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.
Purpose-Driven Mom Gift Pack:
Enter to win my Purpose-Driven mom message on CD and my “Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Character Chart and The Mom I Want to Be by Suzie Eller. To enter, click “share your thoughts” below and share why you’d like win.
Happy Valenti-ne’s Day~ I would love to win, I am a struggling step-mom who has watched a step-daughter reject me and my children. Our home has been toxic and we are at a breaking point. I am at wits end and then my mom suddenly passed away! Looking for God’s grace to sustain and maintain.
Blessings,
kareng
I would love to win because I am exactly where you (Renee) said you were when you wanted to hand in your pink slip, I look around me and see that my kids seem to be the only ones that continually disobey, disrespect and defy… I’m at the end of my rope and don’t really know what to do. I think this would be encouraging and possibly life-changing for me.
Thank you.
I only have one child right now, a son, but we plan to have more children. My mom constantly struggled with feeling like a failure and I’d like to overcome that kind of mindset. I would love all the help I can get with focusing on the gold in my son and not the dirt. 🙂
Renee, This devotion spoke right to me. I am a single mom and dad is not in the picture. I am not able to take the night off. My son is my everything and i love him very much but there are some days when i am so lost and feel like i am disappointing him. Like i failed him. I want to thank you for this devotion because i feel like it opened my eyes and showed me that God is there helping me. I love your ideas about the golden nuggets and the family devotions. Thank you, i really needed this devotion right now!!!
One thing i have done with my son, we have a baseball sized penny and i give him to choices to do and he picks heads or tails and we throw it up and whatever it lands on thats the choice he does. We have been doing for about 3 weeks no and have not had one argument. Thought others would like to try.
Thanks,
Crystal
Crystal when I read your comment I was like “another single mom” where I am a single mom now for about a year and a half. I do hope and pray the best for you and your son. It sounds like to me you are a great mommy! Keep it up and keep growing! Thank you for the idea with the penny 🙂
I’d love to win this. I struggle with my relationship with my parents. Sometimes parenting is hard and I want to be a better parent for my child. These seem like great resources to take a step towards change.
I would love to win your gift pack! I am a teacher and try to find some peaceful time during my day,lunch, to read the proverbs 31 daily devotionals. I am trying what I think is very hard to figure out how to be a successful teacher while also trying to be a good wife and mother to two twin girls. I struggle with the fact that I feel I neglect those friends and family who are close to me because I am just trying to “survive” each day. I have gained lots of wisdom and feel I have had spiritual growth since being introduced to the proverbs 31 site. I try to be the spiritual leader of the family but I feel I don’t always do a good job. I hope to win so that I cn grow closer to God and set a better example of a Christian in teaching, being a mother, wife, friend and daughter!
Renee, thank you so much for sharing! Five years ago I recommitted my life to God. Proverbs 3:5-8 reminds me each day my relationship with God is an everyday journey but many days as a mom I want to turn in my pink slip :(. My son was born 10 weeks premature and when he was just 2 days old the doctors in the NICU told us “we have done all we can it’s out of our hands”… 6 weeks later we brought that beautiful baby boy home! He is truly one of God’s miracles and the guilt on those days of frustration and despair feel 10 fold! My son is 13 now and has a zest for life I think the Purpose Driven Mom pack would benefit my life. Thank you for your ministry and sharing God’s word and love!
I received a message from a friend that read – A Valentine’s for the Real World- When you walk in the door, my heart will skip a beat when I see you because your children have gone insane and I need a break. My life in a nutshell. I want to quit, run away and never turn back. I feel so drained, unappreciated and disliked. My husband and I disagree more and my children do not seem to ever listen when I say no or not now. It is a challenge to them to do the opposite of what I need and what I want. I would rather lay in bed and not parent but I do not. I get up, love on them, and collapse at night with frustration in my heart, regret in my head and an emptiness that only God can fill except I seem to only get a few seconds to say HELP before I fall asleep. I could really use some strength and guidance and the ability to let go and let God.
Thank you for your ministry!
Renee, Thank you for sharing this. It hits home completely. I’ve recently had those same thoughts…calling it’s quits and walking out. But God got ahold of me before I would of made that terrible mistake. I have been asking God the very same things. To please help me where I am weak as a mother. I have 3 year b/g twins and boy it sure can be challenging to raise them. I would love to win the “Purpose Driven Mom Gift Pack”! It would truly be a great gift for me as I’m trying to lean and seek God through these desperate times of motherhood. What great inspiration to know that I’m not alone and these tools would help me to understand even more of my purpose as a mommy. Thank you!
