Speaking of Motherhood...

In speaking of motherhood, if God has made us mothers and parents, then we are, as our first priority after our marriages, to be the mother and parent. 

We ought to be surprised at how that statement ruffles feathers. But I count it worth it to be thought less of in order to have motherhood thought more highly of; to crack, even just a little, the culturally imposed and self-centered worldview that says, if you have children, motherhood is just one of many equal priorities.

To those already parenting in a way that pleases God and His priorities (not yourself or your priorities), then I encourage you by affirming that your little (or teenage) charges are not born saints. They have the same inherited sin nature as all of us. So when you obey God in your parenting, I am here to implore you to not be dismayed when your children choose a different path. Do not blame yourself every time they decide opposite of the Lord. They must find their way with God just as we did. Continue to model and guide in Christlikeness and longsuffering, in a firm and loving presence. 

And do not let anyone tell you that you are the reason for your child’s waywardness. God will convict where conviction is called for. We do not require help with conviction from strangers, distant relatives, unacquainted church members or “parenting experts.”  

Certainly we can seek Godly input in our parenting, first from our Godly husbands. But Godly input from truly Godly people outside the home is a rare thing indeed. And people outside do not know our child the way we, our husband and God does. 

Parent, be the parent God teaches you to be. And leave the rest in His able hands.

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:19-34