Wednesdays with Words - imperfection

I finished Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss sometime last week.  There were so many wonderful words and thoughts in this book, but there were times when I just didn't want to stop reading in order to write out a long paragraph, so I would bookmark the page, keep reading, bookmark another page, keep reading, bookmark another page, and so on and so forth.  Now I have about 25 bookmarked pages and am going back through, rereading and/or writing down those many, many quotes.

Here is one:

"I have learned at last not to despise the day of small things, to cherish the tenderest blossom, and to expect my dear ones to be imperfect before they become perfect Christians." 

A page or two later:

"My poor, dear, lovable, loving boy!  He has all his mother's trials and struggles to contend with; but what matter it if they bring him the same peace?"

The main thing that struck me in these passages was the main character's attitude toward her children.  She understood that her children must be "imperfect before they become perfect Christians."  We know, as parents, that we have the labor-intensive task of raising our children, teaching them right from wrong and to love the Lord and trust in Him.  But we can't expect them to be perfect and always make the right decision.  They are still just children - imperfect, immature children.  And they will be for a long time.  They have much to learn and will their whole lives.  But in order to learn, they must start at the bottom; as imperfect creatures to be built up.

(By the way, this applies to us just as much, don't you think?  Isn't this life a continual journey learning how to live for God and His glory?)

The second quote makes me think of my second daughter.  She can be pretty quick-tempered - like me.  Oh how I've prayed that she wouldn't have to deal with that like I have.  How I've prayed that she will learn to control herself and avoid the anguish that ensues from the lack thereof.  "But what matter it if they bring {her} the same peace?"  (Not saying I've reached that peace yet, by the way, but I feel that I'm somewhat on my way.)

God uses our weaknesses to build us up, does He not?  In our weaknesses we learn to depend on and trust in Him; to fall at His feet and cry out for His strength and love and forgiveness.  We learn that in Him alone is peace.  How else can He pick us up unless we fall?

I will still pray that my children overcome their weaknesses, and that God will give me the ability to raise them and teach them what is most important.  But most of all, I will pray that my children will learn to fully and completely love Him, trust Him, listen to Him, and allow Him to pick them up every time they fall.

And I will trust that He will give them peace.

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