REDEEMING THE CHAOS

How to Deal With Regret as a Parent, with Shelly Snead

Laurie Christine

April 12, 2024

How do we deal with regret in our parenting? Find out in this episode of Redeeming the Chaos.

Do you live with regret?

Many of us live with regrets. We look back at life and wish we would have made different choices. Maybe your regrets have to do with parenting choices you’ve made. Or maybe your regrets go back to sinful or foolish actions as a teen or young adult.

None of us are perfect. We all live with the consequences of our choices. But for some of you, regret has been an overwhelming theme in your life. Regret is sucking the joy out of your life and depleting your energy. Regret is eating away at your heart.

But I have good news for you. You don’t have to let regret consume your life. There is a better way.

Welcome, Shelly Snead

We have a guest on the show today who is going to help us better understand the topic of regret.

Shelly Snead is a writer and podcaster residing in Asheville, North Carolina. She hosts The UN-Perfect Podcast, which helps women see glimpses of God’s glory in the now and the not yet. She is a wife of 28 years, a mom to 4 – two from the womb and two from the heart – three of which are boys.

How to Deal With Regret as a Parent

Here are a few of the topics Shelly and I discussed:

What does the Bible have to say about perfection?
What does imperfection have to do with regret?
What are the two types of regret we can experience?
How would you encourage moms who are living with regret?
What are the alternatives to living with regret?
If we are living with regret, how can we move forward?

Here are a few key points from our interview:

None of us are perfect.
Perfection is not a realistic expectation this side of heaven.
Perfection should not be our goal; Pursuing Christ should be our goal.
There are two types of regret: intentional sin, and poor choices.
“I did the best I could with what I knew at the time.”
Our regrets should lead us to repentance and forgiveness.
God is the great redeemer of regrets.
God can redeem the poor choices or sin of OTHERS that has affected your life.
Jim Burns book: “It may be too late for prevention, but it’s never too late for restoration.”
Our hope is not in our intentionality, but in God’s intervention in our kids’ lives.
Our hope is not in my own efforts to do everything right, but in Christ’s sovereignty.
The opposite of regret is hope.
Regret focuses on me, but hope focuses on Jesus.
In order to move past regret, do the next right thing: “Fill your horn with oil and GO.” (1 Samuel 16:1).