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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Thank you so much for the message I read this morning. With a fussy 2yo, testy 7yo, stressed husband, overwhelmed mother and a paralyzed father, I'm in a difficult season of life right now and needed to be reminded that the tough times bring out the gold.
If I won, I would choose the voyager since it has the text on the screen as well as the spoken word. I don't hear very well and so this way wouldn't miss anything. This would be a great resource for my husband and I to share. I would give the second to my father. He has several broken vertebrae and is unable to walk. He has a long rehabilitation coming up and this would be a wonderful way to keep him encouraged.
But if I don't win the contest, its alright because the war is already won by Jesus. And this post was a great reminder to be more like our Saviour.
Thanks so much.
BanaIzzyB (at) gmail (dot) com
Wow did I need this one! 2 of my 3 children have special needs. My oldest has had 8 major surgeries and still has a feeding tube and hearing aids and my middle daughter has behavior issues and is only 5. There are times I just want to quit and I ask God what he is thinking giving ME two special needs children. My days are full of trials and triumphs and too often I get stuck on the trials…or dirt. A friend of mine posted the link to this devotional on her Facebook and I know it was God's way of giving me what I need just when I need it…as he usually does! 😉
I would love the Voyager or the Original since they have most of the same features. Either one would be easy to use and a great way to get the Bible on the go 🙂 I would give the second one to my friend Christina, who is the one that posted this on her Facebook. She is a Christian who has found the fire again recently and is being baptized for the first time this Sunday on Mother's Day!
Thank you Renee for the devotion that reminded me that God will be there to find the gold in us mom's and it is our job to find in our children. After a horrible crash yesterday in which my daughter totaled her sister's car, I then discovered that Hospice has been called in for my Dad. If I win, I would choose the Voyager to use when I travel to see him and work with my daughter. I would give the 2nd one to my 3rd daughter who is working to raise 2 toddler boys to love God, respect each other and the world.As a busy working part-time lawyer,she could use the GOBible and share with other. Jackie
Renee Thanks so much for the devotional and the chance to win 🙂 I am a mother of 2 and I love my kids to death, yet I feel I am not a good mother to them. I just had some bloodwork done that shows I could have rheumatiod arthritis. I am having a hard time dealing with this news. How can I be a good mother when I am in constant pain?? After reading your blog I know that I have to look to God for my strength and ask Him to be my Rock. God does not give us more than we can handle. If I win I would give the 2nd one to a good friend of mine who has a child that almost died as an infant. He is 7 yrs old now and has severe behavioral and mental problems. She struggles daily with him and I think it would be of great help to her. Which go bible..really any would be great 🙂 Thanks
Wow! This is exactly the what I needed this morning. God is definitely speaking to me through you. I have three boys ages 3 months, three and four all at home with me. I have turned to God to help me with mothering because I have been at the "pink slip" point for some time and have been praying for guidance. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and I would love to get the GoBible Voyager so that I could use the year plan and have verses at the ready, plus listen in the car with my boys plus read it it while we are enjoying playtime outside. I would give the second pack to my newest and dearest mommy friend Melanie who has quickly become my best friend and spiritual guide but has been blessed with a new opportunity and will be moving in three weeks. She has a 6 month old boy and a 19 year old daughter.
Jessica
Thank you! The devotion really ministered to my heart! I'm a mom of 3 and have been struggling with some of the same things you spoke of in your devotion. God is always on time with his message. I would love to win the GoBible Voyager. I would share the other with one of the Alabama Tornado Victims that we have been working with. They have lost everything. Receiving this would be another way to show them God loves them and wants to help them.
Faith E.
[email protected]
Wow! Usually I just read over the blog posts on Proverbs 31 Ministries and don't give them a whole lot of thought, but yours really hit home…hard. I'm to the point of wanting to quit too, so I'm glad that other people feel the same as I do. I don't have a preference on which GoBible because any would be fabulous, but I would definitely give the other to my best friend, Bree, as she is a frazzled mom with three kids too.
What a powerful message in the devotion and your post. Wow, Renee'! I wish I had read this a long time ago. This is very good stuff!!! Gonna post the links on my facebook page. Want to share it with every mom I know and those I don't know! Than you for sharing.
