As a parent of a fifteen year old son and considering all the challenges that go along with that I have been giving a lot of thought lately to what my role is in the development of my child. Did God just hand me a lump of clay and say "build it into something that brings Me glory?" No, He didn't. He refers to Himself as The Potter. He said He makes some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use." The point is I AM NOT THE POTTER! HE IS! Psalm 139 says He knew me before I was conceived. He knit me together in my mother's womb. I didn't create my son, God did.

If I am not the potter, what is my role as a parent? Well it's a lot easier said than done but I believe the bible is very clear on the matter. It seems to me in the role of parenting as well as every other aspect of life we are supposed to be instruments for God's glory. We are created to be used by God. An instrument can either be a tool or a weapon. It can be used to build with or to destroy. It can be used to attack with or to defend. I believe God wants us to make ourselves available to Him to use in any way He sees fit. It's important to understand, as the tool it is not our role to shape, mold, build or destroy. As a weapon it is not our role to attack or defend. The hammer does not build the house, the carpenter does. The sword does not win the battle, the warrior does.

As I ponder this I wonder how many times I got in God's way by trying to be something He never intended me to be. And even worse, how many times did I try to shape and mold my son into someone He never intended him to be. I had an idea or should I say an ideal of what I wanted in a son and tried to squeeze him into that mold. How unfair I have been! I'm glad my son is only fifteen and I still have a few short years with him to try and do this God's way. I'm thankful that God is showing me this now. I'm writing this with the thought that I may not be the only parent who has been doing this to their children.

If you are one of those parents, think about what I'm saying. Give your child the freedom to become what God wants them to be. God has placed incredible gifts and talents in our children. He is the only one who can bring those to fruition. I'm not saying we don't have a role in developing those gifts and talents. I'm just saying we should seek God for wisdom as to how He would use us to assist Him in bringing out the greatness that is in each one of them. Let Him be the potter. Let us be the instruments used to bring Him glory!