Today I have a devotion on Crosswalk and at Proverbs 31 about the day I almost quit being a mom. It was a really hard day. But it really was the day I started “becoming” the mom I always wanted to be. One thing I learned is that I couldn’t become that kind of mom until I understood God’s perspective of me as His child.
When I finished writing in my journal that day, I sat down to do some work and happened upon a story about Andrew Carnegie that completely changed my perspective as a mom and as a child of God. Andrew Carnegie was the wealthiest man in America in the early 1900s, so wealthy that he employed over 42 millionaires. When asked how he developed these men to become so valuable that he would pay them that much money, Carnegie explained that “men are developed the same way gold is mined. When gold is mined, several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold, but one doesn’t go into the mine looking for dirt — one goes in looking for gold.”
Zig Ziglar tells this story in his book, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World, and then challenges moms and dads to look past their children’s mistakes and mine for gold in them, fully convinced that every child has gold hidden in their hearts just waiting to be discovered.
I was buried in the dirt that day. I felt like a failure as a mom. I was discouraged and so disappointed in myself. And I was convinced that God felt the same way about me. Then I started wishing I had a “gold-miner” in my life who would see beyond my mistakes and mishaps and find the gold in me. I almost inflated some black balloons and threw a little pity-party.
It was then that I sensed God whisper to my heart, “I am that Gold-miner.” He reminded me that I was the one who was being so critical of myself. I was the one who was so focused on what I didn’t do right. I felt like He whispered, “Renee, I see the gold of My image in you, and I want to bring it to the surface in your heart so that your kids could see Me in you.”
He also reminded me of stories and verses in the Bible that tell me He sees beyond who I am to who I can become. I knew this was God speaking because I didn’t think like that 10 years ago. I didn’t believe Him in an instant, either. No, it would take time for me to really let those truths sink in. But that day He used His thoughts to give me a new perspective of Him, and of myself. Then He challenged me to look for ways to have that same perspective with my children.
As a mom, it’ so easy to get buried in the dirt of discontentment, disobedience and mommy discouragement. That day I wondered: where is the gold in it all?
But after reading Ziglar’s challenge and hearing God challenge my heart, I thought about the difference it could make for my children to know I was intent on finding the gold within them. I wasn’t sure what the gold would look like but I figured if it was there, God could help me find it. So, I asked Him to show me and then I started writing down my thoughts. Two things came to mind – golden attitudes and golden actions.
I made a column for each and listed character traits like kindness, obedience, honesty, thankfulness, and compassion. I decided to look up Bible verses that tied in with the traits and wrote them down beside each one. Those not-so-golden traits needed to be addressed too, so I made a column for the dirt that buries the gold – anger, selfishness, whining, arguing, jealousy, pride, etc.
That night I went to bed thinking about what happened that day. For the first time in months, I was excited about my role as a mom. I felt like God was telling me to take my eyes off of my children’s habits and focus on their hearts. Finally I felt like there may be some meaning in the monotony! I had a goal and hope for some progress as a parent. Tomorrow I’ll share more. For now, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Copyright 2009, Renee Swope – All rights reserved.
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Today’s Mom Give-Aways
Today we are choosing winners from the comments and giving away two D6 mom resources – a copy of my “Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Chart and CD and George Barna’s “Revolutionary Parenting”. We’ll be giving away gifts every weekday, so be sure to come back for more mom encouragement and resources from D6 and Proverbs 31 Ministries!
To be part of today’s give-aways, click on the words “comments” below this post. I’d love to know how old your kids are, and PLEASE include your email in your comment so we can get in touch if you win!
My kids are 23 aand 20. Basically they are making most of their own decisions and supporting themselves except for my son’s college expenses. There are things that I wish I had done more of and things that I am proud of doing.
Here is my list:
“Could Have Done Better List”
Turned off the TV and talked more
Tucked them in until they left home!!
WEnt on more family trips
Been less critical and built their confidence
Insisted they learn to cook and help in the kitchen more and not care if they made a mess at it!!
