A godly parent, according to her son I was talking to one of my son’s and he shared with me some feelings he had toward my husband and me as parents. He shared with me what he tells people when they ask him about us as his parents and how we parented him as he grew up. He encouraged and blessed me so much by what he said. So, I asked him to write it down, as the Spirit leads, so I could share it with you, Lifetime Remedy. I felt that as a parent to young children, that to have had a nugget, such as this, would have been utterly priceless. May God be glorified in what he shared…and may each of us grab hold of something that might bless our families in Jesus name:
************************************************************************From Kimber’s son: To any parent that wants a family that pursues Christ: As a child of Perry and Kimber Krosschell, I can honestly say that one of the greatest blessings of my life is to have been raised in a Christ-centered family. So often parents’ question whether or not they’re leading their family in a “Christ-Like” manner, I know my parents wondered the same thing at times. So, I want to give you some encouragement today, and a couple of thoughts from a 21-year-old perspective of what they did well.
The first point that I’d like to share is the fact that no matter what society or culture tells you, the goal for your family is not perfection, but to give God all the glory. Often, we forget that God receives glory through imperfection as well. I will never claim that my family is perfect, but what I can claim is that through our imperfection we continually sought the Lord. In turn, this gave our family an ability to express and be broken, imperfect, and in pain, without feeling like we were letting anyone down. This allowed our family to not only grow closer with one another but grow closer to the Lord together. So, what is my first point?
1. Perfection is not the goal, giving God the glory is.
My second encouragement is this when I get asked what my parent’s parenting style is, I reply with a statement that has and will always be with me. I say, “My parents wanted to shepherd our heart, not control our actions.” They would take us aside and ask us something like, this isn’t like you, what’s going on in your heart right now?” This has always been evident in my life growing up. I think of how Jesus responded so many times when he was asked a question or confronted with an issue. He did not respond with anger, or hurtful rebuke to correct the incorrect. He responded most often with a question that would target further than the root in the heart. His desire wasn’t that people would just correct their actions to be holy, but rather that they would change their heart because they desired a deeper intimacy with him, which would result in a change of action. So, what is my second point?
2. Shepard the heart, don’t try to control the actions.
My final encouragement is this, Matthew 7:25: “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the Rock.” Above all my encouragement to you is that your passion and zeal for the Lord ever increases. The intensity with which we love God is correlated directly with our capacity with which we can love other people. Like the parents, the leaders of the household, your children will know how much you truly love them by how much you truly love your Savior. After all, Jesus is not just our Savior, but He is our Lord, our Master, in whom all hope has been found. Build your household on the Rock that does not move, show your kids the love of the Savior through the love you show them, and be the parents that seek the heart of Christ because as you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. Press into your walk with God. So, what is my final point?
3. Your household will not fall, because it has been founded on the Rock.
************************************************************************Sisters, there is nothing more difficult than raising our kids. There is nothing that will ask you to give more selflessly, sacrificially, and wholeheartedly than raising godly children. There will be many days that you will ask God to cover your mistakes and protect your children from your wrongs. Your knees will be callused and bruised from being in a prayer position over these young lives. And just when you think you have it all under control, the basket will get overturned and you will need to surrender it to God. All. Over. Again. Lean into God, love Him even more, seek Him daily with your whole heart and strive to never let up on that. That is when you succeed.
kimber