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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Renee, I am just sitting here crying I am one huge puddle…. It is like your words are what is in my heart, only for some reason I can't feel God saying I am His gold. I press on each day knowing I am going to have this break through. I've got a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old, and I am amazed at how quickly things go south, seems more and more each day. I love my kids, and I wanted to be the mom God created me to be, it just hurts so bad to be in this spot, even as I write this I am asking God,"when do I get that moment of feeling you?" If blessed with his gift I'd like the Voyager, and I'd bless my sweet friend Dena who is a single mom, in the middle of the teenage years storm.
What an incredibly timely devotional – for moms with kids of any age. After drinking in the Truths of the devo today, I was immediately reminded of a dear friend of mine, her daughter and grandson dealing with a possible prison sentence. Let's talk about that feeling of failure and smallness….
I love the idea of the GoBible – and would give the other to this broken Mom trying desperately not to quit and to keep above the turbulent waters.
Your wisdom and generosity were much needed today – thank you.
This devotional was so good for me today! I would enjoy the Bible Voyager. I would love to listen to this while I go for my walk and it looks like you can download some favorite praise & worship songs too! I would give the second one to my sister as she is always listening to encouragement books on her ipod while exercising. This would be a great tool! Thanks.
I would love to win the Voyager GoBible! I was an empty-nester and "inherited" a tween 10 months ago. I have been in tears–actually SOBS– daily! Thank you for hearing God's words and faithfully sharing it with others who have been trying to do it on their own.
I would share the second pak with my daughter who just celebrated her 1st anniversary!
My kids are past toddlerhood into the tweens. I've struggled, but thank you for a wonderful lesson! It's not too late for me to adopt this strategy, and I plan to use it! My children need me now more than ever, and I need God's peace and strength to do my best! I would love to win you gift pack, and the GoBible I would most like to have would be the NIV version. But if that's not available, I am open to becoming familiar with another version! Peace and love to you, in all that you do to spread God's love and message. Bonnie M.
This was a great devotion, and I could completely identify with it! Phillipeans 4:13 comes to mind imediately, reminding me that I can do ALL things (even mother/homeschool these 4 blessings) through Christ who strengthens me! Thank you for sharing your gifts with us, and for helping keep our eyes fixed on him! I love that Go Bible Voyager, and if I were to win, I would give the other one to my dear friend here, who encourages me constantly, even hen she is running on empty. Thank you again, bless you!
Amen, amen and amen! We are absolutely weak without God. Thank you for this devotion and at the right time! I'm sick with bad allergies, my youngest daughter has double ear infections, my oldest daughter has a sore throat and my husband has a bad high ankle sprain!!! 🙂 But I am making it through with the Lord's help. I'd love any of your products and I would share the other with my best friend. Thank you. Cathy ([email protected])
When I have felt like that, I have felt so alone which only added to the feeling of failure. Thank you so much for having the courage to share your true feelings and God's mercy along with it! Lorraine I would choose the GoBible original. My e-mail is [email protected]
Thanks for blessing women everywhere with these encouraging truths. I have four beautiful children, 2,4,6 and 8, and in spite of appearing to have it all together, I sometimes want to lock myself in my room. I know though that in His strength, I can do just what He's called me to do in parenting our children. Thanks for the reminder that when I fall down as a mom, I need to fall on Him. If I win i'll share with my niece, who is also my best friend. I would love the original or voyager. Blessings, Theresa
Your devotion could not have better timing- I sent it out to all my Bible study gals because it spoke so strongly to what we were discussing last night. (How to stay plugged in to God as your power source when somedays you just feel like you are going non-stop). I would give the second pack to a friend from Bible study who is amazing- she is a young mom with 2 boys (age 2 & 6 mos)who is going to school to become a nurse and her husband works rotating shifts. She also just found out her cousin (another young mom) was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and is trying to find a way to get down to Texas to help her out. She truly is a giving, caring person- being Jesus' hands and feet. I want this more for her than myself.
I really, really needed your devotion this week! I have 10.5 year old twin girls (that I call opposite twins!) and a 9.5 year old son who is going on 45! It's only Wednesday, but it's been a long week. Thanks so much for your uplifting words!
I was just mentioning those GOBibles to my boyfriend the other day. I would be thrilled with any of them if I won 🙂
Renee-the email address is [email protected]
I would love the Voyager. I have never seen these before! I would give the second gift pack to my mom.
I just love getting your 'Encouragement for Today' e-mails. More often than not, when I open one up, it speaks to me about an issue I'm currently dealing with! Thank you so much for your encouraging words. 🙂 I would love to win the GoBible Voyager…it looks like a wonderful tool to have. And I would give the second pack to my friend Amy, who is a great mom, and who I've also shared your encouraging words with many times! Thank you again, Wendy [email protected]
Raising 3 sons never gives me a dull moment! It is a challenge to get them to release the energy they have in a possitive way. I would love to have the Voyager Go-Bible. I would give the 2nd one to my friend who has just lost her younger sister to cancer and really struggling with this.
You have blessed my life and many others, Thank you. Be Blessed, b
[email protected]
Renee
Thank you so much for sharing this today…
As a mom with 3 children ages 7, 6 and 4.. one being a special needs child… the day to day can be very difficult at our house….
Sometimes just not feeling like I can keep going… and God gives me the strength….. I love my kids so much and want to be all I can for them….
Please pray for me…..that I can be the mom that God wants me to be for my kids…
I love the Voyager or Original Go Bible……
Chrissy
Renee, thanks so much for these encouraging words. The title alone was just what I needed. God bless you for your continued obedience to Him. It's amazing how parenting makes you feel the triumphs of life and the failures all at the same time but you are right, our God "shields us, sustains us, and stoops down to make us great" in His own power. Thanks again. Aimy S.
Thank you so much for blessing the lives of so many women. Thank you for reminding me that He is everything I need to parent our 4 beautiful children 2,4, 6 and 8. Blessings to you and the ministry. Thanks for being so authentic. If I win, I would like the original and would give one to my niece who is also my best friend Theresa
Renee, AMEN! Some days and many times in those days I just take a deep breath in and exhale as I close my eyes and cry out to the Lord for His help and strength. My husband and I are raising 5 boys and now 1 little girl and I can’t count on one hand how over the years I have gone to my husband with tears in my eyes or choked up because I thought there was something wrong with me and my mothering skills. I can’t count on one hand how many times I have said to him, “I quit. I am not doing this anymore.” And yet in those times it was God’s quiet and gentle voice that would get me through that very moment. Or my husband’s thoughtful, encouraging word that would give me strength to carry on until he got home from work.
Thank you so very much for this thought provoking yet encouraging devotional today. I will draw strength from it… especially this part, “I pray that You would extend Your right hand to sustain me; Your grace to strengthen me; and Your wisdom to lead me.” AMEN!!! AMEN!!!!
If I am selected, I would select the GoBible Voyager and give one to my sweet sister-in-christ, Holly. She's a wife and mom of 3 young boys who most often won't come to church. Her hubby doesn't come to church at all. It's a spiritual battle every week for her. What an encouragment this would be for her. Blessings to you!
This sounds like exactly how I felt last week and feel like a lot. Thanks for the encouragement.
I would like the original GoBible and would probably give the extra one to my husband or son.
[email protected]