Aug 16, 2010

Not "just" a mom Part 1

I am currently reading "The Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson. I truly have been blessed and reminded of the importance of my role as mom. It's so easy to lose sight of the role God gave me in little man's life when I am knee deep in diaper changes, laundry, bed time routines, and exhausted.

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the wellspring of life."  Proverbs 4:23
As adults we have the ability and self-control to watch what we put into our hearts. We can turn the radio station, turn off the TV, and wisely choose our friends. When our children are young they don't have that ability.

Sally words it this way: "When I realized that that my children's hearts were also springs from which their lives flowed, I pictured (my husband) and me as guards standing in front of their hearts to protect them from anything that could soil of poison the waters." Page 94

She gives the example of a gardner planting young trees in their yard. The gardner bound each tree to a strong pole that was placed in the ground. When asked why he did that, he commented that the trees were too young and weak to grow straight in the midst of wind, rain, and snow. They need a guide to support them while they were establishing their roots.

Just like those small trees, our children need protection from outside influences that would threaten their growth.

Sally: "Our children need us to help them have a gift of a pure mind, free not only from violence, immorality, and pornography that is so prevalent in our society but also from the cynicism and hopelessness that pull at so many. They need time to grow their roots in love, innocence, kindness, truth, morality and trust." Page 93

When they are strong enough, they will be able to withstand the influences and forces of life.
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

As moms it our responsibility to guard what TV shows we allow them to watch, what music they listen to, what books they read, and even monitoring their friendships.

Not only do we need to guard their influences but we need to guard our tongue. How I treat my husband is setting the standard for how my children will treat and respect him. And vice versa.


"Her children arise and call her blessed." Proverbs 31:28

"A wise woman builds her home, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1

Your role as mom is more important than you will ever be able to grasp. You are more than just a mom. Don't allow post-modernism, feminism, friends and family to undermine the huge responsibility God has given you. We must be pursuing God daily! Because how we choose to raise our children today will affect future generations.




12 comments:

  1. Excellent post, Monica! I will have to get that book- it seems like an encouraging book!

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  2. Go check out the video I just made and put up on the blog. It goes nicew ith this post!

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  3. YES!!! I have these same thoughts every day! We just watched Pinnochio and I can't believe what I saw. The same childhood stories I grew up with, I am now seeing as dangerous for my kids eyes. Not appropriate. :( I TOTALLY agree with your post. I posted about Pinnochio and got a ton of backlash saying "your gonna have problems in life trying to keep them away from that stuff". argh. I CAN control what they see now and hopefully they can discern later in life...LATER in life when they make their own decisions, to be honoring to God in their viewing/listening. Anyway, sorry for the rant, but I just LOVE this post!!! Will be getting that book!

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  4. Thank you so much for this post!! I Love love love it. Is it okay if I steal a quote from this post (and give you the credit, of course)?

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  5. Thank you ladies! Mandy you definitely can!

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  6. SO true, Monica! I'm a college student and this is a message I appreciate hearing since I'm sure I'll be a mother someday. Thank you for sharing!

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  7. I have this book too! I just cracked it open yesterday! I'm impressed by what I read so far, and can't wait to get into it more. This week is FINALLY slowing in our schedule, and I'm so grateful for some reading time! I really needed this book as a reminder.

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  8. Hi Monica,
    I love Sally’s stuff. We have been blessed to be friends with them and her heart is just as true in person as in her books.
    Thank you for the reminder of my ministry today. It was a hard day, and I need to remember my precious ministry.

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  9. This is a great post! You've successfully made me want to purchase the book!! It's important to always keep our role in perspective.

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  10. Great post! I'm going to have to look for that book as well!

    I love your blog and nominated you for a blog award: http://abbygrace81.blogspot.com/2010/08/award.html

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  11. Sounds like a great book, will have to put that on my list :)

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