Prayed together more
“DID RIGHT LIST”
Encouraged their interests (music lessons, soccer, theatre, Bible quizzing, swim team, Boy SCouts)
WEnt to every performance of anything!! 42 performances of one play
Spent time one-on-one with each of them
Read to them on trips and at home
Helped them with their homework
Kept a prayer journal of answered prayers and discussed it
AND more! I’m sharing these things so that people can know you aren’t going to be perfect but think about what you are doing right and do more of it. Ask your kids what you’re doing right and they will tell you. By the way, my kids have turned out pretty well and I am proud of them!!
What a wonderful devotion! As a stay at home mother of 4,ages 8,5,3,11 mo., there are times when I am ready to throw in the towel. I most liked your comment about taking your eyes off of your childrens habits and focusing on their hearts. That is so true! We as mothers, often lose focus and need reminders,Thank you!
[email protected]
Hi Renee,
I have two boys ages 9 and 5.
After reading your devotion today, I decided to read your blog and wanted to let you know that I myself am on a mission that just started about 2 weeks ago to become the mom, and wife that God has made me to be and that I want to be. I’ve had lots of struggles in my marriage and even more so in my parenting and have wanted to quite countless times! Not being on the same page as my husband, doesn’t help the matter, especially with us not being on the same page spiritually.
I look forward to reading your full story, as I have a gut feeling God brought me to your story to help me in my journey! thank you for your testimony!!
Vicki – AZ
Renee,
Thank you so much for sharing! This really touched me because I battle daily within myself. My kids are 7 and 8, and sometimes it’s all I can do to get everyone where they need to be. I feel like a failure most of the time and I don’t want to feel that way anymore.
Angie
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Oh how good is God to lead us out of our pits and show us the things we need to learn in order to be better and eventually great. Thank you for sharing your experience so others can learn from it.
My children are 3 and 4 months.
Please enter me in today’s draw.
[email protected]
whew! i just got my two toddlers down for their nap and read your devotional and then your blog today, and i am simply blown away. when i only had one child it seemed so much easier to “find the gold,” but now with two, all i seem to ever do is pick out the dirt and throw it in their sweet little faces… 🙁 where i live it is also easy to compare myself to other moms/daughters. but now i am so very ashamed, but I am also very encouraged. first, to know that i’m not alone, and second, to be challenged to stop the pity-party and really focus on their hearts. i can’t thank you enough. what a God-thing!
I’m so glad I clicked on your link today. I read your devotion on Proverbs 31 ministry, first. I have two precious little girls, Kaylea is 22 months and Natalie is 7 weeks. Due to recent events I am not able to finish my last semester of college until a later date. Being a stay-at-home mom was never my choice, in fact, I vowed I would never do that, I couldn’t. However, two kids under two in daycare is financially not worth it for me to work, so here I am — a stay-at-home mom for the first time. I laughed when I read your comment about not being able to have the kids dressed and out of the house before noon. I thought, “That’s me to a T.” As I continued reading I felt the words you said were exactly how I feel right now. I give up, I can’t do this, I’m the worst mom in the world! And of course, God spoke through you and said, “You’re right, you can’t. Let me.” I walked back to my little girls’ rooms as they were napping and knelt before their beds and cried. They deserve so much better. How could I possibly be so selfish as to think I can do this alone, or that I would be good at it? I prayed God would change me, show me how, and stay beside me through it all. I’m just at the beginning stage of parenting and already screwing it up. Thank God that He sees the gold in me, whatever little there may be and I’m changing my thoughts to finding the gold in my girls in every moment I can. With His help, of course! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Ashley
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I am a single mom of a 9 year old son and 13 year old daughter.
I just found your blog today through the GIG e-mails.
THANKS!
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Boy I wish I could be there tomorrow. Thanks so much for you blog. I have loved every minute of this month’s readings.
