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.
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The woman of Revelation 12 is now here… God is very precise: A woman delivers the true word John1:1, Rev 12:5, Rev 12:13 who restores Acts 3:21 all things to the world before Christ’s return. This woman exposes the lies of Satan who has deceived the whole world Rev 12:9. This woman creates a new thing in the earth by fulfilling God's promise to Eve Gen 3:15, Jer 31:22, Isa 14:16. She is meek like unto Moses Num 12:3, she was raised up Acts 3:22 from the Laodicean church that becomes lukewarm because they refuse to hear her Rev 3:14-17. She is also bold like Elijah Matt 17:11, her witness alone turns the hearts of the fathers to the children Mal 4:5-6 to prepare a people for the Lords return before the great and dreadful day of the Lord Matt 17:3, Luke 9:30. Moses and Elijah are together with the word Matt 17:3 they all three are in this one woman. Those who will not hear Acts 3:23 the true word of God now delivered to the world free of charge, as a witness, at the heel of time from the wilderness Rev 12:6 will not be allowed inside the walls of God’s coming kingdom from heaven Rev 21. This true word turns the hearts of the fathers to the children of God by giving the truth that not one child of God will be put in a hell fire no matter what their sins. It never entered the heart or mind of God to ever do such a thing Jer 7:31, Jer 19:5. God created evil Isa 45:7 to teach his children the knowledge of good and evil Rom 8:7, Gen 3:22 so that at their resurrection they become a god Matt 22:29-30, Ps 82:6. Prove all things. Be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. You cannot rightly judge this unless you read all that has been written by this woman first Pro 18:13 http://minigoodtale.blogspot.com Time is short.
Thanks Renee It is so good to hear that I am not the only mom that wants to quit sometimes. As the mother of two teenagers, there are many times I want to give up. Thanks to you and the other P31 ladies – I know where to turn for encouragemnt. I would like the Voyager GoTo Bible, how fun – I could be cool like my kids. Instead of an Ipod, I would use a GoBible. The other one would go to my sister who has 5 children 10 and under. What fun! Nanci @ [email protected]
I would love to win the GoBible Voyager. I would share the other one with bestest friend Jaime in PA. She is such a sweet lady and I know this would bless her so much. Thanks for the chance to win!!
I fairly new at receiving the daily devotions and I am absolutely loving it. Part of my ministry includes mentoring young women and I have shared/encouraged them to sign up! It's a daily blessing that I look forward to.
I'd like very much to receive the Voyager Go Bible. It could really be of use to my teaching assignments!
Thanks again,
Debbie C
What a great encouragement today. I would chose the Voyager GoBible, and honestly, I would give both gift packs to my two daughters to encourage them as they raise my three precious grandsons. Motherhood can be so overwhelming at times, it is good to know that you are not alone!
I can't believe how much your devotion today hit home. There are so many days that I feel inadequate as a mommy (to 5 and 3 yr old girls). I loved the part about other children having matching clothes…I laugh at my daughters socks everyday, secretly thanking the person that made the mismatched socks so popular. It is these devotions that help me get through the day and remember to view my children as the wonderful blessings they are and that He is with me no matter what feelings I may have.
I was very excited to learn of the giveaway of the GoBible Voyager and your resources. The idea of having a device that would help me be in the word is exciting…and anything that would help me be the mom God wants me to be is welcomed. It's nice to know that I am not the only one feeling like there are days to just "quit" and say Thanks, but send them back! :~)
If I were to receive this gift, I would give the additional one to a very dear friend of mine who has just started in new direction as a Life Coach. Meeting with her last night she told me that her job "makes her heart happy". She is the mother of four boys, a loving wife, a great friend to many, a group leader for Women of Faith..(she has already met half of her goal for 100 women to attend in August. In fact she booked the bus last year with the faith that she would fill it) and just an all around selfless person. This would be a perfect resource for her to use and share with her clients who are seeking new direction in their life.
Thank you for your ministry and the opportunity for tools to help grow my faith.
Blessings,….Kristi W.
[email protected]
Renee what wonderful resources you are giving as gifts for Mothers Day. I have three wonderful children and have my hands full as they are not mine by birth. I have learned over the past three years and still am learning what a blessing they are but ever so thankful for my husband who is my saving grace. I would love to have the Gobible voyager as kids as so in the gadgets these days and it is hard to get them excited about the study time. I would love to give the other one to a dear friend who like us does not have lots of money and would love to have such a wonderful resource to use with her children as well.
Thank you for your uplifting words of encouragement and I hope God blesses you this Mother's day.
God Bless,
Sherry M.
Thanks so much Renee for the wonderful devotional today. I am 3 children and constantly find that I am overwhelmed and unorganized. I friend recently told me that she did not want to be my friend because she didn't find me to be uplifting or able to reach my full potentional (I am putting this nicely too!) As I moved through emotions of her comments I've come to realize that I've been miserable being home & have little support. All though my husband is very supportive he also works out of town and is only home on the weekends. I also found that I don't really know how to parent and I need to rely more on God. I know that I would love this GoBible Voyager. I would also give it to my dear friend who has been really encouraging. She knows and loves our Lord and I think that she would be thrilled to receive this gift.
