Becky Kopitzke

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For When You Need a Little Wisdom

February 17, 2014

Just when I think I’m getting smarter with age, my kids teach me how dumb I really am.

“Mom, how do I make oatmeal?” My first-grader poked her head inside the shower curtain.

“Hi, sweetie,” I squinted through shampoo suds dripping down my forehead. “You’re up early. I can make you some breakfast when I’m done in the shower.” (Can you tell we’re used to sharing bathroom space in our house? Nothing is sacred.)

“No,” she shook her head, “I want to make it myself. I just don’t know how much milk to put in.”

“About a half cup,” I said. “Then cook it in the microwave for one minute, thirty seconds. Do you know how to do that?”

“One three zero, got it.”

“Oh, and be careful when you take it out because the bowl will be hot.”

“Okay! I will! Thanks, Mom!” Then she buzzed into the kitchen to prepare her very own breakfast while Momma earned a few extra minutes in the shower. Good deal.

For When You Need a Little Wisdom

Funny how kids need instructions for the simplest tasks. We grown-ups can take for granted all the knowledge we’ve stored in our brains over the years, until we’re asked to impart it step by step to our children. You’d think this process of teaching and mentoring would make me realize how smart I am.

Except it doesn’t.

Because I’m a child, too, really—a child of God. And just as I know tons more than my daughter about how to make oatmeal and tie shoes and capitalize the first word in every sentence, it occurs to me how much more my heavenly Father knows compared to my puny wisdom. Sometimes I forget, when I’m struggling to find the answer to one of life’s tricky demands, I simply need to do what my daughter did.

Ask.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you,” (James 1:5).

What’s the first thing you do when you hit a snag? Do you worry? Freak out? Blow up, stuff in, shut down, or eat a heaping bowl of chocolate chunk ice cream? Yeah, me too. Next time, though, let’s try this.

Pray first.

Ask God what to do. Search his Word for guidance. It’s all in there, you know. Sure, God holds mysteries we may never understand, but for the most part the answers to life’s questions are laid out for us in the Bible. The more you get to know it, the more you get to know God, who is willing and able to teach you how to cook the oatmeal. And he is gentle. He’s loving and kind. He won’t slap you upside the head for needing help, patience or practice before you get it right.

I guess that’s why he’s called the perfect parent.

So let’s take advantage of the privileges he grants his children.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need,” (Hebrews 4:16).

“Lovey, was that you I heard clanking dishes in the kitchen?” My husband laid his palm on our daughter’s back as she stood on a chair to reach the microwave.

“Yep, I made my own breakfast.” She smiled wide and proud. “That’s what big girls do.”

“Don’t grow too big just yet!” My husband teased. “You’ll always be our little girl.”

And you’ll always need a teacher, I thought. Because nobody on this planet will ever grow old enough to stop asking for wisdom.

* * * * * * * *

If this post encouraged you, please share it. You might also like Why I’m Not Raising Independent Kids, The Cure for Whatever Ails You, and When God Controls the Remote.

Linking up with: Playdates With God, Titus 2sdays, Wedded Wednesday, Wifey Wednesday, Grace at Home, Thriving Thursdays, Thrive at Home Thursday, and Things I Can’t Say.

 

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Filed Under: God's Love, Grace and Mercy, Humility, Parenting, Personal Growth & Faith, Raising Young Kids, School Years, Things I Learn from My Kids, Trusting God Tagged With: christian parenting, devotion, devotional, faith, God's love, grace, grade school, housework, identity in Christ, motherhood, nurturing kids, parenting, prayer, trusting God, wisdom

Comments

  1. Mia says

    February 17, 2014 at 8:47 am

    Dear Becky
    My oldest just finished university last year and my youngest is now in his second year, but being men, I can assure you that I often receive phone calls from them to find out how to cook this or the other dish!
    Blessings XX
    Mia

    • Becky says

      February 19, 2014 at 8:28 pm

      I am oddly encouraged by that, Mia! Blessing to you across the miles!

  2. Nancy Sturm says

    February 17, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    You’ve used such a lovely story to remind us of an important biblical truth. Thank you!

    • Becky says

      February 19, 2014 at 8:28 pm

      Thank you for reading, Nancy!

  3. laura says

    February 18, 2014 at 8:53 am

    I will always need a teacher too. Isn’t this the truth? Next time my boys make me walk them through an entire meal prep, I promise to have more patience because of your words here, friend.

    • Becky says

      February 19, 2014 at 8:27 pm

      Oh, that warms my heart, Laura. For your sake, I hope it’s something simple like spaghetti. 🙂

  4. Ugochi says

    February 19, 2014 at 5:32 am

    I love to be God’s child forever! Who wouldn’t want to be parented and guided by this awesome, loving, lovely, all-knowing God, who always has our best interest at heart.
    Thanks a lot for sharing this powerful story and how it relates to us and God.
    Visiting from WW, do have a super blessed day!
    Love

    • Becky says

      February 19, 2014 at 8:27 pm

      Amen, Ugochi! God’s child forever. Blessings!

  5. Beth says

    February 19, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    Just lovely, Becky! I love coming to your place. It’s always such a blessing to see things you’ve gleaned from the lessons with your daughters. I’ll say it again, running the risk of being redundant, you are a gifted writer and teacher of God’s ways to us all! Love it!

    • Becky says

      February 19, 2014 at 8:26 pm

      Thank you so much for your encouragement, Beth! It means a lot to me. It really, really, does.

  6. Shell says

    February 20, 2014 at 7:45 pm

    I forget sometimes that my boys may not know how to do something unless I’ve told them how.

    I love how you tie in the day-to-day with biblical lessons.

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Meet Becky.

If you love your kids but you sometimes forget to feed them lunch, if you're crazy about your husband but some days you want to set his hunting gear on fire, and if you adore Jesus with your whole heart yet you mess up time and time again, then you and I are friends already.

We need each other. I'm so glad you're here.

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