roots, apply the Gospel to area of sin and trust God for the change. Yet we all know that to just change the behavior is missing the point. We want God to be glorified in our sanctification. We want our children to know God's power to change their lives; that it is through Him and Him alone that we can really change. I love my daughters and want the very best for them. God's way is the very best for them. Lord, help me not settle for the counterfeit!