What a great message, Renee! Thanks so much for sharing. It really encouraged my "mom" heart. If I won, I would love the GoBible Original, preferably dramatized, but I would take NIV if not. I don't know if my mom would use this type of gadget, but I think my stepmom would. I would love to share it with her because I think she and my dad would both have fun with it!
Thank you Renee. Although I am not a mom I find that this devotion helps me in life with other trials I am facing and it reminds me that I can't do things on my own and to remeber to turn to God to lead me. If chosen, I any of the GoBibles that you are offering would be wonderful (though the Voyager is really cool). I would give mine to my mom & the second one would go to my Grandmother because both of them are having a hard time getting along right now, they are barely speaking and when they do speak to each other it is not civil. I keep reminding them to pray and to talk to God and he will help them rebuild their broken relationship but neither thinks anything will work and thinks they are way past repair. I would love to give them this tool to use to help them turn to God who can re-streghthen their mother-daughter bond.
Thank you for the timely devotion. I spend lots of my days feeling just that way and then beating myself up afterwards. Thanks for making me feel "normal." I love my kids, I just don't always love how they act or how I act for that matter. Don't know what I would do without God's grace. If He can do that for me then I can certainly do it for my children.
I would love the Voyager (NIV) and would give the second to my friend Christy who inspires me to be a better mom through Christ.
Thank you! [email protected]
Thanks for the devotional today Ms. Renee. It confirmed what God spoke to me through another mom this past Sunday. God told me that I was a great mom! There have been so many times as a single mother, that I wonder if I'm as good a mom as some others I know. And like you mentioned in your "Encouragement For Today" devotional this morning, I too kept finding faults in my parenting and comparing myself to to others. But after hearing what God told me, whenever I feel the comparisons start to rise, I remind myself what God told me and I instantly feel strengthen and encouraged.
If I won, I would like the GoBible Original and I would give the 2nd one to another sister in Christ and fellow single mother at my church. I believe it would uplift her and keep her encouraged.
Thanks for sharing your story. It truly inspired me and encourged me.
[email protected]
Awesome! Thank you, Renee! You hit the nail on the head with your devotion today! Having 4 babies in 5 1/2 years, there have been many days that I wanted to "turn in my pink slip", or at least call in sick! :o) I would love to win the GoBible Original! I can really use this! I would give the second one to my dear Aunt who just lost her husband. (my uncle) She has such a strong faith, but could really use some encouragement right now. Thanks! Faith F.
Um, yeah…every day for the past two weeks I've thought about quitting! My 4 year old boy has been so disobedient and just outright naughty lately! I really like the GoBible Voyager (NIV) because of the ability to put music on it as well. It would be the perfect thing to take to the gym when I run…music AND the Bible!
The second one I would probably give to my mom. My grandmother is in a nursing home due to severe Alzheimer's and I know she isn't able to read as much anymore. I think my mom could put some great music on it for my grandma as well. I'm a tad fearful that my grandma wouldn't want to use it, in which case I KNOW my mom would get some good use out of it!
Thank you. Very encouraging. Will continue mining my 9 & 14 yr olds hearts. I'd give the second gift to my sister who's starting out with a 2 1/2 & 8 month old.. GoBible Voyager would be great.
God always knows what we need to hear! Thank you for your devotion. Being a parent is wonderful and very challenging. I'm struggling with finding enough time for my 4 year old daughter since having a baby with significant specal needs. I would love more ideas and any of the GoBibles look great. I would give the other to my sister who is recently divorced with 2 young boys.
Thanks!
Stacey C.
I would love to have the original! I really liked your golden nugget idea. I am thinking of ways to use it in my bible Class and camp. Thanks for sharing with us.
I'd love the Voyager, one for me and one for a friend of mine. We're both single moms facing medical issues and tough times with our special needs boys.
florence at just writing dot net
I have really just discovered the Proverbs 31 website. I have been listening to your devotionals on Klove for quite awhile so I feel like I already know you all :). I would like to have two of the GoBible Voyager with one for myself. As a busy music teacher who sees over 650 3rd and 4th graders each week, this would be a wonderful way to grab a snippit of God's Word here and there throughout the day. I could also share it with my single-mother daughter who lives with me with my 4-year old grand-daughter. The second I would give to my youngest daughter who has a 10 month old daughter and another one on the way (oops 🙂 She is really going to need to be able to hear God's Word on the go because Kinsley will only be 15 months when the new baby is born. Thanks for all you do to help us gals gain confidence to be the Christians we need to be and to share our faith with others. Bev D.
Thank you, Renee for your honest words of encouragement. I pray they can help others who are experiencing the same feelings. Unfortunately, I did not have any encouragement, nor did I seek out encouragement. Anyway, to make a very long story short, I did quit instead of turning to God for His help. However, I do know today, that with God, all things are possible. With the knowledge and desires that I have today, I know that God will lead me back into a relationship with all of my children…when His time is right. I take each day as it comes, and thank God for the opportunity to do His will. I have made so many mistakes, but this time, I will not quit…I truly have God to see me through. I would love to have the Voyager Go Bible, and I would give the second pack to the wonderful couple taking care of my two youngest boys. A true relationship with God is something that I was lacking. I have begun to build an incredible relationship with Him, and that is something I would love to share with my children and the amazing family members that are caring for them.