With so many sources of information and mis-information, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and insufficient. There is no area of our lives where we are as vulnerable as in our mothering.
We have had years of instruction in most other areas of life, but rarely any formal training in parenting. We may have had some classes in birthing, but what about after that screaming bundle of needs is in our arms? We are usually pretty much left on our own to discover how to be a mom.
Our culture is more child-centered than when our parents were raising us. We feel more pressured to do everything right. We live with the fear that no matter how our child turns out, all his flaws will be our fault. We don’t want to hear the criticism, so we strive to be “perfect.”
Add to this, the experience we had in our own home growing up. If it was good, we want to copy that and find, to our frustration, it isn’t possible in our fast-paced world. If it was not good, we try to do the opposite and often find ourselves repeating the faults or erring to the other extreme.
So we look for reassurance that we are good moms. But is good good enough?
As Christians we have some help.
God was the perfect parent, and look how his first two kids turned out! Being perfect wouldn’t promise our children would be any better than His.
God created the whole universe and everything in it. His commentary about it was, “It is good.” He was satisfied with His creation being good, not great or perfect. So good is good enough.
We are not left on our own to figure out how to parent our own children. God promises that if we ask for wisdom, He will surely give it to us. His wisdom goes beyond what we can see with our eyes to what is in the heart. We only have to ask.
He has the perfect solution for our failures. He promises that if we confess our sins, He will forgive us and cleanse us from unrighteousness. He teaches us to be humble and admit our sins and to make amends wherever possible. So we can confess to our children when we do something wrong and ask their forgiveness, as well as God’s. Children are so forgiving and gracious. And it teaches them how to handle their own failures.
And we can ask God to fill the needs our children have that we are not capable to fill. He has provisions we cannot even imagine!
Remember:
- You are the best mom for your children. No one else could do it better than you. Really!
- You know them best of anyone. Your ‘instincts’ plus God’s prompting will help you know if you should do something differently.
- Share your concerns and your frustrations with another mom. You’ll soon learn you are not alone!
- Your kids will grow out of the ‘stage’ they are in now. They will get past these issues.
- No matter what: pray, pray, pray! God is Faithful and He will answer.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Diane
You want your kids to be honest, fair, caring, and thoughtful of others. Right?
Tension rises! We’re late! Kids dawdle! The phone rings! I stub my toe! We’re late! Move it!
I found Sarah Ann’s web site some years ago and was blessed by what she had written. Sarah gave me permission to reprint this article in this web site.