Blessings,
Cheri
I love the concept that we are mining for Gold in the hearts of our kids. At times I do get discouraged as I guide my boys in becoming who God wants them to be. It literally is a mining process as the work is little by little each day – instilling Godly aspirations in their hearts and minds – praying that God will forge them into precious gems! Thank you for your ministry and early morning inspiration to keep me inspired!!
Hi Renee,
I would love the GoBible Voyager. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity to win one!
jbaehrel at hvc dot rr dot com
Renee, this could not have come at a better time! As a single mom of a rambunctious 3 year old boy, I see myself getting frustrated more every day. In reading this, I am seeing that everyone gets frustrated, but if I look for the golden nuggets, and pray for both myself and my son, we both will get along better.
I would like the GoBible Voyager. I would give the second gift to a friend who is having her second baby girl any day. This has been a rough pregnancy, and I know she would enjoy getting things that would help her teach her children about God.
Thanks for all your writings, and letting God use you!!
🙂
I am a very busy wife and mom with 4 kids ages 7-19 and I just went back to work as my littlest one went to school. Although being able to be a full time Mom was the biggest and most important job I know I will ever do, there were many days (and still are!!) where I thought that each time I lost my temper I also lost brain cells… "Can I really do this, Lord?" wasn't just a question…it became a mantra!! BUT I didn't always take the time to look to His Word for the answer! Praise God He is SO FAITHFUL…even when we are NOT!!! Thank you for encouraging all of us that he loves us especially at those moments when we do not love ourselves.
If I was to be chosen to be blessed I would pick the original go bible and give the other to another working mom of 3 children who is a believer but who is very hard on herself…we would be so blessed to have that available to us at all times!! Thanks for encouraging us so!!
Thank you for the much needed devotion today. I am a single mother of 3 with my oldest about to graduate from high school in two weeks. The past months have been had many struggles between us. Her strong desire to go out on her own and my panic as to whether I have given her all the tools to make it as a young adult have tested us both. I am so greatful for so many answered prayers in the recent months and would love to give a gobible to my friend Allison. She prays for everyone and has really helped me to make prayer more of a priority. She is a great inspiration and friend. If I won, I would choose the voyager. Thanks, Briana
You put into words what I've been feeling lately. I didn't know that others felt the same way, I thought only I felt like a major failure and couldn't seem to pull it all together. Thanks for the encouragement! I would be happy to recieve the original GoBible, what a neat idea. And I would give the other package to my friend Anna who is also going through the monotony of mother hood at times.
I loved reading this post. Thank you. I really like the Voyager GoBible and would give the second to my cousin who is like a sister to me and is always there for me, no matter what.
I saw the email in my inbox this morning and didn't read it I had so much to do I just wanted to get started, after I had finally dragged myself out of bed. I have 4 kids and I homeschool 3 of them. I was getting ready to go to sleep and then I clicked on the email devotional and it was just what I needed. I'm tired and run down and the days never end but I also love being the one to teach the little ones. I need to get past all the little snafoos that come up in the day and get focused on enjoying being the Mom and teacher. I would give the other copy to a friend of mine who has had a rough life and has since turned her life around but I know with 5 kids things get pretty hectic in her household and sometimes she needs the reminder too that God is with us and we don't have to do it on our strength but in His.
This was such a good devotion to read, as today was a tough day dealing with three that are 5 and under. I felt like I could have given the "pink slip" to my husband and then just before bed, read your story. How timely is our God!!! I would enjoy the GoBible Voyager and I would give the other to another mom . . . of 4, about to be 5. I love her dearly and have been encouraged by her greatly.
[email protected]
I had a gold nugget moment a few weeks ago. I'm not sure why after 3 daughters who are "easy" and mellow, God brought the most rambunctious, high-strung little boy into our lives. I've complained.I've cried. I've called in professionals. I've sworn one of us was going to take medication. But as I not so calmly told God I made a mistake, I must have misheard His calling us to adopt, He said "Be not weary in well doing for you shall reap in due season if you faint not" ONLY His calm reasoning could correct me and only my small brown boy's smile can melt all of the frustration away. I am like this boy and I need God to be not weary loving and teaching me too.
If you pick me I would like whatever you offer and the other to go to another adoptive momma I know with the same struggles. Thanks for the encouragement.
Becky [email protected]
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!