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 sharing your post. As a mother of 4 small children there are times when I have thought wow I am not cut out or this. And The holy spirit then feels me with peace and whispers into my heart that GOd wouldn't give me more than I can handle and when times get tough I pray for Gods help and peace. I can say that I went threw hard times about filling overwhelmed But one thing I remind myself is how honored I am that God trusted me to raise these 4children because they ultimately belong to him. My children have their days and I can say I have mine but growing Christ I have learned he is just a call away. I can say I give him all the glory because it is threw him and his help that I am the mother that I am. I would really love to win the voyager audio bible seems so helpful. I would give the second one to my mother because since I stay at home and not make any money I'm not able to do much for my mother and I really want to bless her. I would give her the gift to say thank you to her for as a small child giving me the best gift which was the gift of salvation and directing on the path to having a relationship with my heavenly father. Thank you so much and God bless you and your family.
Oh I would love this so much, I have never seen one of these before, how neat. The Original one would be fine. I am so worn down, I am a Mom to 5 kiddos ages 11 to 4 and my husband is on his 4th deployment right now. Some days I seriously have NOTHING left to give and have been trying to turn it all to God. I have turned in my pink slip so many times now. Then the Mom guilt eats you alive. Thank you for the devotion on this. Also, I would give it to my friend Teresa who is a fellow military wife with 7 kiddos. We help each other through rough times.
Renee, what a great devotion. Thank you for your honesty. It has encouarged me! There have been many a day that I wanted to hand in my own pink slip. Only because I have been trying to do it all, instead of letting God work through me to do. The last couple of days God has been bringng Scripture to me that is reminding me to surrender and stop trying to be Him.
I would like the voyager and I would surprise someone with it!
I am the mom of two young boys (4 & 2). They are incredibly busy, energetic boys.I love them but I have actually been ready to quit many days. Your devotion was a much needed reminder to me that I haven't been praying like I should about being a mom. Thank you so much for this devotion. I like the GoBible Voyager best. I would share mine with my sister who is a mom of a toddler as well. She is the greatest about praying for me and we can talk about the ups and downs of mommy hood:) Thanks for such an awesome giveaway.
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I really needed this devotion this morning. This is my second week back to work after having my 3rd child. It's been rough getting everyone ready and out the door. I like the GoBible Original – I think the bible stories are neat and we could listen to them in the car as I try to get everyone to there correct place in the mornings.
Thank you for your sharing your insight. It was just what I needed. When my kids were toddlers, I was physically exhausted, now my two oldest ones are teens with my two younger ones coming up behind them and I am emotionally and physically exhausted. I feel like I mined for dirt with the two older ones all those years but maybe I can start mining for gold with my younger ones. My teens will benefit as well. It is so true I have to believe what God says about me and who I am in Him first b4 I can reflect that to my children. I pray God will help me to be more purposeful in the years I have left. I would love to give your resources and the original or whichever go bible (NIV) to my friend who is homeschooling mom of 5, 4 of whom are foster kids she adopted. Her kids are young with one sweet sweet 13 yr old who just loves being in a stable home.
I would like the GoBible Voyager and I'd give the second pack to my sister in law who just recently got guardianship of three beautiful children (18months, 6yrs & 7 yrs old). She and her husband have tried for years and have not been able to get pregnant. A family member knew of a lady who was going to prison and had nowhere for her three children to go, so she thought of my sister in law and they welcomed the children with open arms. Although it is an answered prayer, it is often very trying and exhausting for them. From none to 3 lively children! Lots of adjusting and training. This will be her first Mother's Day and she is truly thrilled to be a mother and is enjoying God's blessings.
Thank you for your devotional. I have had days like that a lot. I have 2 kids, one 7 and one who is 4. My 4 year old is very very strong willed and most nights feel like a war. I work outside of the home til 630, my husband leaves by 530, by time I get home and make dinner it's time to get kids in bed and all they wanna do is spend more time with mommy. I would love to win the goBible any version. If I won I would give the second one to my cousin who has 2 older children that are very active in after school activities. My cousin is active in her kid's school and is always on the go so I'm sure she would also love receiving this.
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Renee, I so needed this today. Lately, I have not been a very good mommy and have been questioning why I chose to become one. I have seriously thought about quitting as well. Not that I would, but it is so hard! I don't think I have ever done anything this hard. Raising a 6, 3, and a 1 year old is a task. Just getting out the door so I am not late for work in the morning is nearly impossible! We do have good mornings, but there are the ones that just get to me and all I want to do is sit in a corner and cry. I need a plan and I need help getting that plan! If I were to win, I would give the second copy to my friend Angie and for the GoBible, I love a good surprise. Thank you Renee!
