What If We Didn't Adore Our Children?

  What if our world did not revolve around our kids?
  I've spent years in defense of kids who's parents seemed too busy or caught up in their own lives to pay attention to what they are doing and who they are growing up to be, and I maintain that stance.
  I'm also of the belief that coddling a child, spoiling a child, babying a child is often a well-intended way to parent, which also happens to yield the opposite of desired results.
  And don't I just love my children to pieces!  They are such a complete joy and I am in awe of them everyday.
  But sometimes I wonder if the fine line between affirming children, and showing we value them, is smudged by making them such high priority.
  Assuredly, they are our responsibility, and a great responsibility at that.
  But what I'm talking about is when we allow the care and raising of our children to wedge between us and our relationship with God.
  And perhaps our relationships with other.
  I have to do a self check sometimes.  I delight in my daughters so dearly, and I am so passionate about raising them well, that I have to stop and ask:  Is my focus more on them than God?  By world's standards this is just plain crazy talk.  But Jesus did say, "If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison--your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple."  That almost sounds crazy, too.  Who is more pro-family than the Lord?   But I take this to mean if you put anything before your devotion to God, even family, then that is idol worship.  And you cannot both love God with all your heart and worship idols, whatever form that takes.
  What does this look like?  A parent who cannot seem to let go of their grown children, who stands in the way of God's plans for them.  A parent unwilling to do what is right in order to spare their child hardship.  When a parent relies on their children or spouse, or any other, to fulfill them when only God is able to do that.
  Pray for your children, yes.  Be the best stewards of these precious talents God has entrusted you with, yes. Let NOTHING compare with your relationship and love for God, please yes.
  As mothers, I think we can become tempted when we have these small beings so reliant on us.  I've caught myself in the past, when they were babies, especially, I cherished those times when they "needed" me, and mourned  when they grew to rely on others as well.  Even now, I relish, perhaps too much, I wonder, the esteem they hold me in.  I need to pray for humility here.