Parenting the Small Moments

Last Friday, I had the simple task of dad duty for 3 hours. How hard can that be? It took less than 1 hour before I had to call poison control! My son Will had found, opened and already eaten an unknown amount of vitamin D supplement. He was excitedly throwing them all over the kitchen when I arrived. Don’t worry, I learned it takes a LOT of vitamin D supplement to create an overdose.

The following Sunday was our baby dedication at our church. I was asked to give a devotion and encouragement to the parents. So, I had 5 minutes in the middle of Sunday afternoon nap time to give parents an encouraging word. That is a tall order!

The Lord led me to Matthew 25:23. This passage comes right at the end of the Parable of the Talents. The master tells his servant this:

“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”

If we apply that to parenting, I believe we will get a helpful nugget of truth. When it comes to parenting, just be faithful in the small things. I believe parenting is the hardest thing you will ever do, but it is not complicated.

Moms, here is what that means for you. My wife Hannah was talking with me several months ago and said she was feeling like her role as a mom was insignificant. But the Lord encouraged her by reminding her that all the great men and women of faith throughout history all had moms. You may know Billy Graham and Mother Teresa… but do you know their moms? My guess is that you don’t. Our role as parents may seem mundane but you never know what God will do through your kids.

Dads, here is my best advice for you. Just change the poopy diaper! That may be a small task, but it is needed. In fact, it is the perfect dad task. There is a clear problem, a clear solution, and then everyone is happy again. Just change the poopy diapers and you will be well on your way to being faithful in the small things.

Parenting is the hardest thing you will ever do, but it is not complicated. Just be faithful in the small things and let God lead your family to grow in Christ.

"If you follow the greatest men of God back to their beginnings, you will often find yourself in a hidden closet or lonely pew, where a mother kneels to pray." Scott Hubbard

For more resources on parenting, visit Pastor Luke’s blog at www.thepastorparent.com.