We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, 

and the wonders He has done...which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 

so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, 

and they in turn would tell their children. 

Then they would put their trust in God and not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.

Psalm 78: 4b, 5b-7

In parent, it's very easy to be so focused on the current phase, most recent negative behavior, and work-to-be-done that we lose sight of the progress that our children - and we - have made. This is especially true of trauma parenting. When most days are filled with rages, aggression, disobedience, and hateful words slung at us, it's difficult to take the time to look back at where we've come from. And let's be honest, sometimes we don't want to take the time; we're so spent from the day-to-day.

But deep down we all know that we have to look back. We have to take note of even the smallest steps of progress. He no longer self-harms when upset. He uses his words much more often. Sometimes I'll overhear him saying to himself, "Wait, is that really what I mean? Let me think about this." He had 11 days of kindness and obedience - days of not problems of any kind at all, except for those which would be typical of a 6 year old!

So whether you join me in an end-of-the-year reflection on where you and your child have come, or whether you do so at a different time, please don't neglect a regular looking-back. And share your good news!

God is good. All the time.
All the time. God is good.

Listen, dear friends, to God's truth, bend your ears to what I tell you.

I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths,

Stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother's knee.

We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation -

God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things He has done.

Psalm 78:1-4 (MSG)