Just Put Down the Books

I remember having a conversation long ago with my sister-in-law about putting down the parenting books and listening to God, but I dismissed it out of hand for a lot of years.

 "God gave me a picture", she said. "I was sitting at my kitchen table and there were all these books spread out in front of me, and God just said, 'Close them. Listen to me instead.'"

And she did. She listened well.

Not me. I'm an information gatherer/reader/processor. Reading book after book, I was just sure I was going to discover the perfect route to great kids who serve God well and aren't screwed up. At the same time, those books were adding guilt and burden in equal measure with encouragement and ideas. Just wish it had been the latter without the former.

This week I read I Was Not a Good Mom So I Threw Away All My Books over at Real Life Titus Two and I was reminded of that conversation with my sister-in-law so many years ago. I wrote and told her I remembered and she replied,

"I remember sharing that thought with you about setting aside all those books, though I am not sure I have followed my own advice well.

I have recently thought that I am glad I am not raising kids now with all the Facebook comparisons and blogs to compare myself to, or get dragged down by. I am not sure how I would have handled it all. Would have had to come to you for an intervention!

I think a good way to sum it up is take time to look into our loving Savior's face. Hold on to what He shows you, follow Him with all your heart, and He will take care of the rest. All the things we have no control over we can give to Him. Then when they are in their 20's we will have Jesus to go to, knowing how faithfully He has met us every step of the way! Wow, I am preaching to myself. Thank you God!"

I don't think I could sign this post off with any better words than hers. Thanks, Laura.