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Your children do not need perfect parents. They need…You

Linsey Driskill

IMG_0781This quote is such a relied! It’s easy to get wrapped up in being the perfect parent and “getting it all right” that we become overwhelmed. What a great reminder that our kids just need us.

In their book, “Raising Girls”, Counselors Goff and Trevathan say, “Families don’t have to be perfect to make a difference. In actuality, THE MORE THE LINES DON’T MEET JUST RIGHT, often the more life and passion and personality that is contained within. Girls don’t need perfection, they just need a group of people willing to walk alongside, love them, and help them transform into the women God is calling them to be.”

Let’s not be like the Pharisees who thought all “their lines met up just right”, but rather, let’s hold onto a humility like the one who saw his need for Jesus in Luke 18:

“Two men went up to a temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God I thank you that I am not like other people–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or evenlike this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Jesus

Jesus recognized this man’s need for him and lifted him up. When we see we are indeed human and in need of Jesus, he will also lift us up.

I think our kids are also refreshed when we admit that we mess up too. That we also need grace. I remember asking author Tedd Tripp at a conference how not to come across as constantly looking down on our kids and like we have it all together when we correct them. He said to get down on their level. To tell them we are working on the same things. To show humility.

Lord, when the lines don’t meet up just right, and we let our kids down, please remind us that they just need us. Help us not get bogged down in being the perfect parent that we miss what our kids really need- us. I pray for each family reading this, that you would fill them with your strength and wisdom. Help them to be encouraged that each of them is the exact person you have created to be the parent of his or her sweet child. Give them your peace today to breathe and simply enjoy their kids. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

A Simple Way to Slow Down these Fast-Paced Days

Linsey Driskill

IMG_0702As busyness emerges with school and activities, we can slow down these fast-paced days with one-on-one time with our kids. Four years ago, my husband came up with the idea to take turns bringing each of our children on a weekend trip. I love the parts of our children’s personalities that spring up during that sweet time.

When we can’t take trips, we’ll take advantage of one-on-one time with normal errands like going to the grocery store, walks, picking up donuts, reading, playing Uno, or riding bikes. There are plenty of times our whole family joins in (like on hikes or Costco visits for samples!), but those one-on-one adventures are so key for our relationships, whether it’s five minutes or an hour.

This doesn’t happen every day, but we strive to regularly connect in this way. It’s slowed down these fast-paced days for a sweet, sweet moment.

Here’s a picture from our kiddos’ first day of second grade – can’t believe it!!! For all those mamas and dads shedding tears as your kids make the big transition of being in school all day, I wrote an article last year about it that I hope will lift you up! Search “God will go before me” in the search bar to the right to read it. You can do this!

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Keeping Conversation Going in the Midst of Busyness

Linsey Driskill

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As the busyness of school and activities begins, asking open-ended questions is a great way to keep conversation going. Instead of asking your kids, “How was your day?”, throw some questions in that don’t end with “fine”, “yes”, or “no”, such as “What was a low and high point today?”, “What did you do at recess?”, “Tell me about your day.”, or “Were you able to encourage anyone that was having a hard time? Tell me about it.

It’s easy to get distracted and miss opportunities to hear about our kids’ days, but let’s take that extra second to connect through asking open-ended questions while eating a meal, tucking them into bed, or driving to the next activity. (And in case you’re wondering, no, we don’t do all those activities on the post-it-notes! (:

Jesus asked about 80 questions in the book of Luke. He not only used questions to teach truth, but also to create authentic relationship with him. Let’s do the same with our kiddos!

“But what about you,” he asked. Who do you say I am? Jesus (Luke 9:20)

What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” Jesus (Luke 10:26)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Jesus (Luke 12:25)

“Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” Jesus (Luke 15:4)

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus (Luke 18:41).

“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” Jesus (Luke 24:38)

 

Squashing Sibling Spats

Linsey Driskill

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This has been a better way to deal with sibling spats than pulling my hair out. (: They seem to go in cycles – our kids will get along beautifully, and then all of a sudden, a storm hits and the bickering explodes. So this morning, I brought out that dusty MARBLE JAR.

