We, as parents, try our very best to raise our children well. We teach and we train and we love. We are,however, only human. As much as we wish it weren’t so, we fail miserably at times. We get weary. We get complacent. If we are honest, we would say that we get downright lazy.

Some days, you just hit a wall and you feel like you can’t read one more story or answer one more question. You’re just done. I understand. I really do. I have four little ones under my feet all day long. Someone bless my heart, please. 🙂

This morning, I read these words and they just spoke to me and where I am in my parenting right now…you know, tired. I pray they speak to you, too.

He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. – Matthew 13:24-26

We, as parents, are like a farmer with a really fertile field. We work hard to sow good seed into that field. Sometimes, however, we get all caught up in life. We get busy and distracted and we forget. We forget that we have an enemy and that enemy has his eye on our field. If you and I fall asleep at the wheel, that snake will slither in and plant weeds where we have been planting wheat. 

We must be diligent in monitoring our children’s television viewing. Satan can be subtle. A little off-color language here. An uncomfortable story line there. We are becoming desensitized to things that would have made our grandparents blush.

We must not use the internet as a baby-sitter. A 2010 survey revealed that forty-two percent of Internet users ages 10-17 had been exposed to Internet pornography. Of that group, 66 percent of them did not wish to view it and did not seek it out. The enemy is waiting for an opportunity to plant a few weeds.

Parenting is hard work. There is no doubt about it. We are human and we stumble at times. Praise God that His grace covers all and fills in the gaps of our parenting. Amen?

But let me encourage us all to be about our Father’s business. Let us raise up men and women who are in love with Christ and who know the difference between wheat and weeds.

When your body aches and you think one more sleepless night with that baby will be the death of you…

When everything you say to that teenager seems to be wrong…

When you are desperate to put the kids in bed early and the thought of another game of Candy Land makes your head hurt…

Let these words be a balm to your weary heart.

So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. – Galatians 8:9

Don’t give up, friends. It’s a good work you do.

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