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Wow, your devotion today was exactly what I needed and was definitely a "God thing" for me. I am a working mom of two and many days are tough and I seek strength, patience and grace from God so that I might handle these difficult tines well. I fail quite often. I would love to win your gift pack and although Id love any goBible, if I had to choose I'd pick the Traveler. I'd love the opportunity to give the second gift to a mother of five whose husband died in a car accident recently. Times are very hard for her and made harder since she is legally blind and at least one of her children has special needs. Our church is reaching out daily to help in many ways. My email is [email protected]. Thank you again for your encouragement today. Holly Johnson
The Go Bible Voyager looks fantastic! I would love to share the second one with my mom. She has adopted young kids in recent years, so we are both going through this together.
Thanks so much!
Becky [email protected]
Great devotional today. I would pick the NIV version of the Voyager GoBible. Who wouldn't love the extra features. I would give the second one to a single mom in my bible study. She's a student and full time mom of three.
This is great! I would love the voyager Go Bible. I would definitely give the second one to my mom. She and I are both raising young kids and I know we would both benefit from this!
Thanks so much!
Thank you so much, Renee! I needed to hear that today. I have a son, 9 and a daughter, 5. This is the hardest job I've ever had but the most fulfilling and rewarding, all at the same time. God is so gracious and even when I mess up He gives me the strength to say I'm sorry – which is very difficult to admit to a 9 year old who has always thought he knew everything anyway. 🙂
I would love to win the Voyager GoBible. I had never heard of them before. I'd give the other one to my sister, Tracy. I've seen Christ work in her life over the past few years and I really think she would love one.
Thanks again, Renee, for all you and Proverbs 31 Ministries do!
Kristi
Thanks Renee. I am a mother of twin toddlers and there are days I want to quit. 🙂 I'm glad to know there are other Christians with the same "Mommy" struggles. Your devotional is just what I needed this morning after dealing with a tantrum first thing. To be honest, I probably would not use any of the GoBibles as I am not too much into technology, and prefer to read the Bible as I am more of a visual learner and need to see it to absorb it. However, I would pass on one to a friend who has been struggling of late and listens a lot to the Christian station and the other to my sister who has been growing spiritually. Thanks for listening to God and sharing what you have learned. Rachel. ([email protected])
An awesome tool! I'd love the GoBible Voyager. I struggle daily with feeling inadequate as a mom – I'm an older mom and patience wears thin quickly then I feel so bad for not showing the characteriscs I want her to have. As far as a gift – I would give to my friend Jennifer – she has two young daughters and her husband's job keeps him away quite often.
Thank you so much for your insights and guidance.
Thank you for the words of encouragement. My little toddler is now a teenager and the feelings of quitting have changed but still rear their ugly head! There are moments in the day that I think my 3 blessings would give me a pink slip but thankful that I KNOW the one that is really in charge!!!!
I would give the goBible Voyager to my neighbor who will be having her 4th child any day now. I think she would need it more then I would. I would keep the other second pack. Your words are very encouraging to me as a mother of 4 and a home school mom. There are many days that I wanted to quit but the Lord has been there for me everytime. – Kimberly
Ever since I found EFT several months back, the daily devotions have helped give me the courage and inspiration I have needed daily. My husband and I are recently adoptive parents to a beautiful daughter and son. And most recently have taken my father in due to major illness. My days are filled with appointments for everyone else but myself. But when I log on most every morning I go to EFT first. Today's really hit me, helping to encourage me that God does have another plan for me, being a new parent, especially to 2 special needs children which require more daily maintenance than I had ever imagined. Thanks so much for the encouragement.
A new mom in Ohio. (P.S. I have a dear sister-in-law that I would give the second gift pack to) ([email protected])
Ireally enjoy your Proverbs 31 Ministery,it has helped me in soo many ways.Not only do I enjoy it I share with my family and friends! If you were to choose me for the GoBible Voyager I know it would inhance my Spritual growth. I can take it everywhere I go, I have a friend she is really going through tuff times right now, depression is trying to set in and I do all I can to keep her ecouraged in GOD'S word!I know that the GoBible Voyager would really help her especially when the enemy comes to her thoughts she can just pick it up and it help her stay focused and realize whatever we are going through we can find it in the WORD of GOD. I know as well as myself this would be a great ministering tool for us both|! Thank you again for the Ministery you have and may GOD continue to bless you in it!