My kids are:
son (legally step-son) just turned 13. Ack!
daughter – almost 5 but acts 13. Double Ack!
I just found your blog today through the GIG e-mails.
I am a single mom with a 9 yr. old son and a 13 year old daughter.
[email protected]
I loved your devotional today. It spoke right to my heart. There are many days that I feel like I CAN’T do it… do it all, being the mom, wife, housekeeper, etc. I feel like I’m failing my kids, family and myself. It’s God who keeps me going. I love the digging for Gold analogy! Thank you Lord!
My daughter is just about to turn 12 and my son is 8 1/2. I love my family! I just want to love my job as a mom and wife more : )
God Bless You and thank you for sharing your stories and being so open and transparent!
Pam
You have no idea how much this meant to me today. Sometimes I delete the devotions before I even look at them. For the last few days, I have told my husband that I want to go back to teaching, and we’ve earnestly been praying about it. Yesterday, I called the principal at the school here in town to ask about openings for next year. He was out. Yesterday afternoon, I told the mom of the child I also keep that I’m not doing it next year. She said she hoped I changed my mind and what was I going to do? I told her that I’m either going back to teaching or it’ll just be my baby and me at home. I actually spoke those words aloud to someone besides myself and my husband in a long time.
This is my third school year to be at home and sometimes I feel like such a failure. I feel like I’m not doing the kids any good being here, anyway, because I don’t do enough with them, my temper flares, they irritate me, there’s too much laundry to do, etc. etc. I know that the Devil brings on a lot of these feelings in me, and the worst is knowing that we’re drowning in debt, and that another full-time income would help A LOT. Then this morning I read a story about a man who lost all of his wealth. After a hard day of financial worries, he came home, and his little girl sat in his lap. She said, “I love you, Papa.” He said, “I love you, too, baby.” She said, “Please don’t ever get rich again. When you were rich, you never came to see us. Now we get to see you every day!” It really made me think about WHY I want to go back to “work”. THEN I READ YOUR DEVOTION. Everything feels better. I know that I am going to have to beg God to lead me because I can’t do this by myself. I’ve been trying to do that for too long now.
I truly appreciate your thoughts today.
Thanks,
Shelley Gammill
hi. i loved your devotion. i can completely understand how you feel. i see those moms and think i want my kids to act like that, then wonder are they always that good or are they having a “good” day.?
Tabitha
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Jo Anna-8
Travis-6
Abbylene-3
Jessica-10 months
Renee,
Thank you so much for sharing. I have been a Christian all my life and I am pregnant with our first child. It wasnt easy to acquire and maintain my faith and there are somepoints in life 9 especially the teen years where it sort of went to the wayside. Your stories make me feel better. I am most worried about how to teach my children the importance of God in their lives. This is especially an issue in today’s society where God continues to be pushed to the side. Please continue to share, they are making a difference in the lives of many 🙂 I am from Pittsburgh so I am very familiar with Mr Carnegie. God Bless Him.
What timing! I came to my “I QUIT” point yesterday. I spent several hours when I went to bed last night wrestling with God. I realized that I have been spending all of my time focusing on the problems and my shortcomings instead of on the solution…God’s ability to handle it all for me. I am a perfectionist, so am very critical of myself and the fact that I can’t keep up with it all. I have three children.. the youngest just turned 3 last Friday, the next is 4, and the eldest is 6. I have been feeling like a failure for quite a while, and have gotten to the point of feeling COMPLETELY drained (physical, emotional, and especially spiritual). I know I have a long road ahead, so please pray for me that I will allow God to do what He wants to do in me. Why is it so hard to stay in submission to the only one who can take away all the dirt? Also, pray for me that I will look for the gold in my kids… I want to see it, but lately have only been looking at all the dirt. It is always encouraging to hear that others have been in the same place and have come out in victory with Jesus. Thanks. Patti
Renee,
Thank you, thank you. I really needed those encouraging words this week. I have three boys 5,4 and 2 and I really needed a way to find the gold in them. I realize now that the gold needs to be found in ME first. Then I can find the gold in them. They are sweet little ones, but sometimes I can only find the coal and not the shining gold that I know is in their hearts. Thanks for your encouraging words and I look forward to more of your devotions in the future as I am new to Proverbs 31 ministries.
