Anyone who knows me will tell you that delayed gratification is not one of my strong points. I love the idea of surprises, but I simply can’t stand waiting for the surprise to take place. I regularly eat my just-purchased chocolate while the cashier is still ringing up the rest of the groceries. I don’t enjoy cooking crock pot meals much, even thought the work is done way ahead of time. I just don’t wait well - even for things that are worth the wait.

Recently I’ve been thinking a little about how this mindset of mine is affecting how I parent. For example, I want to fix their problems - now. I want to “help” everyone be happy and get along - now. I want them to do what I said - now. More accurately, I wish they could learn from the last time and know better than to do whatever it is I’m currently telling them not to do before they even do it! (If that sentence made sense to you, I know you’re a parent!)

Unfortunately, this approach results in nothing but frustration for everyone involved. I’ve become woefully aware of a lack of grace-filled instruction that prays and waits for the change of heart, not a simple obedience. Don’t get me wrong. Simple obedience is not a bad thing, it’s just not the only thing I hope to teach my kids. And the bottom line is that most days I’m too lazy to put in the effort to do it differently. It’s much easier for me to control the situation as much as possible - or at least attempt to control it.

I say all of this to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this post over at Chewymom. I have to say, I was slightly aghast to find my mindset so similar to “those Ezzo parents.” (gasp!) And I’m thankful that even (especially?) in parenting issues, God “…is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…” (Joel 2:13)

HT: Tulipgirl