Childlike Faith - Part 2

Beloved ones, I want to share a story with you about what has recently transpired in my son's life.   It takes a bit to tell,...but it's a goodie.  So, sweet ones, go grab yourself a cup of coffee and take a 5 minute "soul break" and sit back and be encouraged by this storyteller momma's recent life moments.

For the last couple of years my son has grumbled every Sunday morning that he "has to go to church" and "has to go to Sunday school".  (As I said in my last blog post, "Childlike Faith - Part 1", I'm newish in my relationship with God as well.)  We started my youngest, young enough in this journey, that she readily accepts and believes in God.  But my oldest has held steadfast in his grumpy skepticism of church, Sunday school, and God.  And most of the time my husband and I are patient in God's plan for him and remain patient.

 

But I must admit, there have been times, my husband and I have reacted in not the most grace-filled ways with him in his grumbling over church attendance and God.  Many times getting frustrated in getting him to get out the door on a Sunday morning and over anxious for him to believe.  I tell you this fellow parents, so that if you see yourself in my husband and I, you will know you are not alone in this messy journey of parenthood.  I shudder as I think about how I've pushed too hard.  But I remind myself, God loves me right where I am...that I'm beautiful in my messy, frazzled, pushy momma state.

It wasn't until one evening, this past Christmas, while at my in-law's church when I was completely and thoroughly frustrated with my son looking so obviously bored, audibly sighing over and over and refusing to stand to sing when two pew rows of our family all stood in unison.  It was then in my frustration as I leaned over and wrapped my hand around his arm to tell him to stand for the Christmas song already in progress, that the question came to mind, "Oh honey, what are you doing?  If it was one of the 'new-to-God' women you work with in your women's ministry at church, would you grab their arm firmly and tell them to stand and sing?"  No! Never!   I retracted my hand from my son's arm and stood up again.  So if I would never do this with the women I work with, why was I doing this with my own child?  I needed to let go of my "when's, how's, and where's" on my son's faith journey.  I decided then and there to let go and went to God with childlike faith and trusted his plan for when, how, and where He and my son would meet.

My husband and I decided to take a class this past April, at church for one month. In taking this class it meant we had to be at church on Sunday's at an earlier hour than we normally attended.  So this meant our children went to the earlier Sunday school time while we were in the class on Sunday mornings.  For my son this meant different teachers in his class.  As it so happened, one of our friends volunteers as a teacher in that class as well.  As the month progressed with our family attending this earlier time at church, my husband and I noticed a change in our son.  He had started asking questions about God and our friend reported he was more involved in discussion in Sunday school.

Around this same time, things for my son were changing at school.  His best friend had let him know he was not going to be attending their school next year and his other good friend was angry with him and wasn't speaking to him.  After dealing with the combination, for about 2 weeks, it eventually became too much.  One evening, before school ended, my son broke down in tears.  I had said everything a mother would or could say about the two situations to help guide him through.  But somehow it was not enough.  So as I sat with him, and since I was "at the end of me" and all I could offer,....I went to God with childlike faith

"God, I do not have the words to help my son in his time of hurting, confusion and fear."  

 

Immediately it was laid on my heart to pray over him...out loud.

 

For those who know me best, they know I struggle with awkwardness to pray out loud in front of others,...including my family.   I pray for my children, but my prayer time is spent alone.  In the quietness of early mornings.  In.  My.  Head.  OF COURSE, God would ask me to pray out loud! 

 

As I looked at the boy-man in my arms, still softly sobbing,...I asked if he would mind if I prayed for him.  Of course my oh so sweet "hallmark moment" was interrupted with a tone only a "tween-aged boy" could summon, as he said, "Uh,....I guess?"

 

I proceeded to close my eyes and with childlike faith I began to pray a prayer ... that did not come from me.  As I sat there listening to the words tumble effortlessly from my own lips,...I was in awe.  As I heard myself speak, I heard the words that were exactly what my son needed to hear.  I knew I had gotten out of the way and God was using me to speak to my child.  I knew we were not alone in the family room as I prayed.  The words came too easily and too perfectly and with such confidence and assuredness.  Such exactness and sweetness.  I ended the prayer and we both said Amen.  I waited...with breath held. 

 

The first words from my son's mouth were, "That was weird."
(Remember he's a tween boy...so...anyway.)  I waited. 
"Mom?..... I think I just felt God.  I've never felt that before.  It was like He was right here." 
(Insert a big Momma "gulp" right.... about.... here!)  So, I remained calm on the outside but inside I was all like, "Holy smokes!  Did God just use me for my son?  Did I just witness my child's first time to ever experience God's presence?  That's awesome!"  Goosebumps!

 

 

 

School is out for summer break now.  And as the days slowly pass, my husband and I are hearing my son make small comments at random moments.  "Last night I talked to God about....."  or  "I asked God about that."  or  "God answered me and said...".  Childlike Faith.

 

Sweet ones, I don't have this parenting thing all figured out AT ALL.  But our God is so good and faithful.  He has us.  He is carrying us in the beautiful messiness of our parenting and he has our children too.  He is parenting us in our parenting and parenting our children in their lives.  Going to him and letting him know even in our clumsy way, "Hey, yeah, God...I know I'm the parent, but uh,...I need you to take over...like....NOW!"  It's ok!

 It's ok for us as parents to give ourselves permission to go to God as "his" child with childlike faith and ask him to help us parent our children. 

We aren't supposed to have it already all figured out.  And in watching us in our messy states and ways, our kids see it's ok for them to go to God just how they are and right where they are, too.


Challenge:  What do you struggle with in your faith journey?  How can you give it to God and let go and trust with childlike faith?  How can you go to God as a child, with your parenting issues?  What do you need to let go of in your child's faith journey or life in order to trust with "childlike faith" in God's plan for their lives?  What does "childlike faith" look like for you?