There’s a saying about life that can also be applied to parenthood—the days are long, but the years are short. When we’re smack-dab in the middle of raising tiny human beings, we may often feel overwhelmed, undervalued, and woefully unappreciated. We may think that wiping one more nose, kissing one more boo-boo, or applauding one more successful potty deposit will drive us cray-cray. But we must not think for one moment that God doesn’t see all that we do or that any of it is meaningless. Even if no one else appreciates our efforts, God does. He values the endless devotion and sacrifice of you, parents. 

Every child is a gift from the Lord. Children are not simply mini replicas of us, nor are they our servants or symbols of pride. Children are guileless, innocent, and untainted by the world. Raising them is a privilege and an honor that we parents should never take for granted. Every act of kindness and tenderness points our children to their heavenly Father. We must never underestimate what God can build from the hundreds of little things that we think don’t matter.