I’m sure everyone knows today is Mother’s Day. I’ve read my fair share of poems, quotes, quips and stories, as I’m sure most of you have as well. As one who has Angel Babies waiting for her in heaven, here is one of my new favorite poems. It not only touched my heart, but validated some of the pain I feel inside.
As a flawed mother and wife, I often need some scriptures that encourage me not only in my daily walk, but in my journey as a wife and mother. So, today I share some of those with you, my fellow wives, mothers, future wives and mothers and daughters of the King!
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Even on those days that never seem to end, isn’t it wonderful to know we can go to our Heavenly Father for spiritual refreshment and rest.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
I Peter 5:7
Ever have one of those days? Everyone’s running behind, bickering started earlier than usual, stress and tension levels are rising. It’s all you can do not to lash out at the kids or your husband. That’s when you need to take a moment to pray and release everything to the Lord. No matter how large or small it may seem to you, it matters to Him. Give him your worries and anxiety and in turn, you will be filled with peace. A peace that only He can provide.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7
Oh how true this is for me! I can become so consumed with my outward appearance that I neglect what is really important – the condition of my heart. I used to be a very thin person, but my first child did a number on me. I have never lost the baby weight from him. It is so much harder to get rid of it than put it on. Although I am beginning my journey to “healthy”, I still have a difficult time looking at myself in the mirror. I am not happy with myself on the outside. As much as God wants my body to be healthy, it is so much more important that my heart and soul be healthy. I must learn to see myself through God’s eyes.
“[Love] is not self-seeking.”
I Corinthians 13:5
In the “love” chapter, love is described as a lot of things. One of the most important is that it is “not self-seeking.” Simply put, we are to place others and their needs above our own. If you’re a wife or a mother, you most likely know this truth all too well. But, we are human and we all have those crazy, busy days, weeks or even months! Take heart!! God truly cares about those days and wants to give you refreshment in those times as well. Simply ask Him to help you appreciate those crazy, busy days because soon they will be gone and you’ll wish you had them back – even if just for a moment.
“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
I John 3:18
How often do we tell our children and husbands that we love them? For most of us, we probably tell them every day at the very least. But do we show them? It’s so easy to say, “I love you” to our spouse and children, but our actions speak much louder than our words. I want to encourage you (and myself) to show our family that we love them. We need to show them daily. It is vital to our relationship with our children and our spouse that we show them how we feel.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Proverbs 1:7
With four kids in the house there’s bound to be some drama. Right now, most of our drama comes from the tiny word, “No!” When my 2 and 3 yr olds hear me say “no” to them they are not happy campers. But, it is so important to set those boundaries and rules and stick by them. As painful as it may be to them right now, it is for their own good in the long run. Our children live in the “now” without regard to the future. Therefore, it is our job to help them live in the future and take care of them. And sometimes that involves a “no”. Ask God to help you make wise decisions for each child and He will not disappoint.
“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”
Proverbs 13:24
This verse was given to me several years ago during a parenting class. It is posted on my refrigerator as a reminder. I don’t know about you, but I often find it difficult to discipline my children when my discipline doesn’t seem to sink in. It can be exhausting when your day consists of “don’t hit,” “don’t climb on that,” “don’t sit on your sister” and the list goes on and on. I have recently begun asking the Lord for his guidance in the area of discipline. I know I have a lot of flaws that need to be exposed and corrected (this is not the fun part of parenting). But, I also know that if I do nothing in the way of discipline, my children may likely rebel against their Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father has given us numerous examples of discipline in the Old and New Testament. Begin reading the Bible and ask God to reveal to you his ways of discipline and see what a difference it makes in your children.
“But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”
Luke5:16NASB
Moms tend to be very hard on themselves. We can be very nit-picky about our flaws and mistakes. We put ourselves down if we’re behind on the laundry or didn’t get dinner made one night. It’s difficult for us to admit that we’re not Super Mom and we don’t have it all together. We’d like to be the “perfect” Mom that has her kids with her at all times as they walk together in a line through the grocery store. They have manners and are incredibly obedient. But, frankly those Mom’s don’t exist! Sometimes I find myself going into “meltdown mode” and I know that I could blow at any moment. That’s when I walk away from the situation and ask God to give me strength, guidance and most of all…patience. Sometimes I just go to the bathroom and cry. I am at my wits-end and I don’t want to lash out at my children – so a good cry is just what I need. In that brief moment of silence, I ask God to refresh me, fill me back up so that I may continue caring for my kids in a manner pleasing to Him. Don’t be afraid to remove yourself from a situation to be refreshed and replenished. Even Jesus took time out for prayer and communion with his Heavenly Father.
I pray this Mother’s Day you will take time for yourself. Take 30 minutes or an hour (while the kids are napping is a great time) to praise God for the blessings in your life. Thank Him for entrusting these tiny little ones to your care. Ask Him to help you discipline your child(ren) effectively. Thank Him for always being there to guide you and direct you in motherhood and life.
Happy Mother’s Day!!!!!
Blessings,
Annette