Godly Parenting Decisions

Hello, tender friends!

When I told Cub to get dressed, this is how he chose to get dressed:

Do you see anything odd?

I asked him to put his shirt on properly, meaning right side out, and he said, “No, I want to wear it like this. That’s my choice.” (Also, please ignore the fact that it looks like I’m wearing orthopedic shoes. My feet swell in the heat. And that’s a turtle shell in my hands if you’re wondering.)

We were only headed to the library, so I said okay because I didn’t feel like fighting and wearing your shirt inside out is harmless. I also didn’t want to be a hypocrite.

To mitigate peer pressure, I tell Cub that he can choose his activity with friends as long as it doesn’t hurt him or anyone else (some of the church kids get pushy when he wants to play something else). I didn’t want to back down on that and say he has to wear his clothes in a particular way. I want him to retain the power to do things differently than those around him in case it’s ever necessary in a much bigger way.

Then, 2 days later, on Sunday, the same thing happened. But I found it harder to easily give in this time.

Why?

Because we just don’t know people that well at our church (except for the few church friends who actually follow this blog – you are amazing gold!)

Anthony and I knew everyone at our home church, where we met and got married. 70% of our wedding attendees were from that church. If Cub had decided to wear any sort of wild outfi at home, we simply would have exchanged and knowing glance with whoever saw him and chuckled.

But in a church where we don’t know a ton of people, a church that’s the largest either of us has ever attended, I found myself wondering, what if they think I’m going to neglectful mother? What if people assume that we’re poor?

I got stuck fearing man, not God.

Isn’t that dumb? Even if people did judge me in that way, what would happen? I can’t think of any measurable way that my life would change.

Then these lyrics came to mind:

My fears and focus were on all the wrong things.

So if you happen to see my Cub with his clothes on inside out at church, this is why. I don’t want to fight my kid over his outfit. I want to show up at church every week because I’m there to fight for his soul.

I’m there to raise a godly boy into a godly man. I’m there to intercede for my child in prayer and ask God for covenant promises. I’m there to meet the Father at the altar.

I’m there to teach Cub that you run to the father no matter what condition your clothes, or heart, are in.

So eel free to say hello to my little darling in his inside out clothes if you see us around. And who knows? Maybe he’ll be a trendsetter one day.

Okay, that’s all for today, tender friends! Thank you for stopping by, and thank you for sharing!

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