We are hosting a Parenting Seminar THIS Saturday with Steve Whitacre!
Steve Whitacre will address the overall goal of parenting & give practical advice for each phase of parenting, from infants to teenagers.
It is a joy for us to benefit from events like these & be encouraged together in parenting.
Read Jana’s encouragement below.
And be sure to sign up!
Jana’s encouragment!
Are you up to your armpits in diapers? What about toddlers that tell you N-O?
Tantrums anyone? Sleepless nights? How about middle schoolers who question EVERYthing? Including your instructions. Anyone know a grumpy teen? Trying to help your big kids make wise decisions about their future? Well, have we got a show for you?
In all seriousness, I am in every one of those seasons. Well, except the diapers. I’m finally done with diapers!
In case we haven’t met, I’m Jana Thomas, mother of five wonderful blessings, ages 5, 10, 11, 14, and 17 (for two more days- wahhhhh!)
This June, it will be six years since I began this parenting journey alone. My husband, Kelly Thomas, a true dream of a guy, a loving father (think dancing around with his little girl to “Let it Go” Saturday mornings in his undies, to wrestling with all four kids after dinner time - he never got to meet his Kelsa-Ana, to leading his family in prayer when we hopped in the car, to taking his precious family with him every where he went) was called home in 2015.
And thus began parenting solo.
Folks, it’s hard. It’s hard with two. You know this. If you are in the training stages of it, it’s never ending. “Please pick up your shoes. Please put your toys away. Please brush your teeth.” If you are in the maintenance stage, it’s hard. “No, you may not play on your device until your chores are done. Please do your laundry and unload the dishes!” If you are in the launching phase, it’s hard. “Well, what time is that activity? So when will you be finished? Did you get all your work done? Will you be home for dinner?”
And if you are in all of those, well, let’s just take a moment and cry, shall we?
And folks, that’s just the have to stuff. We haven’t even talked about the how to direct our kids to the Lord. But THAT is our greatest concern. We want our babies to know and love and trust Jesus. We want them to want to love and serve and obey, not just us, but their teachers and their boss. We want them to love, not just us, but their siblings and friends, and some day their spouses, and hopefully their parents. We want them to serve, not just at home, but on the playground, and in their local church, and ultimately in their own homes.
And so the work laid before us is IMPOSSIBLE.
Especially if you are doing it alone. So don’t! Don’t do it alone. Fight. Do this with people in the same fight as you and learn and listen. Ask questions. And be willing to receive.
And pray. Ohmigoodness, pray!!!! And here is the best news. There IS help. There are good and tested ideas from “experts”- those who have walked this path. Right here in our church, there are friends, believers, people who love you and your kids, almost as much as you do, and many have done what you are doing and want to hear you and listen to the hard you are going through.
And Steve Whitacre is just one of those people. He will be doing a parenting seminar this Saturday, May 1, at First Baptist Church, Athens, from 9- noon. So join us and be encouraged. Let’s trust the Lord with our kids and walk this journey together.
Don’t try to parent your children alone, in your own strength and according to your own wisdom. It’s too hard to do alone. Let’s do it together!