Of course, our children have their own pain. How do they handle it? They come to us. They trust our love and your capacity to ease their sufferings. We – who are mortal, vulnerable, and severely limited in our abilities – are the go-to guys in our kiddos’ times of need. Who do we go to? My dear friend Helen went to her Bible. Her pain was real, yet the gain she received from the words of God was apparent to anyone who met her.
The pain of parenting is often surprising, but God shows us through pain how to live victoriously and how to rely on Him. He is our seasoned Savior. The sufferings He experienced on the cross of Calvary far surpass our own meager trials. When we bring our pain to Him, He doesn’t minimize it. Like a loving father, He lifts us to Himself and comforts us.
Let’s toddle in our children’s footsteps. Let’s run to Him unashamedly and tell Him the depths of our hurts. Be encouraged! "What can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal!" (2 Corinthians 4:18). Only God can understand our pain. He is our Divine Doula. We need to remember to breathe deeply and stay focused on Him.
Remember that old saying, "No pain, no gain"? Them’s fighten’ words, my friend. If I have to endure suffering to experience spiritual Realness and leave a legacy of love and sacrifice, then bring it on. When it’s my turn for a display to honor my life, I want it to include a ratty, well-worn Bible. I want my family to remember my laugh lines and stretch marks, the sacrifices made to bring them into the world. I want them to know I loved them more than myself, and I had no regrets.
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Jenn Doucette has spent the majority of her illustrious career as a stay-at-home mommy, creating a wealth of humorous stories to encourage parents in the toddler trenches. Excerpt taken from The Velveteen Mommy and reprinted by permission of NavPress. To order The Velveteen Mommy visit your local bookstore or www.navpress.com.
10 George MacDonald, as quoted in C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (Glasgow, Great Britain: William Collins Sons, 1940), vi.
