I’m grateful God allowed me to raise my children in the ’90s—what now feels like the final chapter of normalcy in America. Today, it often feels like society has lost its collective mind. 

But as a single mother, I was often overwhelmed and frazzled. Training up children is not for the faint of heart, and my own son and daughter had a way of exposing and exploiting my weaknesses—one of which being: I’ll laugh at almost anything. 

My children are about fifteen months apart, and when my daughter was in kindergarten, she learned a new curse word. Standing squarely in the heart of our living room, she launched the word at her brother—loud and proud. Deeply offended, and truly heartbroken, he came to my bedroom seeking justice. I returned with him to find my daughter standing with hands on her hips. Strands of blonde hair had slipped free of her ponytail elastic, her posture like that of a miniature gladiator who had just slain a foe. My son took a seat on the sofa, wiping his tears and awaiting his sister’s fate.  

In my sternest mom voice, I addressed her. 

“I want you to apologize to your brother. He is not an assface.” 

This five-year-old stood her ground, looked me directly in the eyes, pointed her finger at her brother and said, “I am NOT apologizing to THAT assface!”

There are times when it is inappropriate to laugh, and this was definitely one of them. However, I was so shocked at the boldness of this little person, and her willingness to stand up for what she believed. I had to admire her resolve—respect, small one. 

A hasty exit was necessary before I caused yet another wound to my son’s tender heart, but I couldn’t leave without asserting my own parental dominance. I instructed the defiant dynamo to go collect all her dolls and bring them into the living room. She would not be allowed to have them back until she had apologized to her brother.  

Then I hustled to my bedroom and laughed into my pillow. I never wanted to hear swearing from anybody in our household—much less the youngest member—but her sincerity was inspiring.  

I felt a small pang of guilt at betraying my son’s faith in me. Oh, I would follow through on the punishment, but on the inside I would be giggling. After a few minutes, I heard commotion from the living room and congratulated myself—my daughter was surrendering her dolls as instructed.  

Or so I thought.

I returned to find not only had she relinquished her dolls, but most of her other toys as well. To her, it was totally worth it to give up all her beloved playthings for one moment of sticking it to her blankety-blank brother. In that moment, I knew I was in way over my head as a parent.  

Just as my daughter stood her ground in defiance, so do we often stand against God—bold, wrong, and convinced we’re right. But our rebellion doesn’t shake the throne of heaven. 

The psalmist wrote of kings and rulers plotting against the Lord and his anointed.  

“He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” – Psalm 2:4 (ESV)  

As I recall these events with my children as fond memories, I am also reminded how often I have exchanged God’s blessings for a moment of sin. God sees through our pride and posturing. He is neither threatened nor surprised—his laughter is sovereign, not scornful. Our sin is never amusing to him, and I’m sure we all appear as stubborn children before him.  

When I confess my own moments of resistance and failure, his Word comforts me, reminding me that saints before me also experienced parenting and character failures. More importantly, it reminds me of God’s mercy, his disposition to restore a contrite heart, and his willingness to use our failures for His glory.  

Just as I never stopped loving my daughter in her defiance or my son in his woundedness, our heavenly Father never stops loving us—even when we’re most convinced we’re right. He will never laugh at our pain, abandon us in our stubbornness, or fail to receive us when we seek him, whether for justice or mercy. 

Lisa Boatwright

Lisa Boatwright is a counselor, writer, and founder of a nonprofit ministry serving women impacted by addiction, childhood trauma, and spiritual brokenness. Drawing from her own journey of redemption and obedience, she shares stories that reflect God’s gentle guidance through life’s everyday moments. Lisa lives in Texas with her husband and their five beloved fur babies, and is the proud mother of two grown children. A member of Word Weavers International, she is currently developing a Bible study and a novel series exploring themes of faith, suffering, and restoration.