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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You hit the nail on the head! Thank you so much for sharing…it is good to hear that you aren't the only one that struggles with being a momma too. Yes – I know we all struggle whether we show it or not…but to hear from another is encouraging to not feel alone. Being in God's word is the one way to keep on top of things…and I always feel out of sync when I'm not in his word.
As for the GoBible…i like the voyager. I could see many benfiting from one of these…but I think I would share the other with my cousin who is struggling with caring for her 4 kids and her youngest struggling with an unknown tumor. He has been the hospital so much….and she is so discouraged…this could be the perfect things for her in the many trips to the hospital, etc.
[email protected]
thanks again for your encouragement
Thanks so much for your story! I am very blessed with a wonderful five year old boy, who has never given me an ounce of trouble, however, I know things often change as children grow and mature so I am open to all of the help I can get ahead of time :). I would give the other copy to my sister-in-law who does have a troublesome five year old. They recently were transferred and I am sure this is only going to lead to more discord as he is very routine oriented! Thanks and I hope you have a blessed day! If I am chosen, Iwould like the GoBible original!
Even though my children are grown, I still feel like "quiting" sometimes. I would like the original GoBible and would also give one to my daughter who has two small children (3 & 5)and is a single mom right now. Thank you for all the enouragement that P31 provides.
I have been blessed tremendously though your devotions, and am looking forward to your (entire) book!
If I had to choose which GoBible I would like, of course it would be the Voyager, but I would be tickled with any of the three! (I have no MP3 or Ipod….would have to have my teenager teach me how to use it!)I would share the second one with my young adult daughter, because it would just give me a peace to know she would have the Word with her everywhere she goes!
"Count it all joy"
Nancy
I'd love the traveler or voyager – great for when I'm on my cycle to work. I'd give the second to a friend who finds it hard to settle down to reading and is struggling a little with church at the moment, trying to keep in touch and grow with God.
I have been blessed tremendously though your devotions, and am looking forward to your (entire) book!
If I had to choose which GoBible I would like, of course it would be the Voyager, but I would be tickled with any of the three! (I have no MP3 or Ipod….would have to have my teenager teach me how to use it!)I would share the second one with my young adult daughter, because it would just give me a peace to know she would have the Word with her everywhere she goes!
"Count it all joy"
Nancy
Great post Renee!! So much encouragement.
If I won, I would give it away to either a sweet sister who just went from being a weekend mom (she worked forty hours a week so only saw her kids an hour or two before bedtime) to being a full time stay at home mom. She is struggling to find her place and figure out full time motherhood. Or to a young girl in our church. She is 18 and will graduate next week. She just found out she was pregnant. She will need a ton of encouragement and prayers. Maybe I would just give both copies away to these ladies. I know it would be a blessing to them.
Thank you so much for your devotion today. I too have met God in that place of "quitness" 🙂 but He dragged me out of that pit with His love that He showed me through His word! Where would we be without His word. I can't believe the products you are offering. I don't actually need one but I would love for my sister in law to have one as I think she could listen to it in the car. I just want God to heal her like he did me and I know that reading His word is where she is going to find that. I want her to know how precious she is to Him, faults and all. thanks, Jeana [email protected]
Thanks so much for your words of encouragement as a mom of 5 (ages 5 – 16)I have often seen myself out my kitchen window running down the road away from the craziness and stressfulness of momhood. I know those gold nuggets exist, I have seen them! I had no idea that the GOBible device even existed what an awesome tool to use on my morning walks! I would share one with my good friend Pam, a fellow mom who, like most, needs daily encouragement to keep digging for those gold nuggets!
Wow, I am right there! God's timing is so perfect. I have wanted to quit for a while now. I cry every day, I pray, but don't seem to find any relief. I love the idea of writing a letter to God, something tangible.
If I am chosen to receive your awesome gift pack I would like the GoBible Voyager in NIV. and I have a perfect friend to whom I would gift the other. My Friend Rachael has been through an abusive marriage that eventually led to divorce (for her protection and that of her children). She has asked me to be a prayer worrier for her and I believe this gift package will help with exactly that.
Thank you for your ministry.
May God continue to use you to help us.
