Parenting Models

I was reading in 1 Thessalonians this week. I was interested at Paul's perspective on mothers and fathers:

We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us (1 Thess 2:7-8).

You know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory (1 Thess 2:11-12).

Two approaches, one person. In Paul's view, mothers take care of their children. They are affectionate and consider them dear. They are not the ones who exhort or command as much as nurture. Fathers have a different role. They aren't expected to be affectionate and endearing. They are expected to exhort, encourage, and charge their children.

Obviously, both parents are supposed to operate from a motivation of love. Apparently Paul believed that love can express itself in largely different ways, and that genders tend to have different expressions of love. Husbands and fathers, don't expect your wife to treat your children the same way you do. Wives and mothers, don't expect your husband to treat your children the same way you do. And, parents, just because your counterpart doesn't treat your children in the same manner doesn't mean that they aren't loving the kids.

God has a plan. He designed us in special ways. One person doesn't give a full-fledged perspective. God designed us so that a mother gives one perspective and a father gives another and together they provide a fuller Parent than a single parent could do. He's pretty smart that way.