I love being a mom….now, It wasn’t always that way.
When I first found out that I was going to become a mom, I was terrified. In no way was I prepared for what was coming my way. Naturally, I did what any first time mom would do, I read every parenting book I could get my hands on. However, I still struggled immensely. All the books I read seemed to contradict each other. I was confused, stressed out and full of anxiety during the first 4 years of being a mom.
I was at my wit's end. Since we were the first in our group to become pregnant none of my friends understood or had any pearls of wisdom to pass down to me. I had never felt more alone in my life. I even began to resent my children, believing they were holding me back from my true calling. When I thought about them I felt a sense of dread. I knew in my heart I was failing, and I feared being cooped up in the house with them, especially during the rapidly approaching Minnesota winter.
One day I was sitting in my little office alone, desperately searched the internet for help on how to occupy my 3 and 2 year old while I nursed my newborn. I stumbled upon an article titled 10 days of homeschool enrichment done by a site called Confessions Of A Homeschooler and even though I was sure I was going to put my children in public school, I was intrigued. I opened up the link, and the first thing I saw was Psalms 127: 3
Children are an heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward.
As those words began to sink into my heart, I remember shouting out loud; WHY DIDN’T ANYONE EVER TELL ME THIS BEFORE! Unfortunately, back then, It didn’t occur to me to look to the Lord for help in this area. In no way did I perceive the Bible as a parental guide. In my point of view it was a guide reserved for those who would go forth and fulfill the great commission in some form of public ministry.
After this discovery I started to dig into more scripture. God brought several verses I had read before to a whole new light. It was as if God was saying to me, It's no accident that I gave you children. In fact I gave them to you as a reward, a blessing, a gift and a calling.
Yes a calling! I was dumbfounded. Parenthood is a calling. In my season of searching I found out that not only did God, Himself, put this mantle on me, but He was calling me to be intentional in my parenting.
You shall love the Lord your God with your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words which I am commanding you today, shall be written on your hearts and minds. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shalt speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
These words changed my heart, my thinking, and the way I approached my daily life. God was calling me forth to raise these children, a part of the future church, up from its infancy to be a people after God’s own heart. I knew I wanted to walk out this command with my children, but I just didn’t know quite how to, until one fateful Minnesota winters day.
It all happened right between the lunch and nap time window. Times like these typically lead to accidents, pushing, kicking, fighting over toys, the usual life with more than one toddler scenario. At the time I had three children of my own as well as watching two other two year old boys. It was in the midst of this wilderness I said "enough is enough." I proceeded to text my husband and share with him that from now on we will be having a word of the week and this week's word will be KINDNESS. I immediately started to teach my children about what kindness meant, and what it looked like. From there I went on to teach them about the rest of the fruits of the Spirit and other facets of God's character. Birthing what eventually became Foundation Of Character.
In a moment of ‘losing it’, in a moment of weakness, God proved Himself strong and capable. He started me on a journey of discovering who He says He is, allowing me to impart those very truths with my own children.
When Jesus gave the great commission, He said go and make disciples of all nations. I believe when Jesus said GO, he meant for us all to take initiative in whatever season of life we happen to be in. To the mothers and fathers the go, is to go first to our children, making them disciples of Jesus Christ, and then TOGETHER go out and change the world!
When Jesus gave the great commission, He said go and make disciples of all nations. I believe when Jesus said GO, he meant for us all to take initiative in whatever season of life we happen to be in. To the mothers and fathers the go, is to go first to our children, making them disciples of Jesus Christ, and then TOGETHER go out and change the world!
The best place to start fulfilling the great commission is at home! Here are some resources to get you started.
Our Family Devotional Series
Foundation of Character: Bearing Good Fruit enables busy families to build Godly character as they learn about and obtain the Fruits of the Spirit. Providing them with a home and a life filled with Love, Joy, and Peace.
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