Labor Pains

My eldest child is quickly closing in on her 13th birthday. Though it's been over a decade since her birth, I still recall with a slight wince the labor pains I endured bringing her into this world. Being the stubborn child she is, she was three days past her due date. This may not sound like much, but to anyone who's gone even an hour past your due date, you know how miserable that is.

When she finally decided to make her appearance my labor began, most conveniently at midnight (sarcasm!). Fourteen difficult hours later she was born. What a relief when labor was over and I got to see her fat red face! In that moment of victory, I naively thought that was the end of my 'labor pains'.

Now in my 13th year of parenting, I have come to the dramatic conclusion that labor pains never stop. Just because you've been discharged from the hospital doesn't mean your labor has ended. To the contrary, it's only the beginning!

As a matter of fact, giving birth is a piece of cake compared to the day in and day out labor of raising a child. Am I right? Is this how God feels about us? I mean, he birthed us in the Garden that we might enjoy fellowship with Him. We lasted about a day and He's been laboring to redeem us ever since! (And He didn't even get an epidural!)

When the burden of raising godly children seems overwhelming, I need to know God is laboring right along with me. 1 Corinthians 1:20 reminds me of His faithfulness, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." Now what does this have to do with raising kids? It means the Man's got a plan and He keeps all of His promises.

We don't need to become discouraged or impatient if we're not seeing the fruit of our labor right away. When we are holding tightly to Jesus, we can rest assured that every promise God made in scripture is true for us. I don't know about you, but this motivates me to stick close to the Word of God. I want those promises and I want them for my children. I want my kids to see Christ alive in me. I want them to see God's promises coming to fruition in our family.

Oh friend, God is the ultimate mid-wife! Are you laboring to raise children in the image of Christ? God is laboring with you. He is faithful and will see it come to pass. Keep close to Him and remember to take lots of deep breaths along the way.