lent begins

Today begins Lent. Yesterday, I finished the above book. A very fitting reminder of what Lent is about - embracing our own weaknesses and failures, so that the glory and grace of God may be known through our lives. 

"We know that we need to train them [our children] in rules for obedience; that's obvious. But how can we teach them about something so outside the norm, such as God's joy in being merciful to sinners?" ~p.71

"Our children aren't innately good, and we shouldn't tell them that they are. But they are loved and if they truly believe that, his love will transform them...Our encouragement should always stimulate praise for God's grace rather than for our goodness." ~p.43

I've been reading this book for the last several months, and it's been deeply challenging on many levels - how to respond to my children's sin and failures, how to respond to my own sin and failures (esp in the area of parenting). I love that at the end of the day, this books points to God's grace and glory as the ultimate goal, and not my own parenting performance or childrens' behavior. What a deeply challenging and freeing thought!

I hope this Lenten season our family can really take the time to embrace what an amazing gift God has given us through His son - an amazing gift of grace and freedom.