I have in no way arrived in this, but God has been working on something in my heart: "Perfect mom" and "Good mom" are not the same thing. I've been noticing that deep in my heart, when my mistakes and shortcomings slap me in the face, I immediately feel failure.
The enemy has been lying to me, telling me:
*Since I'm not perfect, I must be a failure.
*If it's hard, it must be bad.
*When training my kids is redundant, it's because I'm doing it wrong.
...but here's the truth:
*"Consistent" means OVER AND OVER.
*Shortcuts SEEM easier, but leaning in to the "hard" is well worth it.
*And no parent is perfect, but God fills in the gaps... and when we pour our whole hearts into our children and husband and still have gaps, and the Father fills in for us, HE IS GLORIFIED!
What a mighty God we serve.
The enemy has been lying to me, telling me:
*Since I'm not perfect, I must be a failure.
*If it's hard, it must be bad.
*When training my kids is redundant, it's because I'm doing it wrong.
...but here's the truth:
*"Consistent" means OVER AND OVER.
*Shortcuts SEEM easier, but leaning in to the "hard" is well worth it.
*And no parent is perfect, but God fills in the gaps... and when we pour our whole hearts into our children and husband and still have gaps, and the Father fills in for us, HE IS GLORIFIED!
What a mighty God we serve.
Your words are very true. I look at my kids and I know the Lord has always been compensating for their parents' shortcomings. The other side is that kids are very good at reading hearts when the hearts are open and true. I thank Susan for compensating for my Howardness and helping me let me heart be open and volnerable. Without that I think my kids could be a wreck.
ReplyDeleteAnna, I found your blog through Joy Wiseman.
ReplyDeleteI was just considering writing about a promise- of sorts- that I made while I was pregnant with my son about the whole idea of being a good mom. Now that I've had a chance to read your thoughts, I may just go ahead and write that piece.
Appreciate your writing.
I love that God is so much smarter than us! And that HIS way is ALWAYS the best way! And when the GAPS need filled, they're filled with HIS BEST!
ReplyDeletePraise God, who is the giver of TRUE LIFE - the kind life that we don't just live in, but the kind of life that we can truly THRIVE in.
May you always be filled with the JOY He gives. (c:
Love you, friend!!