In about 6 weeks, a little girl will enter the world, one we are planning to adopt. As a first time mom-to-be, I’m overwhelmed at the magnitude of my quickly approaching new role. I’d love to have your wisdom to start off on the right foot!!
I feel like I do a great job at my day job of teaching prek but when I get home I feel like my family gets the leftovers of me. I’d like encouragement and advice on how I can make it better.
What a blessing to hear your struggle with being a mom! I have felt like that many times as well, where I wanted to quit. Tears have flowed in frustration. I’ve even asked God why he placed these gifts of my 3 children in my life. Surely someone else could have done a better job with them! But you’ve given me new hope in realizing I CAN do this, God has chosen ME for this purpose, I just need to turn to him and his word. I would love to recieve the Purpose-Driven Mom gift pack as I need all the help I can get to make this dreem of becoming the mom God wants me to be a reality! Thank you for your ministry!
Thank you for your encouraging words! I would like to win because I need fresh ideas to use with both my two girls and the 15 4yr olds that I teach every day. Two of my students are extremely challenging. They desperately need someone to mine the gold in them and I am at the end of my rope. Please help me to get new perspective and a new plan to reach their hearts!
This came on my day of giving up. My son has Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and ADHD and is dyslexic. I have been battling for him through two schools to get him the testing and accommodations that he needs. He had to repeat 5th grade so that he would be in the correct grade for his emotional and social development. It is so hard to see the gold in him AND me sometimes!! I stayed home with him for 10 years and now am struggling to find a job because of the “gap.” We have to have the extra income to make it. I SO hit bottom today!! I only checked email in case there was a new job posting. God is faithful and sent just the right encouragement and message through you today. I wasn’t going to check anything else but felt overwhelming urge to click on the “Encouragement for Today” devotional email and there you were. Thank you and THANK GOD!
Renee,
Sometimes motherhood seems to come with a truckload of guilt and a thimble full of direction. On those days I really need to ask Jesus to stand in the gap for me. I would like to win this Mom package because I struggle with being at work full-time and a mama to two sweet little girls. My husband is not a Christian so I am trying to lead by example. Some days I think parent with true God supplied grace and others I fall short. So thank you Renee for all you do, your ministry has had a profound effect on my life.
Hi, I would like to receive this as I feel I need a lot of help with parenting. I only have one child so far but as with your first you feel like you need so much help a lot of the time! I like the thought of grace based parenting. I go to sisters and a sister in law with so many questions that I feel like I’m bothering them! I want to be the mom God wants me to be and the good he sees in me that I almost never can see a glimpse of. Thank you for the encouragement.
Boy, do I struggle with this alot! I love my 3 girls SO much and desire to teach them in God’s Word. Time seems to slip away SO fast and the days get busy. I know they are not in His Word near as much as they should be. And potty training has been SO hard and I compare myself SO much to the other mom’s who seem to have it all together, with their kids potty trained by 2 yrs! My first was almost 5 and my now 4 yr old is STILL having issues! SO hard not to compare and to give it all up to God. TY for this timely reminder! I can use ALL the help I can get! Got baby #4 on the way!!!!
I would love to win because I certainly feel the monotony on some days. And it’s easy for Satan to attack me and make me compare myself to others. I know that is not a God honoring thing. Would love to read your book and hear your message!
2/13/13- Today was the first day I received the Encouragement for the Day devotional.
Last night I was searching for something that would give me strength to go on. You see I only have one child and she is 21 yrs old. She was a miracle from God because of Type 1 Diabetes she was delivered by C-Section at 24 weeks. They were trying to save my life. Her conception was due to an act of violence with the biological father still unknown. Many times while raising her I did make mistakes. The feeling of why kept surrounding me. One day I was able to break free. She was and still is the child that I knew God intended for me to have.
Yes she is an adult but the holds of society has taken it’s toll and she has become rebellious and very disrespectful to me and to others. I want and pray that I can remain calm but yet firm in my own relationship with her. I have daily prayed for God to let HIS love show thur me. Some say that as a little girl she needs a mommy but when they grow up they need a friend. I do not agree with this saying. They always need a mommy. The only love greater than the love of God is the love of a mother.