[email protected]
Blessings
Tracy
Thank you, Renee, for sharing your story. I have 3 children, 14, 12, and 9. I have sufferen from the insecurities of being a good mom for years and I actually have GOOD kids. Your devotional and continuing story about Gods-Mining really hit home. I do exactly what you did, looking at other moms, just knowing they are “perfect” and I will never be that good of a mom. I have come a long way but your encouragement just took me to the next level of believing that God made me just the way I am, for my children, and for His Kingdom.
I homeschool my kids and have often given my husband the “pink slip” when he would get home from work.
Thank you for sharing Psalm 19:35. I have now posted it on my refrigerater as a reminder that He will make me great when I trust in Him.
Serving Him Together,
Brenda Peters
[email protected]
Your devotional and accompanying blog was right on time for me today. I have a 4 1/2 year old son who is very strong willed and has a bad temper. My husband and I have really been going through a rough period with him and yesterday was the worst. Your devotional gave me some positive insight and a ton of encouragement. I look forward to reading what you write next.
Thanks,
Yvonne
[email protected]
Renee, thank you so much for the encouragement today. I have a 3 1/2 year old son that my husband and I adopted from Russia 2 years ago, he is the joy of my life. We were marrried 13 years before God felt we were ready for kids, and somedays I still dont know if I am ready. There are days that I would like to write out my pink slip too, but I press on because I want to raise him to know Jesus and to know how much he loves him. I think after having Cameron I have so much of a better understanding of how much God loves me, the love that I have for this little man is sooo amazing, and to know that I am Gods child and he loves me even more than I will ever understand is so awesome. I needed the devotion on finding the gold buried in him. It is so easy to get caught up in what they are doing that we feel they shouldnt be doing, and how we cant seem to get them to do what we feel they should be doing. I just wanted to let you know that I am going to may a concious effort everyday to find the gold in my son, but you know it really isnt to hard they are such wonderful gifts from God and I thank him everyday for Cameron. Thank you so much Diana
Renee,
Your devotion couldn’t have arrived at a more perfect time. I was feeling many of the frustrations and opinions in your devotion. I am the mother of 3 girls 12-6 and appreciate your words of wisdom.
Thanks,
Julie
[email protected]
Thanks so much for the reminder! I have been a Vice principal at a Christian elementary school for 9+ years. I love my job! The best part about it is helping students “dig for gold” in their lives. It is vastly “rich” and rewarding. Maybe we don’t discover gold every day, but we definately “move some dirt”! And some days we hit “the mother load”. Those days are great fun!! Thanks again for the reminder!
Cathy
Renee, Thank you for sharing your story. I often feel like a failure as a mom and I actually have GOOD kids. I even homeschool them, 14, 12, and 9.
I do exactly like you did, see other moms and judge their greatness compared to my lack there of and THEY always come out on top. But I know it is my lack of trust in the Lord and my own personal insecurities forgetting that He created my just the way He wanted me.
I love Psalm 19:35 and have posted it on my refrigerater as a constant reminder to trust HIM and let HIM lead me. Thank you again for opening your heart to God and sharing with us.
Serving Him Together,
Brenda Peters
[email protected]
Hello Renee,
Thanks for sharing your life with us, it’s always encouraging and inspiring to hear from those who have overcome. It gives us hope that we can do the same with the help of God.
I am a mother of six, ranging from 27yrs-4years old. It is totally God working that I should read this today. I’ve been recently feeling discouraged about some of the changes with my children and not knowing how to address it in a way that would build up and not tear down. I want to sheppard my kids hearts and not just address their behavior.
