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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I would love the Original Go Bible and I would give the second pack to a friend who is a new mum and is struggling as not everything is going to plan.
Thanks so much for the encouraging devotions. I could definitely use a GoBible, and would love the Voyager with all of its awesome features, although they all would be extremely helpful. I'd give my second GoBible to my friend and accountability partner, Kristin. Our kids are the same ages and we encourage each other along this wife/mommy/child of God journey.
Thanks again…
Inga
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I loved this devotional.. It was exactly what I needed to hear. I have been finding myself in a place where I wanted to quit but as a single mom I can't. I would so enjoy the Gobible Voyager. I would give the second pack to my dearest friend who just had her third baby.
That was the devotional that I NEEDED to read. I want to quit mommy hood right now, BUT as a single mom I can't. Anyways, I would totally enjoy the Gobible Voyager. I would give the second pack to my dearest friend who just had her third baby.
Voyager in NIV would be wonderful. I would share with one of my Bible Study friends. Thank you for the encouragement. It is a challenge being a parent – many days. Support and encouragement from P31 goes a long way! [email protected]
God is so amazing. I have a friend who wad just saying she feels like giving up. And today's devotion was exactly what she needed. So I forwarded it on to her. I would like either Bible. I'm simple but either would be great. I would give my friend the other one so when she feels like giving up she can pull it out and see where God guides her
Thank you so much for this encouraging devotion! There have been so many times where I wanted to give up on being a Mom! It is so hard! I have 2 children with type 2 diabetes, so there are the challenges of raising 2 girls along with a challenging medical condition. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
I would love the Go Bible Voyager. And I would give the second pack to my friend Mary. -Kathy
Hi Renee, I had never heard of the goBible before. It sounds like a great idea! I love to connect with God while sitting and reading my Bible, but at times I lose track of time(now that my kids are in school and I finally feel like I have some uninteruped quiet time to spend with Him)but then my housework doesn't get done! It would be great to be able to move around the house, doing my work and still be able to spend time hearing the word. I would enjoy using the goBible voyager in the NKJV as well as one in the NIV for my friend who is a new Christian, mom of two. She shared with me that she has tried to commit suicide three times, the last time, just a few days before joining our Small Group Bible study.
She has polio and has recently started a new job. She loves listening to music while she commutes and I think she would also really benefit from filling her mind with God's word to help her grow in Him. My email is [email protected] I really can relate to your post about wanting to quit some days and not believing satan's lies. Thankyou! Tamara
Just last week I wanted to quit. I didn't wanna be "the mom" anymore. Some things have happened recently and it has made me question my ability as a mom. Your devotion is exactly what I needed. I pray about being a good mom, but I guess that I haven't really surrendered it all to God. I have even been trying to find ways to teach & show my children the love of God, and I still don't feel adaquate. I need all the help I can get to regain confidence in myself.
If I won, I would take whatever. I'm not picky.
And I would probably give the other to my bestie, who often struggles with the same things.
Thank u so much for expressing your feelings and sharing the things that the Lord reveals to u. It has helped me out so many times.
Thank-you, Renee for this devotion today! I am the mom of 3 teenagers, and sometimes I just want to throw my hands up and holler "I QUIT"! Whether it's my oldest who is 19 blowing me off after being asked to do something, my daughter who is 16 having an attitude about what she has chosen to wear that day, or my youngest who is 14, pitching a fit about something small before he walks out the door to catch the bus. There are days that it feels like the same thing different day, and we're all stuck. If I win, I would like the GoBible Original, the other one I would give to my best friend Pam who is the mom to 6(3 boys and 3 girls), she has been a blessing to me since the day that we met almost 10 years ago. Again, thanks so much for this, God bless you. Love in Christ, Elena
Thanks for the devotion! Being a mom can be hard sometimes but it's good to know I'm not doing it alone.
I'd love the GoBible Voyager! And I'd give the second one to my best friend!
What a great way to memorize Scrioture, too!
I forgot to add that I would give the 2nd gift pack to my best friend in the whole world. She has been an encouragment to me and always with a kind word or prayer!
Thank you so much for that awesome devotion. God really spoke to my heart with your words. I was wanting to give up on being a Mom! THrough your devotion I realized that it isn't about me and God has a bigger purpose for my life. I would chose the GOBible Voyager, because I stillhave a lot left to learn from God's Word. Thank again for the words of encouragement!
I have always thought of myself as the official wiper, but I love this new perspective! I WANT TO BE A GOLD-MINING MOMMY!
I could really use the Character Chart to reinforce and remind me to look for the golden character traits in not only my girls, but everyone I come in contact with. If I win, I'll share with the birth-mother of our 3 yr. old adopted daughter who is raising her birth sister.
Trying to focus on the positive when my first born was a toddler, I initiated a "Catch You Being Good" program where I would surprise her with a little gift when I "caught" her being good, but that system falls way short, for many reasons, compared to your idea. The more dirt I can dig through the more opportunity to find gold… Just IMAGINE…. finding gold every day!
Thank you Renee for this great post, now I not only have a new job title but a whole new mission statement.
According to Solomon, it is a gift from God to find joy in our monotonous labor, even toilsome wiping, and I'm so excited by the prospect of looking for gold while I'm wiping!
May God continue to pour out His blessings of wisdom on you so that you can continue to encourage us the way you so graciously do!
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This devotion was so timely in my life as a mom to 3 little ones. I have renewed strength to focus on my kids' hearts more than their habits! I would love the GoBible Original. I would give the second to a precious Christ-loving friend, also a mom of 3, whose husband will be leaving for Afghanistan, again, this coming year. God's best blessings to you! Rebecca L.
I loved reading the devotional and follow-up blog post. It has inspired me to do more gold-mining with my daughter. I would love to have any of the GoBibles, but the Voyager would be my number one choice. The second set would go to a friend of mine who has 2 preschoolers and is a stay-at-home mom who could use some encouragement and her-time! My e-mail is [email protected]. Thanks! Lauren
Just discovered your blog through Proverbs 31 ministries and am definitely book-marking it. I can't wait to share some of your stories with my volunteer team at church.
I would love the Original GoBible, and would pass along the 2nd one to a good friend that just took a job in ministry. I think they would be a wonderful resource tool for each of us. Thank you!
I thank God for His timing and truth in this devotion. I am starting a study for a group of mom's that meet at the YMCA. The book we will be studying is The Ministry of Motherhood. These gifts will be a blessing for any mother. If chosen I would like to gift the GoBible Voyagers to whom the Lord leads.
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Thank you from a motther of three preschoolers. There are many days I wished I could give up. Thank you for the incouragement.
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How refreshing to hear a mom utter those words out loud!! I love it! I would share mine with my sister in law who is a new mom of twin boys and bit overwhelmed! 🙂 I would be happy with any of the fantastic GoBibles!! Thank you!