I question my steps in teaching her the love of God and how to build a relationship rather than being a dictator. God loves us as we are but, He desires us to grow in our walk with Him. She may not be a toddler or a teenager but, I feel this is the hardest time for a parent. Learning how to let them make their own mistakes and love them even when you are so disappointed and hurt by them. Yes there are many times and most days that I feel like giving up and quit being a parent. My inability to speak to her and she hear my heart has fallen on deaf ears. I have to daily remind myself that she is still that miracle that God allowed to be created in my life. She gave me a purpose in life. I just want to have one day that I don’t want to Quit on her or life. Thanks for providing Encouragement for the Day. And the chance to be provided a chance to win your Purpose-Driven mom message on CD and the “Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Character Chart and book by Suzie Eller ” The Mom I Want to Be “.
May God richly bless and give strength to all who have entered.
Thank you so much for your words/devotions. I often feel like I’m the only one who feels like a failure as a mother. I recently became a single mom of 4 boys – certainly not what I expected to be at this point in my life. My boys range in age from 8 months to 9 years. I feel like I’m a good mom to the little ones (8 months and 2 1/2) – they are so sweet and innocent – its easy to have patience with them but the older ones (8 and 9) are another story. I wish I could start over with them and I’d do so many things differently but I can’t start over I can only move forward. I’ve been praying for a long time for God to help me become the woman and mom He intended me to be. It’s a tough journey but such a necessary one. I feel like I got lost along the way or at least bits and pieces of me did. Seeking God’s help to find myself again and to be the mom that my boys need me to be.
Would love to have this pack to use with a group of women at my church. Just reading through the comments- and looking at my own life- we are so broken. We allow the world (and facebook) to tell us our worth- and God has so much more in store for us! We are worthy in HIS eyes, not the world’s. We never will be good enough for this world- it’s not our own. Praying for those who are like me- who overdo, are overrun, and say they are “FINE.” Thanks for your sweet message- reminding us of who we are and WHOSE we are. 🙂
There have been days like there where I want to just quit and I can relate to the grocery store incident, my final straw was when my son threw out the cherry tomatoes and they went rolling everywhere. Thank you the golden reward tip and new perspective. I pray for us all to have and see God’s perspective!
Renee,
Thank you so much for your post today about “The Day I Almost Quit”. Yesterday was one of those days. My office is in the process of budget planning, so things at work are crazy. I received a call from the elementary school stating that my 6 year old daughter’s ear was hurting (Yep, trip to the doctor to find out that she has an ear infection). My 12 year old daughter has a science project due on Friday. We came back to my office after the doctor’s appointment to work on the project only to discover that we did the project wrong and couldn’t finish (We’ve got to re-do it tonight). I’m a single mom. I work full time and take care of my girls. I feel like a failure on a daily basis & feel that I’m failing them in the process. I read posts on FB of moms who are so proud of their kid’s grades, while my daughter is struggling through 7th grade. I worry about them constantly. Not so much about their safety, but about the ladies that I am raising them to be. Some moms make it look so easy! Oh, and did I mention that my dad is having a very serious surgery in March and, since my mom passed away in June, I will be leaving my girls for about two weeks (with a friend, because their dad lives in another state) to be with my dad while he is in the hospital. Then, he’ll come to live with us until he’s able to be on his own again. The stress of everything is hitting me hard right now. I sat in my car and cried like a baby when we finally got home last night at 9 pm. The release was nice, but it certainly didn’t take away all that I have to do. Not to mention the day-to-day stuff that has to be done (laundry…which is piled almost as high as my washer right now, helping with school work & studying for tests, making sure we have groceries, & the bills are paid, cleaning the house, etc). The word overwhelmed is probably an understatement. So, it helped to come in today to see your message (along with K-Love’s Encouraging word….Phillipeans 4:13). I know God is there & wants to help. I just haven’t been able to fall on my knees and ask. I know I’m not alone in all that I’m dealing with. No one has a perfect life and we all deal with “life” every day. On a positive note, which is what I like to focus on usually, I can say that I have a great job, an understanding boss, two healthy, beautiful daughters, a wonderful dad & amazing friends. I am blessed….but stressed! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! Your words do encourage us!
