As a mother (and parent in general) you can find yourself parenting out of fear. Fear that you aren’t doing enough, that you’re doing too much, and fear that you’re doing your job all wrong. But you can’t get caught up in that way of thinking.
Even being a mother of six, it’s easy to wonder if you’ve got this right because each child is different from the next. People laugh when Joe says it, but it’s true that we don’t become a parent because we are the most qualified, however that doesn’t mean we can’t do the job!
1. You are called – and therefore equipped.
You aren’t here by mistake. Don’t worry about “feeling” qualified enough. God will equip you. It’s up to you to seek Him.
…may He equip you with all you need for doing His Will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:21 NLT
This is your number one calling. As mothers, we are to teach our children to KNOW the Word and train our children to DO what it says. That sounds very “spiritual,” but it’s true. Our children are a reward from God and His heritage (Psalm 127:3). They belong to Him. He gave them to us and it’s our responsibility to teach and train them.
This process takes years (parenting is a lifetime commitment), so we can’t get discouraged if one day, one week, etc. doesn’t go well. Remember – God equips those He calls and we are called, so we have what it takes to raise our kids!
2. Your influence in the family is great.
Even though sometimes it seems that no one is listening to you; that is NOT the case. Your work is not in vain. Moms are constantly having to talk, to arrange and to repair, so we can feel like our instructions get ignored, but that’s not the case. We may have to repeat ourselves, but keep at it because the message will get through. Teaching and training our children is like planting a seed and seeds don’t sprout over night. There is a lot of work going on underneath.
Those little “teachable” moments that we have with our kids make a big impression on what they believe, how they think and how they act. Keep teaching and training. When we plant that seed of God’s Word, we WILL see a result.
Beyond our words, our actions are part of our influence. We don’t have to be perfect to be a good example for our kids. As moms, we will mess up, we will make a wrong call at times, but when we set the example by getting back up, repenting and moving forward we are teaching our children even then.
3. A little ME time is good. Schedule it.
It’s important for moms to recharge their batteries at times, for the benefit of everyone. If we aren’t taking care of ourselves, we can’t take proper care of our families.
No one is going to schedule this for you. You need to schedule time to be alone or with others (whichever helps you most). We also have to make sure we schedule time alone with our spouse. Our marriage will be better for the time we put into that relationship. Marriage is forever, children are passing through. One of the greatest things we can do for our kids is to keep our relationship with our husbands healthy and strong.
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Denise McGee was a wife, mother, and minister. She raised six children with her husband of 45 years, Joe McGee and they made their home in Tulsa, OK.
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NEW RESOURCE JUST FOR MOMS
As a mom, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the daily grind, get worried that you aren’t doing anything right, and start to believe that you’ll never measure up to expectations (your own or other people’s).
SMART MOMS don’t let their feelings and the opinions of others determine their value or how successful they are as a parent. They know that God’s opinion is what matters and they look to His Word as their guide for parenting success.
This series will help you find answers to your toughest parenting questions and encourage you past your frustrations, as you are equipped through God’s Word, to continue to grow as a mother.
OUR MOTHER’S DAY GIFT TO YOU…
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