Intentional Parenting

Michelle Duggar = my new hero.  

I’ve always had a great respect for her.  I mean, the woman is obviously pro-life.  Pro-life in the sense that she doesn’t use contraception and remains open to any life God wishes to give her.  Even if this means ridicule from the rest of the world.  My interest and respect deepened for Mrs. Duggar when she recently had a miscarriage and had a beautiful funeral for her baby girl.  What a wonderful testament to the value of a human life.  

So, I bought the Duggars’ first book: 20 and Counting and I have read over half of it in a very short amount of time.  Oh my goodness, it is very inspiring.  It has answered my prayer to be a better mother.  The stories they tell and the example they have set make me really want to grow and grow.  

I’ve been reflecting on this a lot lately, even before I started reading this book…I just want to be a good mother….scratch that…I want to be a GREAT mother.  I want my children to grow up and love the Lord with all their hearts.  I want them to be well-disciplined, obedient, kind, generous, good people.  So how do I do that in the midst of our every day?  How do I grow our kids to be the absolute best version of what God created them to be?

Through the help of this book and much personal reflection, I can tell you…INTENTIONAL PARENTING!  Everything we do needs to be intentional, every moment a teaching moment.  Easier said then done, sure, but as I’ve become aware of the goals I want for my children, my parenting and discipline becomes a little easier with a goal in mind.  

For example, I know I want #1 to do what we say when we say it, but why is it so important?  Because obedience is very important to living a Christ-like existence (especially if #2 is intended to be a priest 😉  ).   Our spiritual well-being is centered around how well we obey what God is calling us to do in even the little moments of our lives….and how can we learn to obey our God if we can’t even learn to obey our parents?  

So, to all the people who find us crazy for considering homeschooling, for considering ridding of the TV (still an inner struggle…probably will be until I finally do get rid of the thing), for disciplining when most wouldn’t, and for anything else that seems ludicrous to you…I say this:

Hopefully you will be thanking me in 20 years when my kids are deeply rooted in Christ and hold respect for those around them.

Thank you, Michelle Duggar, for helping me put into words what I’ve been struggling with for so many weeks now.  

Check out their book!!!!