I have 3 young ones (ages 2.5, 17 months, and 3 months) and some days I feel so overwhelmed and some days I feel like a failure as a mom. I am learning to find my strength in God. I want to be the mom that He has called me to be and that my kids need. I want to teach them to trust in Him with their whole hearts. I would love to win these amazing gifts to help me become that mom.
Thank you for the encouragement right when I have been going through so much with our son right now. I appreciate you sharing God’s message to us through your experiences.
I am always looking for new tools to use and to tweak what I am doing as a single parent be a better mom, but also to continue to model biblical principles as I learn them. Being in “the trenches” right now with 2 teens is the hardest and foggiest season I have ever been in and it would be such a blessing to be able to share with my single mom group. We all need so much support! thanks for all you do!!
I am in need of your book. My daughter (9 years old) is giving her teachers a run for their money. They call me at work 4 times a day to tell me what she has done this time and I sit in ARD meeting for 3 hours with them telling me what a bad mom I am and how my home is not as structrued as school life. They continued by telling me how horrible my daughter is and how she will never graduate high school and dont even think about college. Talk about feeling like a failure. I entertained suicide but then God spoke to me and said “do you really want your ex raising this angel I gave to you?” It was a horrible thought but at that time I didn’t see any way. Thank you for listening and God Bless You and what you wrote today 2/13/13.
The devotional this morning as well as the follow-up here on how God worked to change your perspective touches me. I am a 47 year-old mother of a 7 year-old son. He is my miracle child but can be quite the handful at times. This morning (and nearly every morning since school started back after Christmas) getting out the door was awful. Once again I was late for work and nearly in tears. I try so hard not to be a Mom who yells or sends negative messages to my child. Some days I admit that works better than others. I’m struggling and would appreciate these resources if I was chosen to receive them. Regardless, thank you for the encouragement and the work you do through Proverbs 31 ministries.
The mom gift pack would be such a great tool for me as I desire to not pass on the negative and damaging parenting traits I’ve experienced. I know what I don’t want to be and do but figuring out how is a bit more challenging. I have been praying for God’s direction and guidance in this area.
Thank you for today’s post. Your timing was spot on. As I rushed out the door to take car pool, 10 minutes late of course, only to find I was thinking it was Thursday the day I do car pool only to find it was really Wednesday! I beat myself up all morning for being once again so absent minded. You reminded me that all too often I try to go it alone rather than let God be the one in charge. If I surrender myself to him I may still occasionally mess up everyone’s car pool but I will remember that I am a child of God and special in His sight.
I became a mom 5 months ago, and I feel like all I see is the dirt. My husband tries to convince me the gold is there, and I know that’s supported in the Bible, but it’s hard for me to believe that when I want to be the best mom possible to my little boy! I’d love to win this gift pack so I can be encouraged, change my perspective, and become the mom that God wants me to be–even if it’s not the mom I feel like I should be.
Thanks for your ministry!
Thanks so much for the devotional this morning! My husband and I are currently going thru Family’s God USes by HUckaby. We have a hard time not focusing on our kids faults and looking at their hearts (we have four). I would love this packet! I feel like my ministry (along with being a preachers wife) is my children! the gift of them is so important and everytime I respond wrong to their mistakes I can feel a little of their hearts cloes up. We will keep on tredging and trying to grow through God’s grace. By the way, I am totally going ho,e to make some “gold” for them to start using!
Amy
I would like to win this for my daughters. They are single parents, as was I. I believe this might help them.
My four children and I are currently struggling with their dad choosing to be the man the military trained him to be rather than a family man. Last night I wanted to quit being a mom, a teacher, a friend or anything else. I love my children and want to be the best mom for them but right now I am not sure I can or ever will be. I am crying out but feel that nobody understands.
I would really like the Purpose Driven Mom gift pack for my daughter, Leah. She is a wonderful mother of a 2 year old and a 5 year old. Her husband Trenton is in the army and was deployed for 9 months. Praise GOD he returned home safe!!! I watched my daughter parent these awesome grandchildren of mine, while Trenton was away. There were times when she just wanted to quit. She is an awesome mom and I would really like her to have this to encourage her! I enjoy Proverbs 31 devotional so much!!
“Stucka-like-glue!”
I’d like to donate this to our church library – lots of couples/parents & military couples/parents who can use encouragement!
