As a mother of three children, I claim no expertise in child rearing.  I honestly believe that God equips us to do the best that we can, and then He handles the rest.  You don’t need an expert to tell any mother that no two children are the same.  It only stands to reason that no two parents are the same or that they will raise their children exactly alike.  If there were a perfect formula, we would all be following it because we all want the best for our children and for our children to be their best.  But just as our children are different, so are our parenting styles.  Who doesn’t dream of our little angels dressed in their Sunday best, minding their manners, all sweetness and light? However, more often than not a blast of reality knocks their halos to the ground in a battle of sibling rivalry or in the race to the cookie jar.  Our only hope is that we are well equipped enough to see that we are doing the best that we can and to pray for God’s intervention when we are not.  We need to remember that we are the caretakers not the creators of these treasures that He has given us.  Just as in a garden, there will be tilling, weeding, pruning and harvesting to be done in our children’s lives. We ought not let the poison of discouragement and frustration cause us to lose sight of the harvest. 

Isaiah 58:11-The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.