Our first four children have grown-up and have takin’ a not so great direction to put it mildly. An because of this I can be very fearful about raising the two left at home. Afraid of not doing enough and at times too much.
When I look at the two girls left at home, I can feel overwhelmed by how to keep the same thing’s from happening with them. I understand that we all make our choices, but I’m also aware that we as parents make mistakes too.
My hope and prayer is that God would show me how to change and do some things differently in order to send the two left at home out in to the world with a much more RICHER spiritual and emotional heart.
Any help and support you can give would be greatly appreaciated.
Adrienne at [email protected]
God Bless you and your ministry. I have read your divotions before but I had never entered your blog. Now I know what a huge blessing I was missing out on. I have 3 small children ages 1, 3 & 5. I have two jobs and I give bible studies to children now twice a week. Now I love serving the Lord and witnessing the amazing things God has done in these chidrens live's, but just last night after Bible study our bills overwhelmed me, my children's day care recertification paper's were past due and my children were yelling for there mommy to go pray with them. I just felt like crying. My back hurt I was sleepy and I had no other solution than to just give up. But I gave up my worries, everything I gave to the Lord and today is just a confermation and a great thing to realize that I can't do anything with my own strength. When my back hurts my head hurts and I feel like crying I just remember my lords words in mathew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 11:29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 11:30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” Serving the Lord to me is a privelage I just have to stop myself sometimes and let my Lord do the digging.
This devotion spoke to me more than you’ll ever know. I thought I was the only parent who wondered why I wasn’t able to do what all the other moms did. I also read and enjoyed the Can Do Kid devotion. I’m going to start mining for gold both in my children, and in myself. I’m hoping to win your drawing today and find out more about removing my dirt. God bless you in your ministry.
Kathi
I really loved your blog today. My boys are 4 and 7. Being a mom is the hardest job I’ve ever had. I know God is helping me and shaping me, and I pray daily that my boys are becoming the people God wants them to be.
[email protected]
Thank you so much for sharing this devotional today. I was sharing earlier with another mom today about my struggles with my teenagers. I used the famous phrase, “they are good kids, but…”. I do need to focus on the fact that they are good kids and they are serving the Lord and stop letting the other things get in the way. My children are 18, 15, and 14.
email – [email protected]
Wow! Your devotional today showed me that I have gold-miners in my life that keep me positive, and encourages me to become a gold-miner in the lives of my children and spouse. My boys are 8 and 4, and your nugget of wisdom will help me design a plan to shape them into emotionally strong men, rather than just running along beside them, trying to correct as we go. Thank you!
Heather West – [email protected]
This devotion really touched my heart this morning. I am a mother of 5. John-11, Joseph-8, Kalynn-7, Lance Jr.-15 months, Laird – 5 months. My husband is overseas on business. He returns this Saturday and will have been gone for two weeks. He will only be here for two weeks, and then he will be gone for another 5 weeks. His travel has definitely taken a toll on me, our family, and our marriage.
I had two situations this morning that I could have handled way differently, and wish I did.
Devotions like this one keep me in check and remind me how we ought to be as Christian parents.
Thank you for the encouragement.
Blessings,
Daniele
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I am new to blogging…this is my very first time to leave a comment anywhere…I am now in the process of trying to teach my two granddaughters, ages 4 & 6 not to say "I can't" do something…I tell them "Can't never could do anything, and you CAN do anything you put your mind and heart to…just ask Jesus to help you"…I really enjoy reading your devotions and I am going to send a link to your site to my daughter-n-law (mom of my granddaughters)…who struggles alot with my 2 very high energy, "grandgirls"! Thank you! May God bless you so you can continue to bless us with your devotions!
Hi Renee!
I would love to be in your drawing. I can really use help. I have been struggling being a Mom and could use all the encouragement that I can get. My son Kyle is 7, Savannah is 4, and Skylar is 2. My e-mail address is [email protected]
Thanks and God Bless!