I really appreciated your comments today on almost quitting. My twins are 18 months old and are quite a handful at times. It takes everything I have some days to just make it to bedtime. Thank you for the reminder to turn to God for my strength and renewal. I would like to win the pack as a new Mom to learn more on how to be the best Mom to my two little girls and to leave lessons with them that will help them be better mothers too. Thank you!
Thank you so much for today’s devotion. I am new to Proverbs 31. I have been desperately seeking any and all resources to help me in my journey as mom to 4 beautiful daughters ranging in age from 6-15. Their dad chose a path of alcohol over his family, and is only involved in their lives from the fringes. it is so hard to be both mom and dad, and not have a partner to share worries or joys with. I pray constantly that I am making the right decisions and choices to steer them in the right way. My girls have all witnessed the negative fallout from their dads’ addiction, and it breaks my heart. I want to be the mom they need to guide them in the direction God has planned for them, and not follow easier paths and traps laid out by satan to detour them.
Barbara I am sorry to hear that you also have to go through this. My heart breaks so often too for my two children especially my daughter who NEEDS her daddy! I am and will be pray for you and your daughters. With Love.
Renee – I really enjoy hearing you on the radio and your blog. You inspire me to be a provebs 31 woman and that is the reason I started to receive your daily messages. It is my desire to learn from you so that I can be a representation of Christ to those around me. Purpose-Driven Mom Gift Pack would help me to be the mother God wants me to be. I have 3 children and one on the way, 2 boys ages 9 & 7 and a girl age 4 and unsure of the next one just yet. Most of the time I feel I have it all together or at least I act like it but the one area I struggle most is patience with my children, especially my boys. They know how to set me off and push every button to get my temper flaring, and I just want to cry sometimes as I don’t know how to get them to listen to me, respect me…I end up yelling all the time and repeating myself over and over which happens all to often. I don’t want to be a bad mother but I want to be able to engage them and bring out the gold in them and myself. I am very thankful that God gave me a little girl as she stablizes me and has such a love and joy to her and filled with the spirit of God and I am praying for another little girl just as precious and loving as her with the same annointing but in the meantime I need to figure out how to refine the qualities and characteristics that are hidden deep within the dirt of myself and the boys that are growing up so quickly.
Thank you for your inspiration and encouragement. I know God is not a respector of persons and I know what God did for you he can do for me too.
Much love,
Tami
I’d heard you mention your Mining for Gold in the Heart of your Child chart at a women’s retreat I was at but at the time my son was young and I wasn’t constantly frustrated and yelling. As I read the Proverbs 31 devotional today, I realized I am focused on his faults and imperfections instead of the good and would love to have this chart and Suzie Eller’s book. Thanks for helping to open my eyes and reminding me that motherhood makes it necessary to come to the end of ourselves and to become dependent on God
Thank you so much for the encouraging words today and believe you me it was right on time. Just last night I was on my knees crying out to God that I couldn’t do this anymore. With a pre teen daughter, I find myself battling with different issues and WAY too many times I find myself losing my cool and saying things that I regret. I feel like such a failure when it comes to raising and dealing with her. Last night I asked God to show me how to be the Godly, softspoken, loving mother that he intends for me to be. Your devotion only confirms that I know in Gods time I will become that person. I would love to win your gift pack to help me on this journey of becoming that Godly Mother.
Thanks and God Bless You,
Teresa
Thanks so much Renee for sharing your thoughts today on parenting! God used your words at a very significant & challenging time in my life! I am learning to be a stepmom to an 8 year old daughter & I am spending most of my days with my twin boys who are 2. Surrendering my heart, days, teachable moments to Christ & reclaiming His purpose for my life & for my children is exactly what I needed to hear!
Renee, thank you so much for this post today. I have three boys. My oldest is 18 from my first marriage, and I have two little ones, 4 and 7, with my husband now. I work full time and feel like I’m always working just to keep above water. On a daily basis, I feel like a failure with my children. I don’t feel like I pray enough, read my Bible enough, or share the Bible with them. I wonder every day what they could possibly be learning from me about God. I know I need to find bits of time during the day to read the Word, and your post has given me encouragement. It really speaks to my heart. I would love to win the give-away today, the Purpose Driven Mom gift pack. Thanks Renee.
