Nurture Your Nature in Me!

I remember longing to be a mama. I worked with teens, and it sure was tough to influence them! 

In my psychology classes, our professors discussed “Nature vs. Nurture.” How are we formed? What part of me is genetics, and what part is how I was raised? 

My mama sure did nurture me. She loved me well!

I was sure that if I had a child of my own, I could nurture them in all the right ways. My child would KNOW they were loved. They would be loving because of who loved them first.

It turns out nothing is as easy as we expect. 

I had not one but four amazing kids to nurture. They were gloriously imperfect. I poured love into their lives with all of my might.

Troubles still came. 

My mantra became, “It’s not whether these things happen, but what we do when they happen that matters.” In every painful parenting moment, I turned to God, asking Him for wisdom and strength. 

He was, and still is, faithful.

My four kids are fully grown. I see parts of my nature in each of them. I see evidence of my nurturing as well. What is stronger, nature or nurture?

Parenting taught me we never love one another well enough in our own strength. It takes God’s touch to transform our hearts.

LORD, please nurture more of Your nature in me!

It turns out I was never the hope for my kids; I couldn’t nurture goodness into their lives. Jesus changes our hearts and fills them with His love. 

LORD, it is Your nature to answer our cries. Please infuse my children’s lives with Your love. 

Nurture them as You have nurtured me.