God's Little Girls

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,"

Galatians 3:26

How much thought have you given to the notion that YOU are a child of God? When you look at your own children (or other people's children if you do not yet have your own) does God's persona as your Heavenly Father pour over you? Probably not.

Real talk ladies: most of us don't walk around all day telling ourselves, or others, that we're God's child. Sure, it might come up in a discussion, we might hear a song on the radio that prompts the reminder, but many of us forget during our daily grind that we are His daughters.

It's hard to grasp the concept when you're literally responsible for other human (and animal) lives. When we're inundated with bills, appointments, and all the other grown up junk it's hard to see ourselves as children.

We are though! We're forever children of God!

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-"

Romans 8:14-17

If you've raised a little girl or are raising one today, you know they come with a little baggage and no instruction manual. The perception I have of my daughter as a child is vastly different from the perception I have of me as a child or someone's daughter. I have trouble finding inclination to believe I was dramatic, sassy, and emotional whilst still in single digit ages.

{Don't worry y'all, my mother reminds me ALL THE TIME.}

Sometimes I forget just how young my daughter is. She turns 6 in May but carries herself, generally, much more maturely. She speaks when spoken to, doesn't shy from adults, and is {too} independent. I am constantly knocking her off her high horse and reminding her who's boss. Rarely do I find myself needing to comfort a fragile and heartbroken baby girl.

The other day, my dear daughter and her sweet friend were having a rough time playing together. It was one of those play dates where the other mom, who's a Heaven sent friend of mind, and I did more behavior correcting than anything else. The girls each ended the afternoon in tears. Unfortunately, my daughter instigated the drama. She knew her actions were unacceptable to me, really without me saying much to her.

Bless her heart, she cried and apologized for hours afterwards. (I hadn't asked God for more patience but he sure served me a lesson in it that day.) I felt so sorry and heartbroken for her. All I wanted was to tell her I loved her, that we all make mistakes, and take her pain away.

I had a choice that day. I could ground my daughter, yell at her, and show her my disapproval of her behavior. Or, like God has done for me countless times, I could show her LOVE and GRACE.

In that moment, the parallels between God the Father and Anna the mother flashed brighter in my mind than Times Square on New Years Eve. While I was trying to plant seeds of kindness, love, and forgiveness into my daughter, I realized God was showing me how He sees me, and you, as His child.

"I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them." Hosea 11:4

Imagine if every time we acted in a manner displeasing to God, He shunned us or punished us? Would it make it harder for you to trust him and pursue your relationship with him? Of course it would.

Our little girls are no different, folks. If we berate them every time they mess up, we're going to make them fear us. Just as our Heavenly Father listens to our problems, we must listen to theirs.

"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love…"

Ephesians 5:1-2

Parenting is hard, y'all. I feel your frustrations, relate to your cries for help, and beg for a mommy mulligan every single day. I am figuring it out day by day just like the rest of y'all.

But God isn't!

He's got it all figured out and can help us along the way. If we can just remember that we are God's daughters, we will be better mothers. Arm yourselves with God's Words. Forgive yourselves when you mess up. God will too, when you ask Him. Remember the grace that God has shown you countless times, none of us deserving of it, and bestow that same grace on your precious babies.

We're ALL God's little girls.

Blessings,

Anna

#God #motherhood #parenting #grace