Parenting!

I was reading Matthew 28 in preparation for our FIRST EVER Wonderfully Wacky Wednesdays tomorrow evening (supper at 5, WWW at 6). We will be focusing on Missions; the first six weeks will be on what God is doing in Colombia, more specifically in Bogota with the Bonhams and the Kines.

Anyway... I digress. As I was reading the Great Commission, where Jesus is instructing His disciples to go and make disciples, (verses 18-20) I lingered on verse 20:

     "...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

The footnote said, "Disciples are not just taught what to believe, but how to obey. Jesus taught practical holiness." 

Isn't that what parenting is? We don't just teach our children the truths of Scripture, we disciple them in how to put those Truths into action - which takes loving discipline, guidance, and modeling. We are in the business of making disciples!! Isn't that exciting?! Scary, you say? Nah. Because the rest of verse 20 says, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Through colic, terrific 2s, fearsome 5s, tingling teenagers, and marvelous milestones. 

We are not alone in our joys and conundrums of parenting. He, the God who has been making disciples for vast generations, continues to work. He uses us! And He's with us every breath and step of the way. And His grace abounds!!