Parenting has a way of turning our world upside down in the most ordinary, sacred and surprising ways. In between the chaos of car lines, spilled snacks in the back seat and a little body sneaking into your bed at night for snuggles, something extraordinary is happening. God is using our daily lives as parents to draw us closer to Him.
At first glance, parenting might seem like an endless to-do list filled with dirty laundry, forgotten lunches and repeating the same things every day. But when we slow down long enough to listen, we begin to recognize these moments not as interruptions, but as invitations. God doesn’t wait for us to find quiet time in a clean house; He meets us in the mess.
When our patience runs thin and we’re faced with a toddler’s meltdown, we catch a glimpse of how often we, too, throw fits when things don’t go our way and yet, God stays gentle. Present. Merciful. That same mercy we’re called to extend to our children that I think I often forget. That same grace we should give our children who are just learning is the same grace we so desperately need, ourselves.
God uses our parenting to refine us. To teach us humility when we fall short. To teach us forgiveness when words are spoken too sharply, and to teach us joy; deep, soul-stirring joy in the small victories. A hug after a hard day, a bedtime prayer where they have to name every person they know to avoid going to sleep, a child’s giggle echoing like a hallelujah.
Perhaps one of the most profound ways God uses parenthood is to show us a reflection of His own love. As we ache for our children, celebrate them and guide them, we begin to understand, just a little, the heart of our Father. We learn that love is not just a feeling, but a choice we make over and over, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
In parenting, there is sanctification. Not because we are perfect, but because God is present. He is there in the carpool line, in the dinner that didn’t turn out right, in the nights we fall asleep whispering prayers of “I’m sorry” and “Help me try again tomorrow.”
So, to every parent who feels unseen or overwhelmed, take heart. God is not distant from your daily routine. He is in it. Using it, teaching you and drawing you near to Him.
And if that isn’t holy ground, I don’t know what is.