The art of parenting

Charlotte turned 10 last Monday, which means Jo and I have been trying our hands at parenting for a decade. Time flies when you're having fun, but it can also grind painfully slowly when things are difficult.

We each have our own experience of parenting, whether good or bad. For many amongst us, this topic is tinged with sadness: relationships with family are not always positive; the desire to be married or have children is not always fulfilled; the loss of parents or children through death, divorce and other circumstances can leave deep wounds.

Our Father in heaven knows our longings, feels our pain and promises one day to heal them completely. The image of little children coming to Jesus is a reminder to us that we will one day come into the presence of Jesus and know the same love, trust and blessing. Whatever your experience as a parent or a child, we all have a perfect, loving heavenly Father who will never let us down.

For these years that God has given us on earth, He has given us earthly families and church family and friends who all struggle with sin and imperfection. It can be hard to learn to love them warts and all, but this is what Jesus commands us to do, just as he came and loved us with all our failings.