One of the hardest things about being a Mom, is eventually letting them fly. It's not the blow out diapers, tantrums, sibling squabbles, sleepless nights, when they drive, when they date, when they choose different. 18 years of love and training, discipling and disciplining so they embrace with confidence Life and Love wherever they go and on and on through the generations it will go.
You Momma are the launch pad! Steady yourself, no one tells you upfront about this, so let me give you the heads up...there will be kick back from the ones around you (family, friends, community). You will never please all people, all the time. Your goal is love, honor, follow, trust, surrender and seek God in all you think, say and do in your life. Being a Mom is not separate from you. She is you. You have been given a mission that only you can do so it's okay if others don't see the call...it wasn't a conference call! (I love when I read that so many years ago! lol)
I read all the book for the first child and in my insecurity and lack of experience, I followed it to a T. In hindsight, I should have leaned more into those Titus 2 Mommas and asked more questions, asked for prayer and released myself from making choices that were either exactly right or wrong. With the next 3 babies, I used wisdom and instinct, relationships and a calm spirit. I learned to trust God and myself.
Of all the books I read, God's Word was everything to my peaceful parenting. For all the Mommas since Eve, The Word of God has been used consistently raise up the next generation, without all the trendy things and newest research.
No, the Bible doesn't tell you which car seat to buy, or should you let your baby cry more than 2 minutes. it doesn't tell you if they should go to AB school or YZ school. it doesn't explain their career path. It also doesn't tell you if your baby should suck a pacifier, their thumb or you to soothe and sleep. It does mention coffee : Hebrews. ( Sorry not sorry!)
Have we gotten everything right? nope. This is why we need the Grace and Help of God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Sisters, Mentors and you know I am gonna have to say it...coffee & chocolates. (Sorry not sorry.)
There are soooooo many resources for Parenting in a God Honoring way, so be sure to seek those out but may I encourage your Mommy Heart to surround yourself with Titus 2 Sisters as you saturate yourself in The Word of Your Abba Father, the Mighty Counselor and Great I Am.
Your kids are not looking at all your opps moments and trying to score you as a Mom. Teens are a bit more aware but even still, they are testing your faithfulness, authority of your position and peace in your heart to see if it's valid and if they can trust you when they bring their weakness to you. In the same way we test God with our questions and doubts when we are scared and unsure.
Be quick to peace. Be quick to forgive. Be quick to love.
Your kids are looking for your commitment, steadfastness, love and wisdom in the same way you look to your Father. There will be testing. There will be tears. In all things, may Love be the foundation upon which you stand.
Here is one of the chapters I printed out for the fridge and we used as a Family Motto. The love Chapter is also a good one in 1 Corinthians 13. These are choices we choose with intention. When we had conversations about attitudes, behaviors, arguing and grumbling, selfishness...we stood before the fridge and checked ourselves against His Word. This parenting shift for me was huge. Our parenting was not based upon MY rules and expectations...we lived to honor God.
Colossians 3 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive.
14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I pray this brings some peace and high 5's to my Momma friends this week as the world celebrates Moms. We are sooooo valuable as the called vessels from God to the Mission Field of Motherhood. Bind the enemy from diminishing your impact and stirring up doubt or exasperation as you work in the Fields of Grace. Keep your eyes up, sing, dance, worship, play and pray!! You've Got This!!!
Keep Calm and Mommy on!!
Bless You Mommas whose hearts are weary. Let the grace of God wash over you and fill up your soul. His mercies are new every day and it's never too late to seek forgiveness, restoration and peace. He is near. Draw close to His heart. Feel His breath over you, He is near.
Blessings, Michele
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Heart Hugs and Blessings,
Michele
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