When the disciples argued along the road, Jesus intervened and offered them wise words. So, I gathered my kiddos and shared some verses about peace and loving each other (the verses are below).

I told them that every time they pushed for peace and calmness instead of bickering, they’d get a marble. I reiterated that it’s fine to get mad and upset at times, but if they chose to react with peace, kindness, and calmness instead of harsh words, then Bam! they get a marble. I’ll say something like, “Great job (their name) reacting kindly and pushing for peace, instead of arguing! Go get a marble.” When the jar is full, we’ll go out for ice cream.

You can make the jar for whatever you’re currently dealing with (my one rule is that they can’t ask for a marble). My goal is not to create superficial reactions, but to hopefully spark a habit of peace, kindness, and calmness in their words that becomes more and more natural. And sometimes we, and our kids, just need a jump-start.

While fighting is a reality amongst siblings, the more we squash it, the better, for both our sanity and theirs. I don’t expect all spats to be squashed, but if we can teach better reactions, and thus better arguing, then we will all have better relationships and better days. Cheers to that! You got this!!!

“…Be at peace with each other.” Jesus (Mark 9:50)

“Calmness can lay great offenses to rest.” (Ecclesiastes 10:4)

“Love each other as I have loved you.” Jesus (John 15:12)

“Jesus asked, ‘What were you arguing about?’ But they kept quiet because they were arguing about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’” Jesus (Mark 9:33-35)

 

Replace Sulking with Singing (in the rain)

Linsey Driskill

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A rainstorm visited us a few days ago, causing the pool to close. Our triplets broke out their swimsuits and set out for our trampoline. They literally replaced sulking with singing (and jumping) in the rain.

How do we respond to minor inconveniences, or even bigger struggles? As you know, our reactions rub off on our kids. This reality makes me want to pause to take a second breath before sulking. And to try to sing instead. (Something I’m working on!) “Give thanks IN all circumstances,” the Lord says. Not FOR all circumstances, but IN all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

As we take moments to give thanks to the Lord IN our circumstances, our eyes and hearts will shift to things above, and instead of seeing us sulk, our kids will see how to sing in the rain. And many times, our kids will be the ones to show us what it looks like to sing in the rain.

Lord, fill us with your Joy and Presence. Instead of sulking, give us a heart to sing praises to you and give thanks always. To see the bigger picture, even when it rains. To grab a hold of your joy. To grab a hold of you. To shift our hearts and minds on things above. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

My post the other week didn’t come through, so here it is. (: Hope you have a wonderful week! I’m thankful for YOU.

BobGoffQuoteI absolutely love these challenging, upside-down words by Bob Goff in his refreshing book, “Love Does”. How often are we consumed with things that don’t matter? Do we reflect an attitude to our children of putting our energy and efforts into these kinds of things or things that last?

While Paul was imprisoned in Rome in 60 A.D, he wrote these very inspiring words that I hope refresh your soul as they have mine: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:1-2, 15

Lord, help us to be examples to our children of setting our minds and hearts on things above, locking our eyes on that which lasts, and to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BobGoffQuote

I absolutely love these challenging, upside-down words by Bob Goff in his refreshing book, “Love Does”. How often are we consumed with things that don’t matter? Do we reflect an attitude to our children of putting our energy and efforts into these kinds of things or things that last?

While Paul was imprisoned in Rome in 60 A.D, he wrote these very inspiring words that I hope refresh your soul as they have mine: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:1-2, 15

Lord, help us to be examples to our children of setting our minds and hearts on things above, locking our eyes on that which lasts, and to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Subscribe at LinseyDriskill.com to receive my weekly post to your inbox. I look forward to growing together in encouraging our kiddos to love God and love others!

#LoveDoesQuote #Setyourheartsonthingsabove#BeautifulHeartedParenting #Focusonwhatlasts