It is hard being a mom
“Discipline is essential in the home; but not unnecessary rules and regulations and endless petty correction by which children are discouraged.” - Francis Foulkes
“Parents can be so exacting, so demanding, or so severe that they create within their children the feeling that it is impossible for them to please.” - Curtis Vaughan
“If children are exhorted to render obedience, parents, are urged not to irritate their children by being so unreasonable in their demands that the children lose heart and come to think that is useless trying to please their parents.” - F.F. Bruce
Obviously, the Lord is really trying to get my attention. I typed this up last night and it got deleted. I didn’t save it, so here I am typing it again. Yesterday was a real challenge for me. It seems like almost all my days have been challenging here lately. Please pray for me as I think about the scripture and quotes above. My relationship with my son has not been bringing glory to God. I have been sinning BIG time against the very ones God has given me to serve. I believe I may be provoking my child to anger frequently. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” I have not been loving Tyler as God loves him. I have not been setting a good example. I remember someone saying once that a lot of times when we become angry it is because our child’s disobedience is inconveniencing us. We have an agenda and they are keeping us from accomplishing it. This is selfishness. Maybe it is not even disobedience. Maybe it is just our child needing extra help with school work which requires more time from us. All too often, I do not have a gentle answer, but a harsh one that stirs up anger. I know this is triggering an angry response in Tyler. I don’t want Tyler to think that I constantly disapprove of him. I don’t want him to think that I am only aware of his sins. Pray that I can look for evidences of grace in the same way I look for evidences of indwelling sin. I need a change of heart so I can relate to him on the basis of God’s grace and mercy and not sinless perfection. I want Tyler to see and feel that I have great affection for him and that I really do desire his good and happiness. Pray that I will enjoy my time with him. It takes a lot of work and energy to encourage and I am not good at it. I need God’s help desperately! I cannot do it without him. I feel like I will never get it right, like it will never get better - a lot. I feel like giving up. This is where I was yesterday. I did not want to find comfort in my God, but wanted to stay in my pity party. I didn’t want to ask for forgiveness. I started spiraling down hill fast. My thoughts got out of control fast. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t treat us as He should? He loves us the same yesterday, today, and forever! He is unchanging. WOW! I appreciate your friendship and prayers.
(I am trying to get that Casting Crowns song up, but computers hate me. When I figure out how to outsmart the computer, you will be able to hear it).
Thanks for sharing your struggles Christine. Many times when I read over God’s promises, I do just that. read over them. I have to stop and take time to ASK God to grant me faith to believe those promises. It is not until we humble ourselves before Him, that he imparts upon us His grace. The mark of a christian Christine is one who endures and runs the race. keep working hard at it and God will faithfully reward you, I know it!
Christine, I have been and am still praying for you that God would give you grace and stength to get through your trying days! May He fill you with all the joys of being a mother in this difficult season!
Habakkuk 3:18-19-“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength!
Candace
There may be days when you feel like someone could do the job of raising Tyler better, but remember that God gave you special grace to raise your boys that no one else has for them. Remember that we can’t do it on our own, but God loves to help his children. Love ya and continuing to pray for you.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
-Lana-
Dear Christine,
I just read all your blog postings. I was so blessed to witness your humility and obvious desire to seek after the Lord. One of my favorite things about you is your desire to “give it your all” in anything you undertake. So glad we did the Spiritual Disciplines book, it sounds like your reading has sown much into your spirit and much fruit is abounding. Don’t let your difficult times with homeschooling fool you. The Lord is using these trials to make you into His image and though it is painful it will be worth the temporary discomfort. Shaping those two boys is the work of a lifetime and of the Holy Spirit. YOU are the instrument in the Lord’s hands that He is using to do much of the work. I love you. You are the greatest. Love Mom
first, yay for having a blog
second, it was so good to see you yesterday. good luck with the gate on Saturday. I’ll be praying for you and know you will do incredibly.
third, jenn268@gmail.com or jenn4777@ufl.edu
and last, your humility in this post is a beautiful thing. Thank you for sharing what the Lord is teaching you through all of this. Did you go to the session Brent Detwiler did at Celebration North on parenting and obedience? It was the optional one, targeted at teends mostly. But of course, there were solid truths that can be applied to all of our lives. If you can find it, I think it would be of encouragement to you
jenn