in Family Life - Post Comment
This week I've been busy with a visit from my parents. They live in the Chicago area and we're in northern WI. They come up a couple of times to visit. Generally these visits go well. My parents are wonderful Christian parents who love the Lord and pray for us daily. They try to support us and help us. Whenever I give birth to a baby, they will come up for a week or two to stay and help out. They generally try to help when they're here.
Because this is how they generally are, I can tend to think that when they come, things will go smoothly, I'll have more help and it will be a great visit. Unfortunately what has happened in the past is that because of my expectations, I set myself up for frustrations. Often they'll want to take time to read their Bibles and this will sometimes happen just during that time of day when I might want a little help like when cleaning up after breakfast. Or they may decide they need their exercise and take off on a walk or trip that takes them away for a long period of time.
Now the selfish me will want them there with us all the time and will want them there to help me during meal times and all. It's like I still want my mom to serve me and help me. I slowly am learning that when they come, it's my job to serve them and not have too big of expectations of them. I struggled with that a bit today when it was almost lunch time and neither of them were to be seen and I was trying to get a meal-like supper on the table and the kids were having struggles with fighting etc. I had an inward struggle with surrendering my desire for their help and expectations of this to joyfully serve them.
They are getting older and are slowing down. They do get a little tired of the noise of our busy household. If I see things from their perspective instead of my selfish one, I can change to having a servant attitude towards them.
So much of life involves surrendering. Surrendering my selfish desires to the call the Lord has for me. I think some of the reason why I think parenting has gotten so much easier after having my first 4 kids, is that I've learned to mentally surrender to the idea of getting perfect sleep, having time for myself etc... I am content with where the Lord has me and love my job as a mom. I'm not fighting certain aspects of motherhood. Now if I could just do this in relation to my parents! May I learn to honor, respect and serve my parents not expecting anything in return from them!
You have a wonderful attitude about your parents.... I wish I was closer to mine ~ I love them, but they simply do no understand my choices and values. We try to keep as close as I safely can.
You are blessed if your parents walk with the Lord!
My dear parents have still not found HIM!
Blessings with hopes your newest baby arrives soon!
Thanks for stopping by our blog. We are in north Alabama, and boy, has it been hot lately! I was out in the garden this morning and the poor tomatoes and zucchini were so wilted and sad from the extreme heat and drought we have been having. I was trying to water some and praying for rain, and thank the Lord, we had some finally! We need more, but it was a cloudy day and that was some relief, too.
I have relatives in northern Illinois (my parents are from there), and I love the midwest, especially in the summer time! I have fond memories visiting my grandparents' farm when I was growing up.
Our Journey Into The Country - A Faith Walk