Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy. Psalm 68:5 (NLT)
No one is born knowing how to be a good parent. We pick up our parenting skills by watching our parents, grandparents and other role models. So what happens if you didn’t have a great example?
Many people are worried about becoming parents because they fear that they’ll be just like their mom or dad, but there are many ways to become a great parent even if your parents set a bad example. You are not destined to follow in their footsteps, although you will need to learn a few skills to travel a different path.
There are a ton of great parenting books and courses you can benefit from and you never need to be embarrassed to ask others for advice. Personally, I value several mentors in my life and many of them are not members of my family.
That being said, a relationship with your Father God has an even more powerful impact on you. God is Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). Getting to know Him and experiencing His unconditional love for you will help you learn to show that same love to each of your kids.
If you had a painful childhood, don’t live in fear of becoming just like your parents. The more you learn and practice what you learn, the more you will overcome any fears that are holding you back. Never accept the lie that you’re not cut out to be a good parent. Make a decision in your heart that you will be the best parent your kids could ever ask for and you’ll be amazed at how God will assist you with that dream.