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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Wow! Isn't it amazing how God knows how to put things in our path that our going to speak to our hearts at the exact moment we need it! And that my friends is what God does for me with your devotional. I am a busy wife, mom of three kiddos, nursing student, and part-time medical assistant at a physicians office. Although reading through these commments most moms are mothers toddlers, but I am will find myself the mother of a teenager in 9 days….eeeek!! I am also the mother of a 6 & 7 year old kiddos too! I had always thought that having my children grow older would ease the burden on parenthood. Not always true I have come to find out. Worrying about my children learning how to cross the street has been replaced with worrying about how I can keep my child from being influenced by "wordly" friends! Thanks you so much for all the encouragement you give each day through this devotional! If I were to win, I would pick the GoBible Voyager and would choose my dear sweet friend who is a stay at home mother of 4 ages, 10, 3, 2, and 9 months!
I LOVE your devotions,,,they help me on a daily basis! If I win I would love the GOBible Original. I would give the second one to my Mother In Law who has been such a blessing to me and doesn't like to read. This would be a wonderful Mother;s Day gift for her so that she could read more!
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I think the go bible voyager have a lot of neat features. I look forward to learning more. Thank you.
Thank you for your devotional! Just what I needed today. And coupled with a phone call with my close friend, who is a mom of 4, and knowing I can lean on Jesus as a mom of 2, I feel much more at peace that I'm not the only mom who struggles! I would love the Voyager GoBible. [email protected]
Thanks for the great devotional. If I won I would like the GoBible original. And I would give the second pack to my cousin Ronica.
Thank you so much for this awesome devotion. You also so just the right things to encourage me. I enjoy the GoBible Voyager. I am going through a divorce and have three boys. This would enhance my time with God. I would give the second one to my best friend Jenny. You had been so helpful during this diffcult time. God's blessings, Nicole
Thank you for the divinely inspired devotion for today. It really spoke to me personally. I have 5 children ages 17 down to 2 and we homeschool so most days are busy and sometimes overwhelming. The GoBible (Voyager – NIV) looks awesome and would give me the opportunity to listen to His word throughout the day. It's so difficult to find time to sit and read. I would share the package with my friend who takes time to share her heart with me and listens on those days I feel like quitting. She would benefit greatly from this and would share it with others. Thanks for your transparency. What a blessing and neat Mother's Day giveaway. I hope you have a joyful Mother's Day. Lisa L.
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I am such a tired mommy, I read biblical parenting tips, empowering parent e articles, pray for my child and still he is so rebellious and defiant I lose my temper and then hate myself for it. God show me what you want me to do, I want to glorify you through my behavior and not respond to my emotions. I am so tired and have tried everything. please help me, I am a good mommy and love my child more than anything
Today, I was a failure as a mom..at Bible study the page in my Bible included a Max "Life Lesson" with these words: failure with temper, failure with words…then I read your Proverbs 31 blog…He knew! and He loves move even though I had a bad day! Thank you for your words, Renee. I would love to win the gifts and would share with my friend Liz..a wonderful mother (I wish I was more like her!) As for the GoBible, I would take any one of them. God has certainly blessed you with words for which I am thankful. Blessings my Christian sister.
Well obviously I am a busy stay at home mom it is 11:11pm and I am just mow reading this post. How many dys do I decide to quit…just uncountable currently. But God is so faithful even when I am faithless. He continually places someone something in my life to spark me and remind me how to get back to Him through all the fog of this busy life of ours. Thank you for allowing Him to use you in my life today…I sooo want to look after their hearts and shepherd them to Him, not a life filled with stuff. I am afraid I have taught He gets our left overs. You reminded me today His mercies are new and I can have a do-over by shifting my focus back to the Word and in turn shifting theirs too! I would take any Of the 3, but sure the pretty white voyager would be a choice. I would give the second to my sweet friend whose husband is a youth minister and her life is quit often over booked as well. With 4 kids and a husband that has been gone 9 dys to equador for a church plant she deserves it more than I do. She has single parented for His glory this week and could use it in the car rider line or between ball fields….endless use! Thanks for a great devo today! [email protected]
Hello Renee, reading your devotion/blog was like one of those moments in church when you are listening to a message and are wondering how on earth the Pastor knew you were struggling with a certain issue….so what I mean was it was a total God thing! Lately I have struggled with so many similar feelings you described. Even if I wouldn't win I feel as though I gained some amazing insight and a direction with instructions!! Would love the voyager go Bible…and I would give the second to a dear friend who often feels alone in her faith walk as a mom and wife. Thank you for your transparency and honesty!!!
