I recently had lunch with a seasoned mom of ten. My goal was to pick her brain as to how to make my children be perfect. I wanted a formula - a solution for this crazy season of life I am currently in.
As I drove to meet this lovely woman, a thought came into my head. It went like this...
You are searching for something that cannot be found. What you really need is my power in the life of your parenting. What you really need is my Spirit to soften and change the hearts of your children.
What you really need is more of me.
My raging soul was quieted right there in the parking lot and I felt humbled.
We are so quick to read books and articles as to how we can be better moms. We run hard toward women whom we perceive to have it all figured out and strive so greatly to be just like them - tying our joy and peace to how well we emulate them each day. This is not all bad. We should read and grow in wisdom. We should seek out those who are seasoned and faithful for advice. However, I fear that we are reading so much and looking at others so intensely, that we fail to see the third and most important part of our parenting journey. We want a formula - a good work we can do so that we feel successful and accomplished as mothers - not a savior who sustains us in the trench. In doing so, we make parenting our kids about us and not about God's great power working in the heart of our families.
I know this has been true for me. I hate the day to day struggle. I want the calm sea. NOW!
Praise God for that wonderful thought in my brain as I sat in my car and waited for my lunch meeting. As I pondered the motive of my heart, a foundation was being laid for the most lovely lunch date in which I came to see that this seasoned mother (that I hoped to call savior by the the end of the meal) had the very same advice for me.
He is enough for my parenting.
His grace is sufficient.
And as a bonus - he takes my very good work -- which at times equals massive failure -- and multiplies it -- reaping the beautiful fruit of righteousness in the hearts of my little people.
I simply persevere. trust. hope. wait. love, listen... I seek God first and place my identity as a mom upon the truth of his Word not on my day to day victories or failures.
This is how I overcome mommy guilt and glorify God in my parenting. I feast on the fact that HE is enough and that the same grace which saved me from sin and death, will shine like the morning sun in my home and in the hearts of my children.
what a liberating thought, my friends!
Cheers and have a great week!
Love, P. Day
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