Jennifer
Renee, this month I have been praying daily on a subject I think my kids needs to overcome and in this post I feel God telling me to pray for what they need to develop. I will change my focus for this next month. Thank you.
In His Graces~Pamela
Thank you for making me realize that there is “gold” in my daughters’ hearts and that I should concentrate in digging for gold rather than messing with the dirt (the winning, the arguments, the bad attitude, etc).
I think that as Christians we are called to discipline our children and the best way to accomplish that is leading by example. Gold takes time to be found and then takes even more time to be shaped into something beautiful.
Blessings
Renee,
You spoke at my church ladies retreat a few years ago in Marble Falls, TX outside of Austin. Since then I have been receiving the Proverbs 31 emails daily.
I have 2 girls, ages 5 1/2 and 1. I love them with all my heart and they are precious to me. But, yesterday and Monday I was practically yelling at my husband that I had failed as a mom and that I couldn’t do it any more! And, I actually said, “I don’t even know where to start to change it.” This morning, after I got the oldest off to school and the youngest was still asleep, I sat down and saw my Proverbs 31 email and it said, “Knowing Where to Start.” As I read your words I knew for certain that it was God speaking to me. He heard my cry and spoke to me. I am eager to surrender this area of my life over to God. This truly was the “Encouragement for the Day” for me. Thank you for sharing your journey with me. God knew that I needed to hear it.
I will be praying for you today and thanking God for your devotion to Him!
Sincerely,
Amy
[email protected]
Thanks for today’s devotion. This is exactly where I am at and needed this boost to keep me going. My children are 5, 8 and 11. Thanks.
Renee, thank you so much for your devotional today; it was such a blessing to me!! i have 5 children, ages 15,8,6,3,&2 and have spent the last year struggling with feeling like a failure. my dad, age 59, is dying of alzheimers disease and between trying to manage my grief over him, plus trying to be a godly mom to my 5 babies, i often times feel so inadequate. your devotion today was a wonderful reminder that God see's me so different than i see myself and that He is my gold miner. what a precious reminder to dig for the gold in my children as well; it's so easy to see the "dirt" rather than the gold. Thank you for being faithful to share what God puts on your heart.
In Him,
patty
[email protected]
Your devotional was well received by my heart. I have 2 children, 9 and 7. I struggle with being a “good mom” everyday. 🙂 I would love to read either of the books you are recommending today. A friend recently recommended “Revolutionary Parenting” and now you have too! Have a safe trip to Houston!!
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thanks for your honesty and encouragement! Please enter me in your drawing. thanks for the great resources.
[email protected]
I love this series. Your so encouraging and I look forward to the posts daily. Thank you for another great one. I love the description of how one doesn’t go in the mine looking for dirt but goes in looking for gold.
Have a blessed day.
[email protected]
Thanks so much for sharing. God knows exactly when we need to hear words of encouragement. Just this morning I was feeling overwhelmed in my role as a MOM. I work full time and have 2 wonderful children ages 12 & 7. My oldest is having a difficult time in school and I was beating myself up because I feel as if I don't do enough to help her academically or encourage her the way she needs me to.
But praise God, that He is not finished yet. If He was, Lord knows where we would end up.
God Bless you!
Melissa
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Just this morning, my husband and I were discussing our girls’ behavior. They are 6 and 8. His method of discipline is not my style.(lots of yelling) I prefer to lovingly correct my children, but neither way seems to work. They both have a lot of “gold” qualities and I am praying for God’s guidance as we try to parent our children in a loving yet disciplined way.
Thanks for the uplifting encouragement. It is so easy become negative and feel like we are failing as moms, since we don’t often get encouragement for a job well done, a glowing performance review or a raise on a paycheck to remind us how well we are doing. It is sometimes a struggle to pour ourselves out into something that may not yeild dividends for 5, 10 or even 20 or more years. But I try to remember that God will bless our attempts eventually, even though it may be years and years from now. I have 4 kids ages 10 1/2, 9 5 and 3 1/2 years, and too often forget that there is a purpose in all the endless dirt digging. I needed the reminder that I can’t forget to look for the gold, and not just see the dirt!
