Parenting, Patience, Prayer

  I, Missy, feel like I have learned so much, about others as well as a lot about myself.  I was not expecting this when we began this program.  But, this will happen when you live in a house full of people.  Another thing I have learned is that parenting is hard!  At least parenting a handful of teenage/young adult girls.  I have definitely learned more of what not to do. 
  I feel that I am responsible in helping our girls stay healthy and to help them make the changes they need to be more responsible, respectful, disciplined and to begin their journey in their relationships with God.  It is upsetting when the girls are not respectful with us or with one another, or when their emotions and attitudes take over and determine their entire day.  When this happens, they miss the opportunity to accept the blessings God has placed in their day for them.  I want them to not miss these wonderful signs for them to know that God is with them always.
  I want so many things for our girls.  I want them to accept Christ as their Savior, and to do well in their job placements and keep their jobs so they can live without the struggles of not having an income.  I want them to serve others and have the fire to learn more about God and grow closer to Him each day.  I also wish for them to have amazingly close relationships with those they trust to be good influences to them and to help them when they need someone to lean on.  I want them to do their chores without complaining and to know that they are blessed by this program and to be grateful for the things they have right now. 

The girls had the fun idea of going to the store at night in our pjs!

  I have forgotten at times to look at myself and make changes with my actions in being responsible, respectful and disciplined.  I have wrongly placed expectations for where I wanted them to be or thought that they would be at this point in our program.  Also, it is upsetting when I don't have the patience I need with the girls when their attitudes or emotions take over.  I am supposed to be an example of a Godly woman and I have failed them over and over with this.
  I need to continually "train my mind...to prayer mode" when problems and trails arise (Young, S. (2012). Jesus Today. (p. 24). Nashville, Tennesse: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.).  Being female can make this difficult but I need to look to Him daily for guidance and support because I can't do it on my own.  I believe that patience and prayer go hand in hand with parenting.  If I do not have patience, it causes more problems and does not show our girls His unconditional love.  But if I genuinely pray for His patience and support during my times of impatience, He will take control of those situations and make the outcome for His will.    
  Josh has been a great help for me with being so patient with the girls and he does not usually get emotionally intertwined in situations.  Josh has always been good about allowing the girls to be who they are and not placing many expectations on them and helping me to stay back when they need me to let them figure things out on their own. 
  As I was reading from Sarah Young's Jesus Today, I came across these verses...
Psalm 143:8 - "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."  I love this verse because it reminds me that if I take time each day to read His word and set Him above all else, He will guide my steps and show me His unconditional love to share with others.
Isaiah 50:10 - "Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant?  Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God."  Again, trusting in Him is something I need reminding of.  There are times that I feel I am walking in the dark, without Him because I try to do things on my own and do not include Him.
Psalm 42:5 - "Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."  There are times when I have gotten so down about my failures with the girls that I again have forgotten to lift them up to Him, ask for His unfailing forgiveness and praise Him through my trials.  This can be so hard to do!
   I pray for His guidance and support in how to approach our girls and what to say when they need to hear it.  I pray that I can keep my tongue and be that Godly example that they need right now in their lives.  I pray that I do not put myself or others above God and my relationship with Him.  I pray also that I can continue to be teachable by Him and daily read His word.  I pray for our girls that they can continue to learn how to forgive and what that really means.  I pray that they continue to learn more about themselves and to see God working and moving in their lives.  I pray that they seek to serve Him in all that they do and go and do what He has for their lives.
  Thank you for your continued support in all that you do.  Can't wait to see those of you coming for a visit!