Congratulations to all you parents who are doing the most important job of all. It might not seem very glamorous or feel very wonderful but the day to day work that you do is amazingly valuable.

We were active parents for nearly 5 years to two children that we adopted. We did our best as indeed all parents aspire to. Sometimes, as has happened to us, the work we put in isn’t appreciated. However, God sees our hearts and he sees the motives behind all that we did.

Being a parent is very difficult although with many joys amidst the challenges.  To have mentors and helps along the way is so needful. The Bible gives many words of wisdom about being the parents we need to be.  God encourages us in James 1 to ask for wisdom and if we don’t doubt that God can give this to us we can get every bit of wisdom we need. God promises in the words of Scripture to be our strength as we seek His joy in the midst of problems.  “The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10) and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:7) not forgetting that “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28) are so encouraging Scriptures to keep us buoyant. Sometimes when we feel we can’t go on God shows up to help us – he is faithful to his own.

Why am I labouring all this? We parents are the most priceless people in a child’s life. Congratulations for having children at all – they are precious gifts from God even if born in difficult circumstances.  They are each wanted and loved by God and God can enable us to be caretakers of them even if they don’t appreciate it at times. No child is an accident but formed by God himself.

Congratulations to you mums who nearly had abortions but saved your babies in time.  The development of babes in the womb is so amazing and starts on Day 1 of conception.  How can we see these as foetuses – they are little lives in the making.

Keep at it, parents who still have your youngsters at home.  There is no better place for them to be nurtured and loved even if you have to exert tough love that to a child might not feel very loving.  There is a place for discipline and obedience in the home which brings order and correction and respect.

To help with God’s orderly ways, try reading ‘The Creation Series’ from Christian Focus Publications or online to your 3-4 year olds. You can order a set from your local library so that others can use them after you have finished with them. Congratulations for helping others to appreciate and realise the wonders of God’s ordered ways which makes us humans aspire to order and tidiness (somehow!)