We all have hopes for our kids.
Mine are very big and very small at the same time.
I want big things: that they will know God, love God, serve and worship God and His Son Jesus.
And on the smaller side, I want them just to be better than me. I want them to master the things I’m not mastering. I want them to be a better spouse, a better parent, a better person, than I am.
The hardest and surest way to that happening is for me to be better than I am, by God’s grace.
And probably the majority of my parenting (75%?) is fear-based (mostly God-fearing, but some man-fearing too). I parent to avoid what I don’t want them to be. With fear and trembling I realize that without God’s grace and His strong tools of discipline, instruction, and love (ie their parents) my kids will be left to themselves and their sin nature.
I want to keep parenting in fear (the Godly, right kind). But I also want to dream great and Godly dreams for my kids. I want to expect the best and be ready for God’s blessings in their lives. He is a good God. He gives good gifts to His children.
It’s ok to eagerly hope for and expect God’s working in their lives. And dream big dreams for them.
What are your fears and dreams for your kids?