Chill out! You’re an amazing parent. Here’s how I know.

I used to attend a workout class that used a lot of weights and did a lot of reps. About the 30 thousandth curl my biceps were on fire. I couldn’t do one more. Just then the sadist leading the class would yell, “You’re doing great! Just 100 more. You can do it!”

My biceps were screaming, “No you can’t!” But my brain was saying, “Hey, she thinks I’m doing a great job and that I can do 100 more. She’s right. I can.” and I usually managed to pull it off.

Frequently I’d think how silly it was that she yells “‘You can do it” and somehow I think I can. She isn’t talking directly to me. She’s yelling at 30 people. She has no way of knowing if I really can do it. But it encouraged me. I can do it! And usually did.

So, I’m here to tell you, “Ditch the guilt. You’re an awesome parent and you’re doing a great job.”

But I’m not just cheerleading a class. I have good reasons to know that you’re doing a great job. How can I possibly know that?

Because you’re reading this blog.

I don’t have any silly ideas that I can solve all your problems with a few blog posts. But the fact that you read these tells me:

• You want to be a great parent.
• You’re humble enough to want to learn and
• You’re willing to put effort into being a better parent.

God honors those things. He will help you be an even better parent. He will help you learn the things you need to learn. You aren’t just talking about it but you’re putting work into learning how to grow in your parenting skills and he promises that will bring success.

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 14:23

God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.
James 4:6

So drop the guilt.

• Stop comparing yourself to all the other moms you know on Facebook. Hey, on Facebook I’ll bet you look pretty awesome, too.
• Of course you could be a better parent. We all could – if we had super human strength, patience and unlimited wisdom.
  But none of us do. God understands and one day your kids will, too. So do the best you can with what you have. Love you kids, have some fun, and trust God to make up the difference. (I found I also had to apologize a lot when I did blow it.)

• Remember:
  • It does get better – IF, and this is a big if, if you continue to put in the effort now – like you’re doing by reading and trying to be the best parent you can. So don’t give up.
  • It IS, and this is a big is, It is worth it. There is no more eternally valuable way to expend energy than in forming a life and directing that life toward God. You aren’t just changing diapers. You are changing eternity. And shaping a life that will change this world as well.

You’re doing a great job!
You can do this!
Keep it up!
I believe in you.

And God does, too.
That’s why he loaned you a few of his kids to train.
He knows you’ll do a great job and direct them back to him.

Here’s what he said about Abraham.

“For I know (Abraham), that he will command his sons and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and judgment, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him.
Genesis 18:19.