The Mirror Concept

I am so thankful that the Lord loves us enough to show us the things that we need to change in our lives.  God loves us too much to leave us as we are!  What an amazing thing because I know that there are so many things in my life that need the Lord's loving hand to change. God will also use many different avenues to pinpoint the areas in our lives that need some adjusting. One of these avenues God has used in my life has been my children! God has used my children to teach me so much about myself that I had never realized.


Our children are always going to be a good mirror for us as parents to look at, so we can gauge how we are faring as parents. Our children will copy the things they see and hear us doing and saying. My pastor always says, "what we do in moderation, our children will do in excess." So chances are, if we see our children is doing something and we don't know where it is coming from, it might be a good idea to consider if we are doing that same behavior, even if it is just in a small amount.  

Let me give you an example from my own life's experience. As I'm sure many moms would agree, dealing with stress can be a difficult thing at times. I'm not the best at dealing with it myself, and so often I wish I was. I have difficulty recognizing when tension is building up inside me and then catching it before it comes out. My children have proven to be an accurate thermometer in telling me when I have crossed the line. God has given my son a sensitive spirit when it comes to emotional things. He often apologizes for being the source of my tension and my stress, when in fact it is not him at all. It is the plan and simple fact that I let my emotions get the best of me. My oldest daughter's reaction is much different. She responds with the same level of emotion that I am putting out. I find she exhibits the same emotional feistiness as I do. So when I am stressed out, it directly shows up in my daughter's actions and attitude. How many of you find yourselves in this predicament, where your emotions can sometimes get the best of you?  I have been praying hard through this one, that the Lord will help me to exhibit self control in times of tension and stress, so that my children will see how to have self control. I want them to grow up knowing the appropriate way to respond to stress, and how to exhibit self control in those moments when most people would boil over with anger and frustration. The only way they are going to learn this skill is by mom and dad being a good example of controlling their emotions. Let's face it, there are many times when we can justify our anger toward others, but Christ is calling us to live above our emotions and react much differently then we want to react in times of stress.  

The mirror concept can be applied in so many different contexts that we can observe with our children. It doesn't just have to apply to things we see that are negative.It can encourage us in the things we are doing well as parents. Let your children teach you how to be a better parent by observing them. You never know what you might learn about yourself by watching your children.

I pray that as you observe your children this week, the Lord will give you wisdom in handling the different situations that may arise.  I pray that the He shows you the hearts of your children, as well as giving you a glimpse into your own heart. When God allows us to see what is truly in our hearts, it is in that place that He can begin to do a deep work in our lives and make us more like Him.