Thursday, August 12, 2010

I Define God to My Kids

I have been washed, wrung, and hung out to dry with something that I was re-taught last night.

I DEFINE GOD TO MY KIDS.

Yesterday, we were at Michael's and I accidentally broke a picture frame. Noah knows that they are not allowed to touch things in the stores because they could break something and then I'd have to buy it and that's not how we want to spend our money, etc. So, when he saw me break the picture frame he said, "Oh no...you broke it Mom. Now you have to do the right things and buy it." Yes, I do and yes, I did. Thankfully, it was only $5.

I DEFINE GOD TO MY KIDS.

Last night at our Growing Kids God's Way class (yes, we are taking it again! Trust me, we need it!), we were reminded that Christianity is not a religion of mediocrity. This is HUGE! We are to do things and do things as unto the Lord, and if you do something for the Lord, you naturally WANT to do it well. Christianity is NOT a religion of MEDIOCRITY. I was reminded of the idea of "good, better, and best." It is good that Noah wants to be a witness for the Lord. He could learn to do it better by speaking with more love. Eventually, he could be the best witness ever because he is unashamed of the gospel. I am a good mom. I could be better. For the sake of my kids, I want to be their best mom ever.

I DEFINE GOD TO MY KIDS.

Love is not RUDE. Be COURTEOUS to all men. Another thing I was reminded of, not just during our GKGW class, but also during my Precept study I did earlier that day. This was meant to be a reminder for us to teach our children good manners. Offer your seat to the elderly. Open the door for people (my boys are awesome at this). Honor age by offering them the first plate of food. All these things are done because love is not rude and God asks us to love our neighbor by being courteous to all men. The problem here for me...is that I am rude to my kids. Ouch. I hate to admit it, but it is true. I am sarcastic at times. I also act as if they are bothering me when they ask for something which is not very courteous. I have a bad habit of ignoring them when they call my name. How can I expect them to trust me in big things, like God and Jesus and His saving grace, if they can't trust me in the little things, like knowing I will answer when they call?

I DEFINE GOD TO MY KIDS.

And let's just be real here. I bake bread, make cookies, make granola bars, wash clothes, clean the house, work out, lead a Sunday School class, attend Bible studies, and make signs. People ask me how I do it. I don't. I am a figment of your imagination. I guarantee you the process of my daily grind is way less glamorous than you have it in your mind. You know what I keep thinking? What does all that matter if I have not love? Some days, I am so over-whelmed, I yell at my kids. I yell at my husband. I crash and burn into bed at 8:05pm because the kids have gone to bed at eight. Some days, I go all day without praying or reading the Bible. The hours between 4 and 8pm are the most daunting for our family. I'm trying to cook dinner while the kids are screaming that they are starving and I'm burning the bread, yet again. Dinner is a yard sale because the kids don't like what I fixed...and by that time, I'm exhausted with being nice and kind and not losing my mind that I make up for the whole day of "nice" Mommy with one explosion. Did I mention that my house is not clean?

I DEFINE GOD TO MY KIDS.

And we are here to define God to the world. My kids will one day define God to the world and the picture I want them to have of God begins with me.

I am in prayer for a young wife who is waiting for a double lung transplant. While talking to Nic about her, I have also been in awe of her mom who is as strong as ever in her faith, but also raised an amazing woman of God. What did she do? What was her secret? What can I learn from her? What do I know of her?

I know she was and is a woman of God. I know she was involved with her kids and their friend's parents. I know she practiced what she preached to her kids. I know she was constantly in prayer for them. I know she earned their respect, honor and trust. I know her children will praise her at the gates.

Will mine? That is my hearts desire, but I could certainly do better on the road to getting there because:

I DEFINE GOD TO MY KIDS.

6 comments:

  1. We all have those days and struggles and I don't know what mom's do when they can't give it to God. I know I would be more of a yelling mom or grumpy a lot more if I did not ask God for strenght, especially when I am tired. I loved your post and good thing that frame was only $5.00!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm amazed right now! It's like holding a mirror in every way. You are awesome and not alone. Seriously it's like you are in my head right now.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This post just gave me chills while reading it! I feel as if I'm right there with you! If we didn't put our trust in God, I don't know what I would do. You are one amazing woman, mother, wife & friend!!! Thanks for writing this post. We all need a reminder sometimes to get back in the right gear & continue to keep trusting in him! <3

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful post! I just loved this. We now have 6 grandies and I feel like I am a model - good & bad & imperfect - to them, an encourager of them to obey their parents, etc., etc. One word of encouragement...after all these years I realize that we do what we can - pray and act - but we are not perfect. God will make up the difference. This is one of the most physically and emotionally demanding times of your life - a time of great rewards and great demands and great frustrations. I have also noticed that God allows us to remember the good and forget the bad. Our children will do that, too. They will remember so many of the good things that even you will forget. You will see them model it with their children. Take heart....None of us is perfect....what matters is that we look for The One to make the difference...take up the slack! Linda

    ReplyDelete
  5. This post is so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this... and inspiring other moms to think about how we reflect God to our children in our daily lives. I just love you Carrie!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful post...so, so, so true!

    ReplyDelete

You're leaving me a comment? I {heart} you. No, really. I do.