Amy
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Thank you Renee for this much needed devotion. i am a grandmother of 3. Two boys, ages 6 and 7, and one girl who just turned 2. My daughter and the children live with us. She works full time and my husband and I take care of the childen, getting the boys off to school and taking care of our grandaughter all day. My husband is not well, but he does manage to interact some with them. Our 7 year old has autism and the 6 year old has problems also. They are a handful but we feel blessed. My daughter is exhausted when she gets home and tries so hard to devote her time to all 3, sometimes she wants to just go and hide(me too). Your story was so encouraging. I would love to win the GoBible Voyager and give the second one to my daughter. Thank you so much. Arlene C.
Oops! my e-mail address is
[email protected]
Thank you for the encouragment. While I would love to win your other stuff, I don't need the goBible, I have a free bible app on my phone (YouVersion) that I use every day and I would love for someone who really needs it to win. But I really identified with the wanting to give up being a mom thing. There have been so many days I've wanted to quit. (I have a 4 year old and 2 year old twins)I really loved the idea about searching for the gold rather than seeing the dirt. It's a good change of perspective. Thanks.
I am a military wife and mother of 2 young boys (one with special needs). My husband is frequently away, sometimes months at a time.
Thank you for your refreshingly "real" devotionals. I so relate to much of what you have gone through and often I cry when I read them b/c it hits home so deeply. Thank you for your obedience to the Lord in being vulnerable and courageous enough to share from the depths of your heart. I would love a GoBible voyager if I win and I'll ask God who to give the other pack to – it'll be His choice!
Blessings, Peace and continued strength to you Renee!
Haidee
Thanks for the amazing devotion today:) it really hit home with me. I would love either the Voyager or the original. The second one would go to my sister who is homeschooling her 4 girls. My email is [email protected]
I really enjoyed reading today's devotional entitled "Sometimes I Just Want to Quit" written by you from Proverbs 31 daily devotional e-mail. So often we as moms think that everyone else has the answers and we are the only one struggling. When in reality if we take the time to share with other moms what is on our hearts it can be just the encouragement we need. I currently have two boys that are very active- a pre-schooler and a toddler. Some days I question my decision to walk away from my previous job as an elementary teacher to now stay home and raise our boys. Then I remember we only get one opportunity to instill in them the values and faith that we desire them to have.
The Voyager GoBible would be my choice due to the features it contains. But, honestly any of them would be awesome!
I would plan to give the other set to a dear mom friend who is going through a rough time financially and emotionally. She is raising four kids and life for her is very stressful due to recent circumstances. She spends a ton of time taking and then waiting for her girls in dance classes and I know she would get use of the items. Thanks. Have a Happy and blessed Mother's Day.
Thank you for the encouragement! I have been in this position more than once! I really needed to hear the part of seeing my childrens heart ( and my heart) not the bad habits. How easy it is to fall into that. The voyager GoBible is the one I would choose if I would have the choice. I would give the second to my friend who is feeling no purpose at this time as a stay at home mom. Thank you for your honest devotions.
[email protected]
I really appreciate your post. Having a Down Syndrome child, I find myself losing control way too much. I am learning day-by-day when to hold my tongue and be the mom that God wants me to be. Staying calm does help. If I were to get a GoBible I would want the one that is in the middle on the page you directed us to. I would probably give a second one to my best friend or my Mom. Both would probably enjoy it.
I am so glad I found this! I am a mom of 4-ages 10, 4, 3, and 19 months. There are times throughout every day that I feel like I am a failure being a mom. I tell myself I want to be more patient and I mess up over and over. It is so nice to have guidance and understanding to look up to.
I would love to give my second set to my sister in law. She is a mom of 3 (one step daughter) and is growing everyday with the Lord. I really think she would enjoy this as well. I would enjoy the GoBible Voyager with the larger screen/type. Thank you!
J. Johnson