Sunday, January 5, 2014

Am I preparing my Children for Jesus?

We've all heard the story of the boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish. (John 6:1-13) Today I heard that story again but unlike I had ever heard it before. First I have to say how much I absolutely love our Sunday school teacher. Every Sunday I leave encouraged, challenged, and deep in thought, and this morning was no exception. I am always so inspired by the way he studies the scriptures and with the humbleness he teaches. This morning the Lord used him through the message to speak to this Momma's heart. As we read through this familiar story once again he brought to attention the little boys Mother in this story. This Mother's name was never mentioned and yet she really was one of the unsung hero's in the story that day. This Mother packed her son's lunch so that he could stay and listen to the teachings of Jesus. Little did she know that simple lunch she packed would be part of a huge miracle. Without even knowing she prepared her son for his time with Jesus and allowed him to witness one of His great miracles. 

Talk about being convicted.....I couldn't help but ask myself what am I doing as a Mother to prepare my children for Jesus? There is no higher calling than that of a wife and mother and I pray that I will always embrace that high calling of Motherhood. I want to truly cherish every single moment I have with my children. I pray they see Jesus in me as I spend my days preparing their little hearts and lives for Jesus! I want to continue to ask myself daily, what am I as a Mother preparing our children for today? I hope the answer will always be.....Jesus!

I love, love, love this article written by another blogging Momma. I hope it will be a blessing to you Momma's like it was to me. 

“I can’t get anything done!” I lament, as the kids make their happy noises and leave sweet tokens of their presence all throughout the house. “I will never catch up!” 
This is a familiar scene at my house--is it at yours as well? Mom is exhausted and frustrated at the two steps she takes forward, just to take one step back...in housecleaning, in laundry, in potty-training, in correction and discipline, in kitchen clean up...it just feels never-ending. 
In the midst of one of my complain-sessions recently, I recognized the error in my assessment of getting things done: What am I so in a rush to get done for? What is the important stuff that I think I’m really supposed to be accomplishing that being a wife and mother is seemingly keeping me from? By my actions and attitude, it would appear that I have been charged with greater uses of my time than caring for my family; that the mundane and repetitive tasks of motherhood and housework are merely obstacles standing in the way of worthier priorities.
Nothing could be further from the truth. 
Motherhood IS my job. Caring for my home IS my privilege. Preparing a place of rest and renewal for my husband IS the important work to be done. There is a deep selfishness in my own heart that idolizes comfort and pride. It is the sin of desiring what I think will make my life grand more than treasuring whatever it is that the Lord has given to me...to do, to care for, to endure, to carry, to count as joy. 
How would our attitude and actions change if we were to recognize that breaking up fights between our children, teaching them about forgiveness of sin, correcting them in love, and then repeating that entire cycle again and again--IS our jobs as mothers! And yet, we tend to want to get them behaving properly once and for all so that we can move on to something more important. We are disappointed and astounded when they are repeatedly sinful, whiny, impatient, or lacking self-control, when it’s for these very sins that God made you specifically to be your child’s mother. How humbling it is when I consider this reality and compare it to the attitude of my heart.
Would we do dishes, fold laundry, or train up our children with a different attitude if it were Christ we were serving? Wouldn’t it seem foolish to complain to the Lord about better things we want to do with our lives if He were a guest in our home? No, instead, we would cook and clean with a sense of honor because Christ is residing there. Friends, He does reside in our homes and in our families. We serve Christ when we serve our families!
Being a wife and mother is not glamorous. It is not looked upon with honor in our culture. It is not always immediately rewarded. It is NOT EASY. Being a wife and mother is, however, a high calling. It brings honor to God, and it bears eternal value.  He’s equipped us for any and all things He calls us to. It is through Him and for Him that we do all things!
Today, if you’ve been given the high-calling of mother and wife, I encourage you--as I preach the same to my own heart--to embrace the work with joy, with purpose, and with value. Be here, in the now. There is nowhere more important to be; there’s nothing more important to accomplish." -Gracelaced

Cherishing these Moments...

6 comments:

  1. I love this! I have missed you blogging! So glad you are back! :)

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  2. This is my goal for the year. Less multi tasking, more just being. Less feeling overwhelmed by motherhood and being a wife and more living in Grace and enjoying the calling God has given me for this season of my life!

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  3. Sweet, sweet words - and so inspiring this Monday morning! ps. I'm intrigued to know which Sunday School class you are in? Justin and I are thinking about trying out a few others.

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  4. Love this! Something for us all to remember.

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  5. This blog post hit me today. As I read the Bible to my children this morning, my 8 year old said, "but this isn't how the movie shows it". I realized that I am giving my children a disadvantage by not giving them the full story. There is nothing wrong with Bible stories told to young children via a DVD sometimes. But, I never thought to come along side them, after it was over, and (as Paul Harvey would say) give them the rest of the story. I won't make that mistake again. My job is to prepare them to be men of God, not just boys. They have both committed their lives to Christ, but our jobs as their Mom and Dad are not over. We must prepare them for Christ as we never know where they will meet Him, or how He will present the need to know Him in their lives. Such a good reminder today. Thank you for your gentle words.

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