Adapted from The Impossible Kid by Lucille Williams
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
What do you do with a child who pops out of the womb a leader? A child who is so strong she thinks she can rule the world and easily rule you? How do you raise a child who wants to violate every boundary, every rule, just because it’s there? Pray? Cry? Laugh? Agonize? Yes, yes, yes. . . If you are shouting, “Yup, that’s my kid!” then, sister, I’m sending you a hug. I’ve raised a child like that, and it was downright scary at times.
But here’s the hidden blessing: the advantage of “impossible” children is that when they stand for what they believe in, nothing can push them off their foundation. Often, with guidance and a lot of prayer, “impossible” children turn into leaders for Jesus Christ. If I could raise one, so can you!
I often felt like I had no idea what I was doing and would sometimes entertain thoughts of one of my kids ending up on the side of a road with a blanket and a beer can. If you can relate to this, you’ve come to the right place. One of the hardest things about parenting is feeling like you are not good enough or are doing it wrong. No one does parenting perfectly. Even the perfect parent wouldn’t be the perfect parent—there’s no such thing. Listen to what famous American psychologist Carl R. Rogers is quoted as saying: “What I am is good enough if I could only be it openly.” As a parent, “good enough” is enough because being perfect isn’t good enough. We need to lean on grace—grace for our children and grace for us. All we can do is our best at the time.
What is the seemingly impossible parenting challenge you face today? Embrace it, and acknowledge that God is molding you along with your child. Often our largest obstacles become our most celebrated successes. Always remember, God chose you to be the parent for your child. Whatever you feel your weaknesses are, God chose you. Call on Him. You are not doing this alone; God is there for you. Ask Him for wisdom: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Impossible kids do not have to be impossible to raise. Yes, they can be obstinate, disagreeable, strong-spirited, stubborn, and aggressive; and you can still have a great relationship with them. In my book, The Impossible Kid, I will show you how you can leverage this type of personality and come out victorious. And the teen years? They don’t have to be as bad as you think—you can actually enjoy your kids during this season. Today my own "impossible kid," Monica, is a stay-at-home mom, married to a pastor, put herself through college earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism, and was the communications director at a megachurch—having been on staff for ten years. She’s a mother who loves her children, loves the people around her, and gives grace freely. She never backs down and always sticks up for others.
Together we can make the impossible possible.