Blessings,
Shelly
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Your devotion today is perfect for the struggle I have been experiencing- I have wanted to quit because I just can’t do it – do it all- I am trying to reconnect with God so that I can feel His presence and hear Him in all I do- especially parenting.
I have 2 (5yr and 3yrs)
[email protected]
I just loved your devotional today. As a mom of three, a 17 year son and boy/girl twins that are 14 I spent a lot of time when they were younger looking for gold. Each child presented new specks of gold in the different areas of their lives. Today we continue looking for gold but cherish the gold we have found. I love being a mom and wish I didn’t have to work full-time so I could spend more recreational time with my children.
Thanks for sharing your story..
Suzanne…[email protected]
Wow, what a great devotion, I really needed to hear that. I have five children ages 13, 11, 9, 6, and 3. I recently had foot surgery and have days where I am so down on myself for not being up to par and needless to say when I am hard on myself I don’t make it any easier for my children either. Digging for the gold is a wonderful example and I plan to work on that not only on my kids but on myself and how God sees me as well. God is using you in an awesome way, thank you and God Bless. [email protected]
Renee, I cannot tell you how much I relate to your “feeling like a failure” days. I feel that way every day. I definitely need to learn how to look for the gold in my children, rather than the dirt.
I have an 8 y.o. daughter and a son who will be 6 next month…and is starting to get into trouble at school b/c he’s BORED! How do you discipline that?!
[email protected]
Thanks for the encouragment. I’m going to remember to look past the dirt and look for the “gold” in my 10 year old daughter instead!
[email protected]
Jonda
Thank you for making me realize that there is “gold” in my daughters’ hearts and that I should concentrate in digging for gold rather than messing with the dirt (the winning, the arguments, the bad attitude, etc).
I think that as Christians we are called to discipline our children and the best way to accomplish that is leading by example. Gold takes time to be found and then takes even more time to be shaped into something beautiful.
Blessings
Renee, I realy enjoyed your devotional today! This is the first time I’ve read your blog. Today just happens to be my 38th birthday. Jeff and I have 3 children, two girls and one boy; Cortney 17, Casey 13, and Jeffy Jr 3. So needless to say our lives are usually crazy. I’m blessed to be able to stay-at-home with Jeffy but sometimes I feel there is more pressure on me to the ‘perfect’ mom now that I’m home. Atleast when I worked I felt like I had an excuse when things went wrong or things didn’t get done. I know this is my calling from God right now, and that this is such a short season in life. He reminds me daily to enjoy those little nuggets of gold, overlook the dirt and dust and know all is well. I wanted you to know I am so very thankful for your courage to put our struggle out there for all of us to read. It helps to know I’m not the only mom who has impossible days and that I just need to refocus on Him. Thank You! Pam ([email protected])
Hi Renee,
Oh man am I just exactly in this spot. Every day the devotional is applicable to my life but today I don’t think I have ever connected quite as much. I have a 7 (almost 8) year old and a 7 month old. Life is crazy hectic. I work two jobs both of which I really love, plus being a mom to my two kids. With my husband in school, it is really important that I work right now. In a year or two when he finishes up, there is hope that I will cut back to part time with only one position and the role of a part time stay at home mom.
I think with the huge age difference – its often an uphill battle. With my little boy Reece I am working on responsibility for his “things” from homework to returning notes and library books, to picking up clothes, putting away his jacket and shoes, and not smarting off, etc….on the other hand with the baby, Rylee, we are in the midst of teething, and establishing a bed time routine (and its not going well) and not sleeping and she has discovered teeth can bite mommy too. Its a daily struggle but your story reminded me that this too is a struggle and a burden that God wants to carry for me – what an awesome truth!
Thanks for your words – that continue to point me back to the One who gladly carries it all for me!
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Mel