It had been a really terrible, awful, hard day. So hard that I sat and cried. And yet, it brought me to the end of myself. And that was a good thing.
When I finished crying, 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.”
I’d been buried in the dirt that day. I was lost in the monotony of motherhood and felt like my days had no meaning. My discouragement and feelings of failure as a mom left me so disappointed in myself. And I was convinced God felt the same way about me.
I started wishing I had a gold-miner in my life who could see beyond my mistakes and find the gold in me. That’s when God whispered to my heart, “Renee, I am that gold-miner. You are the one who is so critical of yourself. You are the one who focuses on your faults. But I see the gold of My image in your heart, and I want to bring it to the surface so your kids can see Me in you.”
As I sat there trying to process what God was whispering to my heart, stories from the Bible started flooding my thoughts helping me believe that God really does see beyond who I am to who I can become.
That day God used His thoughts to give me a new perspective – of Himself and of myself. Then He challenged me to look for ways to transfer that perspective to my children.
It’s easy to get buried in the dirt of discontentment, disobedience and discouragement. You may even be thinking, Where’s the gold in it all? I wondered, too. But after reading Carnegie’s story and hearing God speak to my heart, I wanted to become a gold-mining mom.
As I thought about the gold I wanted to see in my children, character traits of Christ such as patience, kindness and contentment came to mind. I decided to make a list of golden attitudes and actions and look up Bible verses we could learn together. Then I made gold nuggets by balling up foil and spray-painting them gold.
In the following weeks, each time my kids showed a golden attitude or action, I’d reward them. When they saved up enough nuggets, they’d get a special treat. We also found new character traits and Bible verses, wrote down ideas to live them out and started making them part of our family devotions.
It took time for me to embrace a grace-based parenting perspective and let God’s new truths sink in. But I was so excited about having a spiritual focus as a mom. I started getting creative and about finding time in the midst of my busy days to get into His Word and get His word into me. And as I did, He used His thoughts to re-shape mine.
God’s Word became a part of our everyday lives as He taught me to take my eyes off of my children’s habits and focus on their hearts. Not only did it change my kids’ attitudes and actions, it changed me, too. For the first time in months, I was excited about my role as a parent. God had given me a new perspective, and a whole new sense of purpose as a mom!
Lord, thank You for not focusing on the dirt in my life but seeing beyond who I am to who I can become. Help me believe that, receive that and give it away to my kids, my husband and my friends. Help me look at their hearts and encourage the glimpses of You that I see in them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Portions of this post are in my book, A Confident Heart.
Copyright 2011. Baker Publishing. All rights reserved.
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Loved todays devotion. I am Mammy to 2 beautiful girls – one 4 and one turning 3 in a few days. If I win I will probably give one to my daughter. We would probably share it. I would give the other to my niece who has a little boy turning 6 this month. They need God in their lives. Probably the GoBible Voyager. Thank you for Proverbs 31 devotions.
Thank you for the inspiring and transparent encouragement. I receive P31 at work and look forward to each one to pick me up during the day. If chosen, I would prefer the GoBible Voyager (NIV). I'm sure my girlfriend raising 3 grandchildren (girls) would love the other. Keep up the great work for His Kingdom!!
I love your blog. Thank you for inspiring us each day.
I would love the GoBible Voyager. it has everything I need with that great keyword "Preloaded". Busy moms don't even have time to load their own stuff!
I would give the 2nd gift to a friend of mine who is a mother of 4 little ones. I have been witnessing to her and this would be a great encouragment.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience today! I made it through the toddler years in God's hands. The GoBible's are amazing tools for life with Christ. If chosen I would choose the GoBible Original. I wouldnt feel right keeping one and giving one, so I would give both of the away. I have two women at church in mind. One just went thru a divorce and has three little girls to raise. As a single parent I feel for her and I see her struggling and pray that I could take the pain and worry away from her. The second mother hasnt been coming to church in over 6 months. She has two toddlers and was struggling with tempertantrums every Sunday. I feel that she became frustrated and emberrased with her childrens actions. I would like to just share with both of them that they are wonderful mothers because God made them. And God will not ever turn his back on them. Thank you for every heart you have touched today. Sarena B.
I prayed this morning that God would help me be a more patient mom..and then I read your devotion. It was like a personal whisper just to me-thanks!
I would love either go Bible.
Kendra
Thanks so much for this. Eventhough I am a new mommie of 3-month old, this is going to help me ALOT! I always pray that GOD will show my husband and I the way he wants us to raise our son.
Thanks so much for the inspirational devotion. I am mom to a 17 year old step-son, 3 year old boy, and 1 year old girl. My 3 year old is the very difinition of strong-willed!! Your devotion described my emotions perfectly. How often I feel like I am not measuring up as a parent. Thanks for the encouragement, this weary mom needed it! I would prefer the voyager or the original GoBible. I would give the second to my best friend, my mom.
Katie
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so enjoy your devotionals on Proverbs 31 email list! If I were to win this gift pak, I would give the second pak to my friend, Vicki. She is the busiest Mom I know! She is the worship leader and praise team leader at our church, she has two young children who keep her very busy, and a husband who owns his own company that includes a lot of travel dates, which leaves Vicki solo parentis quite often. Vicki also ministers to the young adults (college age and newly married) at our church, which means a lot of mentoring time and late night/early morning phone calls from desperate and needy "kids." Recently, Vicki's mother was diagnosed with liver cancer, her fourth cancer diagnosis in five years.
