Toddlers as Teacher’s Toolkit

I have worked with a lot of teachers … public, private, Christian, homeschool (also known by the name ‘Mom!’ I realize they have lots of tools … curriculum, pens, pencils, crayons, paper, computer, charts, chalk/white board, computer … and so on.

But above all of them, I realize God is also the great teacher, oops, I mean the greatest. He also uses a variety of tools. I have also come to believe one of His great tools is parenthood. There are so many things He teaches us when He gives us kids. And believe me, parenthood is a powerful educational device – as a parent, I got schooled. Each stage of parenthood teaches us different things, and the two big grades we learn are having toddlers and having teens. It is parenthood in these two areas that our eyes are opened and our mind is often blown.

But what, how? Here are several ways.

1 — DEPENDENCE

We learn how much they need us … basic provisions, protection, affection. The younger they are, the more they need us without even knowing. The older they get, the more the kids realize they need us … in spite of independent streaks, rebellious spirits … they know they are dependent. Don’t believe me … tell them to buy their own phone.

We also learn we was parents are dependent on God. As much as we try to take care of them, we realize more and more there are so many things out side of our control.

Kids need parents … Parents need God.

2 — PATIENCE

Kids have little of this, and parents strive to teach them it so much. But we also come to a quick revelation that we need it too, and we demand we have it quickly. Rocking a baby all night. Waiting for a teenager to return from a date. Avoiding the urge to intervene when we know the child needs to learn on their own. Stop this helicopter parenting nightmare people.

Do you not also come to realize the patience God shows with us? How deep the Father’s love and long-suffering are.

We learn it, we also learn more of His patience.

3 — GRACE

Kids will mess up. We will mess up. We deserve judgment. We receive grace. By showing grace, we demonstrate God’s grace in a practical way.

Grace is a marvelous gift – received and shown. Parenting brings this to the forefront.

4 — HUMILITY

Only non-parents don’t understand how humbling parenthood can be. You think you’ve got it figured out … and BAM … everything changes and we are back to square one. When we lean on our own strength, we soon have our legs knocked out from under ourselves. Parenting is tough, a humongous responsibility, and we are way out of our league.

5 — LOVE

The biggest lesson I’ve grasped, is the depth of love. I love my wife. I loved my parents. But it wasn’t until I had kids that I grasped the wonderment of selfless, sacrificial, and stupendous love.

Lessons from a Toddler (and teens) … are really lessons from the great Rabbi named Jesus. And what great lessons they are.