We met to talk about the work we do as pastors. It became so much more.
For nearly 2 hours we shared our struggles. We confessed. We lamented. We rolled up our sleeves and showed each other the wounds we’ve sustained from the strikes of a cold world. It was two hours of restoration! I was reminded that I wasn’t alone.
There’s something unbelievably healing in finding out you’re not alone, isn’t there? When someone confesses something that you struggle with you find comfort. Of course, you could find this from reading a book, or attending a seminar, or listening to a self-help guru. Those are all well and good means. But they don’t compare to the healing power that comes from finding out you’re not alone.
The same is true for parenting. There’s a lot of loneliness in parenting. There are days where feelings of hopelessness far outweigh the feelings of joy and enthusiasm. It doesn’t matter who you are or what kind of kids you have.
Sometimes you just need to know you’re not alone. There are times where you just need to roll up your sleeves and reveal the wounds you’ve sustained from the ups and downs of being a parent. And you need others to do the same.
That’s why I started this blog. From the very first post I made it clear that Confessions Of A Parent would not exist as a “how-to” on parenting. It would exist as an “I know, I’ve been there, you’re not alone.” While we post a lot of material with “3 steps to do this” or “4 ways to do that,” it’s here to let every parent know: “Through your darkest day or night as a parent, you’re not alone. We’ve got the same wounds on our arms from shielding ourselves, our children, and our families from the cold blows of this world.”
There’s freedom found in revealing your parenting wounds and finding out there are other parents with the same wounds.
Your child is on the autism spectrum….. you’re not alone!
Your son throws himself on the floor when he doesn’t get his way… you’re not alone!
Your daughter lies all the time and refuses to do the right thing the first time she’s asked to do it… you’re not alone!
The sibling group you adopted hates you and wants their “real parents” back…. you’re not alone!
Your son is in jail… you’re not alone!
You’ve walked through the hell of taking your out-of-control son to a residential facility for behavior issues… you’re not alone!
Your daughter is a drug addict and now she’s dragging her children into it… you’re not alone!
Your son starts fights at school and winds up in the principle’s office every other day…. you’re not alone!
Your son acts out and calls you a f***king b**ch in front of your house, and in front of your neighbors…. you’re not alone!
You’re not sure you’ll make it much longer dealing with all of the enormous struggles you have as a parent… you’re not alone!
You’re not alone! You’re not alone! You’re not alone!
There are so many of us who are right there with you. We have the same wounds. We limp through this life the same way you do. We know what you’re dealing with. We know your struggles and your fears. You’re not alone!
This is all of us rolling up our sleeves and revealing our parenting wounds. How about you?
Question: What are your parenting wounds? How have you found hope and healing for them?
