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I have the above verse in my Bible highlighted, and written under “bearing with” I have “my kids”. I personalized it because it’s the most challenging place for me, I think. I find it difficult to bear with my children when times of frustrations {in me} arise. Which, again, happen more often then they should probably.
But, this leads back to the beginning of the verse: be completely humble and gentle. How do we make ourselves humble with our children?
Another word for humility is lowliness. It’s thinking of others as more important than yourself. Do we do that? Do we think our children more important than us? Their needs more important than ours? I can say with ashamed confidence that I do not think nor act this way.
Because if that were the case, I wouldn’t be running this series right now.
The fact of it is, our flesh is selfish by nature. This can only be accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit. So, how do we get the Spirit to work in us?
We pray.
We must pray specifically for God to purge out the ugly and replace it with Him–with His Spirit. It will be a constant act of worship and change to pray.
Bearing with our children means to endure with; suffer with.
How can we do this in a practical sense? Share your ideas in the comments.
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Thanks!
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I’m posting this verse on my bathroom mirror! Sad to say my frustration begins in the morning as I wake up my kids and rush to get ready to leave for school / work. Time never seems to be on my side. This verse reminds me of another verse I ponder over often “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3. In my selfish desire to have the morning go the way I envision it, i become frustrated when it doesn’t and my children get the brunt end of this frustration. Lately I have been trying to get clever with our morning routine, making them laugh as much as possible or singing a song to help keep the morning moving. I try to remember when I was a kid and didn’t want to get ready for school. Humbling myself to their level and to consider what their struggles are at that age. Oh is it so hard to bear with them. But if we don’t then how are we creating a place for them to abide in? Thanks again for pointing out the weakness I need to address daily. I agree that this is one of my biggest struggles as well. I want to be gentle and humble with my children always.
Oh friend—I feel you!!!!
You make an excellent point about creating a place for them to abide in by bearing with them…very good. Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your struggle. You are not alone!!
I could echo a lot of what Christina said. I thank God we are able to homeschool, so I don’t feel as much pressure in the morning, but – without a doubt – the VAST majority of my struggle with humility in regards to my kids, is when things aren’t going the way I want (namely, I am not able to accomplish the things I want, because of the choices my kids are making). Interesting that I have heard God tell me again and again that my priorities every day are Him, then my kids, THEN my house. This affirms that.