A mother’s love is fantastic and bright,
A soothing fire light, escorting us gently,
Urging us firmly to just “be me” and
With every dream that buds,
Trust that we will make it.
There’s no corner
office with my name prominently displayed on the door. The hours are long. Someone else is always first. There are no paycheck bonuses in my
future. There are always unexpected
duties and unscheduled conferences.
Still, motherhood is beautiful, carrying with it indescribable powers
and everyday blessings.
No, my audience
isn’t a million. My audience fits in a
minivan. I’m changing the world right
here in my own home. I’m raising a
family unto the Lord. A woman doesn’t
have to give up her dreams and ambitions for the sake of those in her
life. However, I do believe that her
aspirations should not be to the detriment of her family’s well-being. Climbing the corporate ladder is fine as long
as your children are not made to suffer.
No woman has the right to have children and then not put them first.
The art of
parenting requires balance. Parents are
like gardeners- tending, pruning, nourishing and always cultivating. Breaking
up the soil and diligently removing weeds will create a beautiful garden that
will provide years of enjoyment. Being
kind and gentle, firm yet patient with my children is my goal. My children are precious to me. A person can hold my wallet, car keys and ATM
card with the PIN number before I remove my watchful eyes. Ladies, let’s stop allowing people we barely
know to watch our children. Stop offering
up our babies on the altar of romance, just to have a chance to have a man by
our side. Our children are depending on
us for protection, guidance and love. We
owe our best to our children.
Our children are
fertile ground and they’re looking for somewhere to hang their hearts. Let’s teach them all the things we weren’t
taught. Let’s teach them and actively
show them where to focus their hearts and minds. The world is bound and determined to lead
them astray. The enemy wants to steal
your child and attacks in various ways. That
only means that we have to be that
more vigilant in raising our children.
Parents need to
invest in their child’s spiritual well-being, help them build character and
understand the importance of having integrity.
Children need an investment of our time more than expensive purchases
like laptops, tablets, cell phones and fashion. If our children are truly reflections of who
we are, let’s make sure that they are kind and respectful, fruitful and
creative – not fashion statements. “Train
up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from
it.” Proverbs 22: 6
Disrespect,
unaccountability and a sense of entitlement seem to be a sport with many young
people today. Children are given so
much, but nothing is required of them beyond good grades in school. For some, that’s
not even a requirement. Children are
setting the pace and dictating to their parents what they will and won’t
do. If that’s not putting the cart
before the horse, I don’t know what is. Children
are young and strong, bolstered by friends and a society that tells them they
are free to do as they please, even if that means suing parents who attempt to discipline.
Understandably, parents are frustrated and way past exhausted.
This is not the
time though to fall asleep at the wheel or just throw up our hands. In parenting, there is no room for lazy
attitudes. We don’t help anyone when we
withhold correction. We must be sure to
address issues and redirect any unhealthy behaviors we notice. We can’t keep rewarding disobedience and
disrespect and expect to see lasting improvements or experience the tide
turning. Yes, parents are responsible
for their children, but children also have a responsibility to show appreciation
for the efforts and sacrifices made on their behalf.
Parents, we can’t
be afraid to have our children upset with us.
Saying “no” isn’t going to hurt anybody.
“The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings
shame to his mother” (Proverbs 29:15 NKJV). Children, pulled in so many
directions, are faced with many choices and invitations. Society can be spiritually toxic. With peer pressure, life can be a minefield
for our young people. We have to teach
our children to better navigate tough situations and even manage bad moods.
I have an
idea. Let’s be crazy enough to demand
respect and excellence from our children.
How do we serve them by spoiling them, but not equipping them? They need to know that they can do
better. It should be no secret that we
expect them to do their very best. Our
children should have crystal-clear clarity about what flies in our households
and what gets shut down.
Let’s continue to
speak blessings over our children. Teach
them early to pray and trust our God, who can equip them for every challenge
life brings. Let’s listen to our
children with excitement and an eager heart.
Let’s answer all of their questions like we’re being graded. Let’s continue to affirm good behavior and
right choices. Let’s congratulate them
on successes, praise their strengths and guide them in areas where they are
still learning.
Let’s laugh with
our children and spend time with them whenever we can. Let’s soak them up during their “formative
years.” Let’s do our best to accept
every invitation to color, draw, play a game, watch a movie, or cook a meal
together. Never be too busy to have a look
at an invention, a work of art or literary creation. Enjoy the simplicity of picnics, light-up
shoes, blowing bubbles, gathering leaves and picking fruit at the Farmer’s
Market. Quality time with our children
provides us the opportunity to know who they are, understand what’s important
to them and gain insight into the dreams they have for their lives.
Mothers, we wear a
cape no one sees, rescuing those unaware of impending danger, preparing our
children for their future. Even when a
mother is tired beyond belief and can barely lift her eyelids, she finds the
strength to get the job done. Make sure
you celebrate all the wonderful moments that make you proud to be a
parent. With love, laughter and prayer,
we are building and giving our children all that truly makes one rich, like a
relationship with the Lord, family connections, grateful hearts and eager
spirits willing to serve others. Above
all else, our children are loved and know that they are never a burden. Let’s be
everything for our children, even if no one ever showed up to give us what we
most needed. Let’s nurture the spark in
our children until the embers grow into a flame too big to be extinguished by
this world.
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