[email protected]
I feel like God put today's devotion in your heart just for me to read. I had that very same "I quit" moment not too long ago with my very challenging 2 1/2 yr old boy. He is my youngest, and I've never before had to deal with quite as much as I've had to with him… I literally broke down in tears and told God I wanted to quit. As a single mom, God's really my only support as I don't have anyone else to talk to who really understands… Thank you for today's devotion – it brought me to tears and gave me hope. Any of the GoBibles would be such a blessing, but the Voyager version would be amazing. If I won, I would send the other one to a very dear friend of mine who lives half-way across the country and who I never get to see, but who is also a single mom raising a teenage daughter on her own.
Thank you for your message! I too have wanted to quit many times and have been sustained by God, often through wonderful people. Parenting can be really overwhelming, especially when you have a special needs child. Being real with other moms can really help. If I were chosen, I would give the second one to a young woman who recently was "surprised" with a fourth child. She's very overwhelmed right now. The Original in NIV would be nice. ([email protected])
Thank you for the message today. There are times when I feel like less than a "perfect" mom. I love being a mom but sometimes feel overwhelmed. People say my children are well behaved (which they are for the most part) but I don't always see it especially at home. I want to be a good mom but sometimes its real hard. I have 8 children from age 16 to 2. They are wonderful blessings who can really try my patience at times. I would give one to my friend Marcia. She is an awesome mom of 3 boys and a pastor's wife. Her family has been a blessing to my family in many ways. I feel she would use it and appreciate it. I would either want an original or a voyager GoBible. They sound wonderful.
I fail and fall short so often as a mother. So glad God has it all under control! He is my strength and fortress! Wow I would love, love, love and be so grateful for any GoBible. I would give the other one to my sister in Christ Becca, she is a young mother of 2 small children,works in our local hospital and helps lead our church drama team. Sometimes the look in her eyes says she is overwhelmed, but her smile always denies it!
oops, I forgot to leave my info!! Posting a second comment:
Thanks for sharing this post! I have felt like giving up MANY times. I would choose the voyager go bible and I would give my second gift pack to the MOPS group at my church to give as a welcome gift to a new mom or a mom who is struggling.
Renee,
Thanks so much for your devotion today! It really hit home with me. I never quite feel like I'm "cutting it" as a mother. And as a mother of a toddler, just when I feel like I've got the hang of things everything seems to fall apart again! Your devotion really touched a cord with me and brought me to tears. I felt like you were speaking directly to me! I've never heard of the GoBible but took a look at them and think they would be an easy way to get more of God's word. I think the original GoBible would be fine. I would give the second one to my older sister who has 3 boys. She is a great Christian mom and homeschools all 3. Her husband was laid off of his job in January and has still not been able to find employment. I think she could really use some encouragement. My email address is [email protected]
Jennifer Wade
The daily devotions that are waiting in my email box each day are such a blessing. I am a mom of 3 boys- one is 10 and the others are 4 yr old twins. The devotions give me a little bit of "God time" when I have a few quick minutes to slow down. I would love the Original GoBible so that I could listen during the long commute I have each day to work. The boys are normally quiet in the mornings and that is my chance to "be still" and pray. I'd give the second one to my dear friend Allyson who is a busy mom of 4. [email protected]
Thanks for the today's devotional. I needed to reset my heart & perspective. You reminded me that God's Mercy is new every morning & that His Grace is Sufficent for me & my family. He used you to rebuild & strengthen my faith- Thank you for being a willing istrument in God's hands.
Thank you also for the chance to win & share the Purpose driven life gift pack. As the single mom of a child with adhd, the Go Bible Voyager, Purpose-Driven mom message on CD and Mining for Gold Child's Character Chart would be invaluable resources for us. If I were to win, I would share the gift pack with my sister, Michelle. She, her spouse, and her teenage daughter are all in need of salvation. My sister suffers with depression and anxiety and is living in an unhappy marriage. My sister (age 38) hasn't gone to church in over 20 years & none of her family members attend. I feel that the go bible & parenting resources would be an avenue God could use to help her reknew her mind, give her much needed wisdom in parenting her daughter, and ultimately bring about her salvation and the salvation of her family. Please keep them in your prayers. Thank you so much.
Charlotte
Thanks for sharing this post! I have felt like giving up MANY times. I would choose the voyager go bible and I would give my second gift pack to the MOPS group at my church to give as a welcome gift to a new mom or a mom who is struggling.
Todays devotion was if you had seen into the very core of my being! I so need to hear, read and receive this message today. Thank you so much for your words, kindness and devotion to helping others! You are truly a blessing!
If I were to be one of your picks, I would choose to share the second one with my daughters stepmom. This way we can partner together in making sure we raise Godly girls.
My e-mail is: [email protected]