Big Box Parenting

This week many of us reflect on our mother, grandmother, or perhaps our own role in being a mother. While visiting with my friend Norma earlier this week, I reflected on my mom’s Big Box parenting style. With fondness I wonder, was this wisdom imparted by her own mother or a survival mechanism as a widow raising two teenagers?! My brother and I had a very Big Box, with defined boundaries, in which to navigate our daily lives.

Definitely no micro managing!

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We learn from each other, are encouraged, and need each other as we navigate life. We have the Word of God to guide us and the Holy Spirit to empower us.

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There were expectations that each of us complete our daily chores, do well in school, give back to the community, and be respectful. We didn’t have a curfew, but we had respect for mom to be home when we said we would, or we would find a pay phone to call saying we were delayed. We learned how to problem solve, entertain ourselves, and give thanks. Did we stumble, scrape our knees, get frustrated, and need guidance along the way? Absolutely! Praise God for Mom’s love, kindness, and forgiveness.

This reminds me of John Ray’s comments last Sunday - we have children, newcomers, and veterans in the body of Christ. Is this a masterful Big Box style in which the church family lives out the gospel? We learn from each other, are encouraged, and need each other as we navigate life. We have the Word of God to guide us and the Holy Spirit to empower us. Do we stumble, scrape our knees, get frustrated, and need guidance along the way? Absolutely! Praise God for His Grace.

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

I’m married to Kevin Murphy, and we have four grown sons who are very dear to our heart. My career as a sales executive and field representative with Square D by Schneider Electric brought me to northwest Arkansas in 1993. Reading, community, spending time in nature, Murphy Fire Pit Evenings and traveling are a few of my favorite things. Sharing the Jesus walk with people at Grace, in particular the pre-K class, is a huge joy in my life! Blessings...