Finding Joy in the Journey of Parenting | Psalm 118:24

Psalm 118:24 says, "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

I have often heard older, wiser parents say that the days are long but the years are short. As parents, we are acutely aware that the days with our children are numbered, that one day they will have grown and will be more interested in spending time with friends, will have moved out, will be married, and have lives of their own. Maybe that is the season of parenting that you are in now and you find yourself acutely aware of just how precious that time was and how quickly it passed.

Although it can feel like we will be in the season of sleep deprivation, tantrums, nappies, teenage backchat, and carpooling forever, the reality is that those days are numbered. One day, we will look back and realize that the house is once again tidy and quiet, we drink our coffee while it is hot, we sleep until we wake naturally, and our days are no longer full of errands to run. And we will realize that those days were the golden ones, the joy of our lives. Even the hard moments will dwindle and be only a small memory. The overwhelming sense will be the joy found in little moments, the fullness of each day, and the rewarding sense of doing something that matters.

This verse is a reminder that each day is a beautiful gift from the Lord. Even the hard days serve their purpose, for which there will be many in parenting. But no matter what the day holds, we should remind ourselves as parents of the bigger picture, to find the meaning in little moments, and to rejoice in each day with our children. Know that good moments exist in hard days, and just because there were hard moments, it doesn’t mean it was a bad day. It reminds us to see each day for the gift that it is and to be encouraged that even the hard seasons too shall pass.

For more inspiration and guided meditations to help you find joy in each day, download the Thrive Biblical Meditation app today. Embrace each moment and find peace and encouragement in your parenting journey.