“Motherhood is…the biggest on-the-job training program in existence today.”
-Erma Bombeck
As a parent, sometimes it can feel like you are just out there on the edge with no way to know if you’re doing things right. But God has given us a manual for parenting in His Word!
There’s no such thing as a perfect person or parent for that matter, but God’s Word tells us that though the righteous fall seven times-they get back up.
Here are six principles from God’s Word that smart moms know:
1) Raising kids involves sacrifice.
In John 10:10, Jesus tells us He wants us to have a “rich and satisfying life.” How do you get that satisfying life? He explains that in the next few verses.
John 10:11- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
Further, He explains that when trouble comes, the “hired hand” doesn’t protect like the shepherd- he’ll run away because he’s only in it for what he can get out of it.
If you get married only for what you can get out of it, you’re eventually going to hate that marriage and if you have kids only for what you think they can give to you instead of what you can do for them- you’ll hate being a parent too.
God made humans for one thing-service. We were designed to serve. Jesus said that if you want to be great in my kingdom- become the servant of all and I’ve never seen anyone serve the way that mothers do.
Smart moms don’t get weary in well doing. The moment we stop serving we begin to think we’re owed something. Be encouraged because God thinks highly of those who serve.
2) Daily planning is a way of life.
Proverbs 29:18– Where there is no vision, the people perish…
If there is one thing smart moms have to have it’s a plan. She has to know whats for breakfast, who’s got lunch, where soccer practice is, when the dance recital begins and everything else in between.
Moms know everything. They know if their kids haven’t brushed their teeth or changed their underwear. They’re constantly taking in and giving information.
It can seem overwhelming at times with so many people relying on you in your household—but God says to ask Him and He’ll give you wisdom and show you things you need to know.
(James 1:5, Jeremiah 33:3)
3) Learn to be flexible.
In Luke 2:52, we read how Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and men.
Like Jesus, we too are to grow.
Women know things don’t stay the same- they know they’ve got to stay flexible. Men don’t always like flexiblity— they like things the same. Smart moms know things will change, they are constantly dealing with children growing out of clothes and grades,etc.
Men like stability. They like to drink out of the same cup, sit in the same chair and eat the same food, but moms know things don’t stay status quo-you have to roll with the punches.
They know you have to keep moving up the food chain to provide for growing needs. One day early in our marriage my wife and I were fighting about money and she said, ” Joe you’re trying to squeeze blood from a turnip,” and she clarified—”that’s not your job—that’s my job. Your job is to plant more turnips.”
At the time, I needed to be reminded of that- but that’s something that smart moms know- they never settle in, they’re always moving forward.
4) Encourage kids to dream big.
Ephesians 3:20– Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
Smart Moms have big dreams for their kids. A few years into our marriage my wife and I were talking about our future. She thought all of our kids needed to go to college.
I asked her how we were going to pay for that and she said, “write a check or find some scholarship money.”
I remember thinking,” Man, I better get busy.” That was before we ever had children and long story short we’ve got four completed, two nearly finished with their degrees and one working on her doctorate.
That was a huge dream and praise God we’re almost to the finish line.
Sometimes dad’s get nervous because we are counting the dollars and pennies, but smart moms don’t settle. They dream big and encourage their kids to do the same.
Our kids are watching us. When we dream big we teach them to do that also. We teach them to have faith and believe for big things; we teach them to rely on God.
We teach not just by words, but by example.
5) Help kids avoid bad company
Proverbs 13:20– Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Smart moms know something about their kid’s social life. There are more scriptures on friends than on the subject of hell – that’s because friends can take you there.
Smart moms ask a million questions- where are you, who are you with, and where are you going,etc. They stay involved. Life gets busy and the older kids get the tougher it can be, but it’s important.
The #1 way the enemy will try to take our children out is through their social life.
Thank God moms, that you do what you do. Children need that guidance more at 18 than they ever did at 12 and 5. Just because they leave for college doesn’t mean they still don’t need that guidance.
Keep talking, keep that relationship open with them.
6) Never give up.
Psalm 34:11– Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
The last thing smart moms do is have eternal hope. I don’t care if their children are in prison in a hopeless situation- smart moms have faith in God’s Word. Call those things that be not as though they are (Romans 4:17). God can forgive and restore someone in a moment of time. Moms, don’t ever give up.
There’s a great old song by Jerry Zirkle that says, “no matter what the circumstances, what I feel or see the Word is working mightily in me.”
That’s a great line- no matter what the circumstance looks like- no matter what we feel or how it looks, God’s Word is true and it works!
Don’t grow weary in well-doing. When it looks like your work as a mom is not producing anything- don’t be discouraged. The Word that you plant in your children is like a seed and it will bear fruit in due season.
No matter the circumstance, the smart mom doesn’t give up on her children. She knows God hears and answers her prayers.
The greatest thing you’ll every pray for your children is from Psalm 34:11– that God would teach your children the fear of the Lord for that is the beginning of ALL wisdom (and wisdom is the No.1 thing we need for life Proverbs 4:7)
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