So I read a book recently called 30 Days of Praise for Parents by Becky Harling. I actually got to read it as a manuscript (I’m a freelance proofreader for a publishing company), but it’s on Amazon now, so you can read it, too.
I was really challenged by this book. I didn’t read it for the information (I was looking for spelling errors at the time), but the premise of the book is to commit to praise God for your kids for 30 days (check out Becky Harling’s website for her story and how the 30-day praise challenge changed her life), and the book give 30 different things to pray for, one for each day. Honestly I don’t remember most of them. But a couple of the ideas really stuck out to me.
And both of those days had to do with perspective. One had to do with praising God for who your child is…even (and especially) for the qualities or characteristics that just drive you nuts. This struck me. Praising God for a child’s anger or stubbornness or whatever? Really? But when I tried it, it changed my view of my own kids. I really do l one who they are, ALL of who they are. And praising for the parts of them that are challenging forces me to accept that part of them and find a new perspective on it. That stubbornness? Well, someday, maybe he’ll be stubborn enough to stand for his faith when others are making fun of him. And that anger? Maybe she will learn to be angry for justice and making a difference in the lives of people. God can USE those qualities. Much as I want to sometimes, I can’t pray that they go away…I have to pray that my kids (and I) submit to God’s ability to use those aspects of their character.
The other idea that stood out to me was to praise Jesus for what He’s doing in my kids’ lives. Not just asking Him to help me where I’m trying to work with them. But to step back and let Him have first go and praise Him for whatever He’s doing in their lives, even if it’s not what I think is “most important.” That was a big perspective shift for me, too.
I’m finding these ideas particularly valuable with the twins in Kindergarten. That hasn’t been an entirely easy transition. But remembering to praise God for my two (all four, really) and how He’s growing them in these days, makes a huge difference in my ability to respond to them creatively and helpfully.
So I do recommend this book (or you might start with the first book The 30-Day Praise Challenge, though I haven’t read that one). It’s always fun to see how God will change our perspectives. And it’s good for us, too!
