The parenting advice that has puzzled me the most and also pushed me into the dark corners of my children’s facial expressions has been, “Get to know each of your children because they are all different.” I always nodded my head yes when I heard it, while rolling my internal eyes, thinking “well, duh.”

Now that I have three little boys, ages 5, 3, and 2, I cringe at what I thought I knew.

In getting to know my oldest, after five years of watching and listening, I’ve learned that he can give a quick answer, and it will be right and true. He answers “Jesus” before anyone. He prays with eloquence. He explains it all so well, but just below that smooth surface, he struggles hard with disbelief, perfectionism, and a lack of understanding about grace.

… continue reading at  (In)Courage.