I admire Vicki's attitude of always being there for others and feel that this gift pak would encourage her in her walk with the Lord as she leads others, including her children. I think the Voyager would probably be the most useful GoBible for her.
Thanks for this opportunity!
Becky
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What a timely message for me! Just yesterday I told someone, "I quit!" It's great to be reminded that God doesn't see my dirt, of which there is plenty, only the gold to be found under the dirt. If I won this great prize pack, I would give the other to a friend who is a single mom like me. We need all the help and encouragement we can get!:) The GoBible seems like an awesome resource! I would choose the Voyager.
Wow, what a timely devotion today. I so wanted to quit mommyhood yesterday, but didn't know who to give my resignation to! I would love the Voyager NIV and I would share with my friend Kaaren who is walking (running sometimes) alongside me as we both parent kids of similar age. Great devotion, great giveaway! Blessings to you.
Renee,
Thank you for giving up time from your day to help us with ours. Being a mom is not an easy gig! It is wonderful that as moms and woman we can share our hard times, too often we think everyone has it better, or is doing it right, but then we find out they are human just like us (whew!!!) and we get to grow in the Lord together.
As for the offer, the GoBible Original looks wonderful – handy on my 20 minute commute to pick up the kids from school. I have a friend, Dini, who is a step-mom of two children, growing in her role as a mom and as a daughter of Christ. This would bless her.
Thanks and keep feeding us those wonderful written goodies!
Tobi Lyons
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Wonderful and much needed Word today. I'm a stay at home mom of two boys (2yrs & 1yr old) having two toddlers running around is stressful enough but the past few months I've been struggling with my identity and purpose. Making it difficult to see Gods plan and adding to my daily stress. This daily devotional has really helped me get past myself to see God in my daily life. I am looking forward to bring His focus and perspective into my parenting. The GoBible Voyager would be very helpful in keeping my mind in the Word.
Thanks again for sharing your heart.
Sonja
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Thanks, Renee, for reminding me to look for the "good" in my children instead of focusing on their attitudes & behaviors. I would love to win the GoBible original; and would give the 2nd one to my best friend, Beth, who is a busy RN mom. Thanks! and God Bless!
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We so often feel guilty about not loviing every minute of mommyhood. Thanks for the encouragement. I would love the voyager GoBible and I would give the second to my friend, a mother of 2, who drives to therapy and dr apts all the time with no cd player in her car!
As I began reading your devotion, I knew this was intended just for me. I have 3 kids, runa daycare, and yes feel that what I am doing is never enough. I need more time in my busy schedule. What I really need to do is turn to God more and talk to him, thank you for reminding me of this. I would give the gift pack to my mom who was sucha great role model to me.
I would choose the go bible voyager if I was to win! Thank you so much for your devotion today!
Angie
Angie
When your post came up under my encouragement for today I knew God was hearing my cries for help. As a mother of 6, there are times I feel like throwing in the towel and feel as though I'd be making more progress pouring my heart out to the wall instead of my kids. I just need to be reminded from time to time that it's not what I do or say that is going to bring about the progress I want so desperately to see in my kids, but it's the Lord Himself that does the changing. I need to be faithful and dependent on Him. I'm so busy home-schooling, being a mom and wife… it leaves not much time for caring for myself, doing things I love, or even getting my devotions in… I think the voyager Bible would be great! I have a very good friend who has 7 children, and I know would love to have one as well. 🙂 She's been an encouragement to me so often.
Hi Renee – thank you so much for this morning's devotion – it really spoke to me. I have three sons and at times when they don't do as I say or what I want I feel like I have failed in some way or messed up somewhere along the line. But then God reminds me that I should be thankful because my sons are living for Him, I know where they are each day and I am able to see and speak with them…unlike some parents. I am a very busy mom taking the boys to their various events and I have been trying to get an audio version of the Bible but not able to afford it so getting the GoBible Voyager would be great. Of course if I win, I would give the second package to my unsaved co-worker who is a mother of three and is eager to know more about the Lord. Thanks and remain blessed. kdr
We so often feel guilty for not LOVING every minute of mommyhood. Thanks for you real help and encouragement! I would love the voyager go bible and I would give the second to a sweet mom of two who has to drive one of her kids to all kinds of dr and therapy apts with no CD player in the car!
Thank you Renee for this devotion today. I am really new to your site and actually really new to opening my heart and mind to God. I have enjoyed your devotions everyday for the last couple of months, so thank you!!!! This one today really touched me though because I seem to feel this way every day and always wonder why I can't be a better mom. I have 2 boys, 8 and 5 and feel like I have no control most of the time. I think I was a much better mom with just 1 child but when my second arrived it was a totally different story!!!! I have a girlfriend that has 3 boys and we often wonder what God was thinking when he BLESSED us with our boys. We both try to look to Him for guidance and encouragement but I think sometimes we forget to open our hearts and minds to what he is really trying to tell us! Thank you for being so REAL in your words. Melanie
Thanks for this wonderful devotion Renee! I would love to be entered to win your gift packs. I would share my second gift pack with my dear friend Jacque, who is on the go a lot and I'm sure she'd love using the go Bible when she walks. I'd love the voyager go Bible. Thanks for the opportunity to win one.