Reading this article was like reading my own mind/heart. I had a similar breakdown last week, and have been praying for contentment and to see myself through God’s eyes ever since then- this is the third article I’ve read that has reminded me of God’s truths, so I know He’s hearing my prayers. Thank you for sharing, and for helping me feel “normal” and reminding me that I’m not in this (motherhood) alone. I’ve been wanting to start a more “positive reinforcement” strategy with my children, as everything I’ve been trying does not seem to be working. My oldest (6) has always been the strong-willed type (she gets it from me- which is why it scares me so), and I feel such a sense of urgency to help her know God’s love and forgiveness more, as she is so hard on herself when she makes mistakes. I would love to use your tools (Purpose Driven Mom gift pack) to help me become more of the Mom God intends me to be!
I am in a strange stage of motherhood. We lost a daughter several years ago, and we are now raising 3 teenagers and a toddler. It has been nearly 6 months since we moved our family half-way across the country. It was a huge blessing in the beginning, but my daughter has informed me this week she’s considering moving back “home” with a friend. She misses the larger school with more course selections, etc. Much prayer went into this move, but I see family bonds falling apart at the moment, and it’s breaking my heart. I feel as though I’m in the will of God, but war is being waged against my family for some reason. I want to make all the right choices to produce children who love each other and respect their parents, but I find myself caught in a whirlwind of children, self-preservation, and prayer; every moment is like switching the emotional switch, and I question every decision I thought was finalized. I would appreciate a copy of your book/kit, but honestly … just a free prayer backing would be a treasure to me right now.
I am probably at a very different place than most of the Mom’s responding to this. I have a daughter who is 22 and about to graduate from college who practically raised herself. She has always been self motivated and a great student and a leader. I also have a 16 year old son who is a freshman in High school. He is a delight to my husband and myself, but is much more of a challenge. We try not to compare the two of them as they are both amazing individuals in their own ways. My son has ADHD and has also had some speech difficulties, so school is much more difficult for him than it was for our daughter. He is very loving and kind, but can try our patience with how obstinate he can be and we are honestly exhausted by his homework!
First I’d like to say thanks for allowing God to use you to minister to so many of us! I’d love to win. I’m going through a very difficult season in my life. Without really going into the details I’ve been feeling like a failure in several areas of my life lately! Things seem pretty bleak but thank goodness for my faith. It’s the only thing that gets me through each day. Although I don’t uncerstand I know that God is in control. I would love more encouragement from your resources. It does help to realize that I’m not the only mom out there that feels like calling it quits sometimes. It’s easy to look at those moms who seem to have it together & feel that much more discouraged. Thanks again for letting God use your talents to encourage us!
Renee,
First of all I want to say Thank you for your wonderful message. I am the mother of two and have found many times in my life where I’ve gone through the same feeling you have described and wanting to give up. I have often felt that as a mother I am not good enough and that they would be better off with someone else as a mom. What makes it worse is that I lost my mother 6 years ago last Monday and so have not had her here for her encouragement and parenting advice as well. Winning this packet would help me to have resources for me to turn to in times of despair. Thank you again.
Cindy
AMEN!!!,
I really struggle with convictions every night I go to bed. Being a wife of a traveling husband and two young boys to care for by myself during the week. I would go to bed crying knowing that once again I failed as a mom, and God would bring me some grace and I would pray and tell God that I wasn’t going to do that again. The problem I was finding that it’s impossible to have a perfect day (especially with 2 boys) so once again I would let myself down and then Satan would pounce on that and feed lies into me telling me it’s pointless to even try to show love and grace to these kids. Well, that was what my days consist of, me yelling and being frustrated and then feeling convicted and crying, blah blah blah. Finally God showed me a way to not start looking at trying to have the perfect day, but turn to Him in every moment. He has showed me to cry out to Him when something doesn’t go right or I am flustered. Ask for His strength not try and do it my way, because through Him I am perfect and there for my days almost start to seem perfect. Renee you are a true inspiration and I love how honest and open you. It’s because of you sharing your weakness you have helped others deal with their’s. God wants me to share with you that He has you right were he wants you:) I continue to pray that God blesses you for your obedience to Him. Have a great week, cause you deserve it!!!!!!
Thanks Renee for your timely and Godly words! His words always seem to find us when we need to them. The right ones at the right time. Amazing!
As a home school mom I can’t tell you how much good your packet would do me. Yesterday was a day I wanted to quit. Not because of my child but because I felt overwhelmed and inadequate. This morning I am feeling encouraged. Thank you!