Spiritual Lessons from Parenting

Written by Paul Scruggs

My life drastically changed on August 9, 2022.  This was the date of the birth of

Caroline’s and my oldest son Lincoln.  A year and a half later, we were blessed with the

birth of Marshall as well.  My life and my walk of faith can be divided into pre-August

2022 and post-August 2022.  The phrase sacrificial love took on new meaning as we

have experienced the pride, joy, sleeplessness, and exhaustion that comes with caring

for two small children.

Waypoint has been a blessing to our family in many ways.  I’ve grown spiritually through

sermons, Waypoint Academy, and involvement in our Community Group.  We feel very

fortunate to have the support of a church family as we navigate parenthood.  Parenting-

related discussions in our Community Group have touched on everything from how to

respond to toddler tantrums, methods of teaching children how to pray, morning routines

for children, and how intentionally or not we should push potty training.  Waypoint Kids

has also provided us with a feeling of connection for both us and our boys with Christian

community.

I have to admit that I never changed a diaper until the day Lincoln was born.  To say that

I was (and still am) terrified about many things involving parenting is an understatement.

Learning how to change diapers was on that list of fears.  In a previous blog post, Erika

recommended Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey. In that book I came across “A

Liturgy for Changing Diapers I.”  The part of that prayer that stood out to me most:

I am not just changing a diaper. 

By love and service 

I am tending a budding heart that, 

rooted early in such grace-filled devotion, 

might one day be more readily-inclined

to bow to your compassionate conviction— 

knowing itself then as both a receptacle 

and a reservoir of heavenly grace. 

So this little act of diapering— 

though in form sometimes felt 

as base drudgery—might be 

better described as one of ten thousand acts 

by which I am actively creating a culture of 

compassionate service and selfless love to shape 

the life of this family and this beloved child. *

This simple but profound liturgy serves as a daily reminder that mundane tasks can

show Christ’s love and the Gospel to others.  I’ve struggled in my walk with Christ with

the command of Jesus in Matthew 19:21 to give up everything and follow Him.  This

liturgy reminds me that doing things that seem to be simple and ordinary tasks or small

acts of service (by the way - diapers no longer scare me) provide a means of building

connection with others and create an attitude of Christian love.  The struggle for me now

is to look upon opportunities to assist a coworker with a needed task, a fellow coach

with meet-management duties, or any of the myriad of examples that present

themselves in the course of a week to assist a stranger with a similar diaper-type

opportunity to exude love.

An additional way that becoming a parent has caused me to grow in my walk is the

handling of bedtime routines.  The stillness (some nights) of bedtime that ends with

Lincoln singing “Jesus Loves Me” and “Go Tell it on the Mountain” along with me (thank

you Waypoint Kids Christmas program!) is often a much-needed mental and spiritual

reset after long and busy days when I’ve often concerned myself more about trifling

things of this world than I should.  These nighttime blessings have been part of my

growth in faith as well and serve as a gentle reminder that it is ok to escape the

busyness of daily life to reflect, have moments of quiet praise, and listen to God.   

I wish that I had put more thought and effort into simple acts of service to others and

quiet reflection before I was a parent, as these are things which anyone can use in their

life. Our children have certainly been a vehicle through which God has reminded me

that at times we can serve Him best in doing simple things for others and that we all

need to be still and listen to Him.  I hope that we can all take these reminders to heart

and put into our daily walk.  Attempting to guide our boys in a chaotic world and do our

best to provide physical, material, and spiritual guidance and safety for them also forces

me to reflect on gratitude.  The hundreds of acts of service that my wife does daily to

keep our home running smoothly, the love that my own parents show me, and the many

times co-workers, coaching peers, team parents, and perfect strangers have helped me

along the way are things I can never repay.  Most of all, it reminds me of our Savior who

has done more for me than I could ever imagine before I was even formed and the

grace that He provides me.  Just as I of course do not expect my sons to ever repay me

for changing dirty diapers; that example pales in comparison to the matchless grace that

He has given all of us.

*McKelvey, Douglas. *Every Moment Holy Volume I*. The Rabbit Room, 2017