Grocery Store.
Doctor's Offices
Playgrounds.
Restaurants.
We stand looking into their little faces and wonder, "Who ARE you? And where are MY children?"
The ugly cries.
The demanding voices.
The defiant responses.
The bright red crawls up our necks and faces. We wonder what others of thinking of us. At worst they are thinking we are horrible mothers, at best they pity us.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (Col. 3:12)
Nothing teaches your mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering more than a tantrum in the check-out line.
Can I say something I need to hear?
Embrace those moments. They are changing you. Those little day-to-day moments bring you closer to who God wants you to be.
When I brought my little guy home for the first time, I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with exhaustion, overwhelmed with the pressure of caring for a little one, and overwhelmed with joy. When I began that journey six years ago, I did not picture myself here - in the midst of chaos, crumbs, contentment, confusion, and Christ-likeness.
Can I say something I need to hear?
Embrace those moments. They are changing you. Those little day-to-day moments bring you closer to who God wants you to be.
Motherhood is a journey toward Christ-likeness.
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful....And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." (Col. 3:12-15, 23)
We love that last part: whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord. We cannot miss the context. This passage is teaching us how to react in family relationships. In verses 18-23 Paul speaks about how wives, husbands, and children are to treat one another. Our family relationships are there to honor God - not men (or ourselves).
I want well-behaved children in public to make ME look good. Do you know what God wants me to look like? Him. God is more concerned with our Christ-likeness. God is more concerned that we reflect who HE is than who we think WE are. These family relationships are to change us from the inside out to be more like Christ.
What does this list look like?
Mercy.
Kindness.
Humility
Meekness
Longsuffering
Forgiving
Love
Peace
The fruits of the spirit! (Gal. 5:22-23) As we daily, sometimes hourly, put on these things we slowly but surely become to look like Christ.
Instead of punishing, extend mercy.
Instead of a harsh, terse word, speak kindness.
Instead of a proud (I'm always right because I'm your mother) attitude, be humble.
Instead of yelling, use meekness.
Instead of sighing, be longsuffering (patient).
Instead of bitterness, forgive.
Instead of anger, love.
Instead of stress, live in peace.
Motherhood is a journey toward Christ-likeness.
Notice I said "journey." Motherhood is a living breathing thing. We are constantly changing with our children. I am not the mother I was six years ago on that day in May when I brought my baby home. I will not be this mother (today) this time next year. God is ever-changing me. Hopefully, I am changing to look more like Him!
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