No one said it would be easy!

I had an epiphany this week! Now that I have analyzed it a bit I've discover how slow I am. It was a "duhhhhh" moment! Any mom you talk to no matter what stage they are at will tell you that it is so frustrating to have to repeat yourself over and over again. How many times is it necessary to tell your child, "Chew with your mouth closed", "Look before you run out in the street", "Don't hit your brother"...? It could go on and on. And yet, ever time I have to repeat myself, I'm frustrated, exacerbated and put out! Last week, God revealed to me that "This is it"! This IS what we call parenting! Yes we have to do it over and over again. Day in and Day out. Repeatedly, consistently and on and on! We are not alone. All the parents around us are doing the same thing. I was thinking about when I'm worried about a child's illness. I go to the Dr. They explain it to me and I feel calm. I know how to go forth and handle the situation. Somehow it makes me feel better to know that everything is normal and will pass. I realize now that I need to take the little daily frustrations and put them in perspective. THIS IS IT! THIS IS PARENTING! THIS IS NORMAL! My kids aren't rotten. My parenting is completely flawed. It just is what it is. Then the humbling moment came. God asked me, "Why do you make me repeat Myself?". Ouch! Is there anything that will help us be compassionate parents more than realizing God's love and patience towards us? Sometimes I wonder if the reason we get so frustrated when our kids expose their sin nature is because it exposes a bit of ours as well. Maybe the reason we can recognize theirs is because it is VERY familiar to us! Anyway, I feel better knowing that constant repetition is normal. Kids forget. We remind them. I'm making a choice to just write it down as part of my job description and plow on. I'm praying that God will show me how to extend the grace to my kids that He has so lavishly supplied to me. Can you hear Him repeating Himself...."I love you. I love you. I love you."?