Intentional Motherhood: Raising your Children for Christ {Intro}

I 've been muttering it under my breath, repeatedly, day after day.

"These children are sucking the life right out of me."

Some days I feel guilty for saying it; others day I feel completely justified.

It appears true on the surface, but deep down to the core it is a lie.

That one day, weeks back, when we hugged good-bye in the morning and off they went, it was out of the ordinary and really I wasn't sure I could get used to it or not.

With these children of mine being home educated, we don't have good-byes in the mornings. So on that morning they left and I tidied and everything stayed in its place for the rest of the day.

Not days later, I was exasperated with the toys and socks and pajamas and books and legos all strewn once again all over a particular bedroom floor. I mumbled how it wasn't like this the other day.

But it is more than that, really. It is the habits that have developed over time and they haven't been good.

Oh, were not just talking about picking up your socks kind of habits. Were talking about things like honour and respect. And building one another up and edifying. And obedience.

I realized how short I've fallen and it really is this battle that is draining the life right out of me.

I've given into a spirit of fear and timidity in my mothering. In the name of mothering in grace, I was really just fleeing from the battle field hoping that we'd win the war.

Motherhood isn't for the fainthearted.
And I have to admit that there are definite challenges when mothering with only one lung and a heart that won't allow the blood to flow efficiently to the rest of my body. But, I do not have to do it  in my own strength {even though this is what I try to do far too often}.

But, it is really this sanctification process in me that happens right in the midst of it that is so painful and beautiful at the same time.

I have seen the need for repentance.

I've claimed a promise to continue on in this role that I really am so blessed to be in: to be a Mother to these precious children that have been placed in my care.

For was it not the children that Jesus gathered around Him and took them in His arms and blessed them.

I have the amazing responsibility and privilege to bring my children to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Although it was over eleven years ago, on a Good Friday, with much pain and agony, I brought my firstborn into this world, now more than ever, I see the need to intentionally mother, not to shirk what I have been given because of laziness or selfishness.

My work wasn't done when I finally heard, 'We have a girl!!!' or four and half years after that when I heard, 'A son!!!' and again another four and half years later, when on a cold winter's night, "Another girl!!!'

I need to be committed to persevere in the small things and stay consistent on what really matters: their hearts.

Not to hinder them because of my mothering in the spirit of fear and timidity. No, but to continue on with a spirit of power, and love, and self-discipline.

*****

There's a little book, 'Raising Your Children for Christ' by Andrew Murray, on my shelf that I keep bringing down and leafing through and, Lord willing, over the next number of Wednesdays I hope to share snippets of my gleanings from it.

I don't claim to know all the answers. I need to dig deeper so that I can be even more equipped to be the mother that God intended. Andrew Murray wrote from the perspective of both the Father and the Mother, but I will be writing from my perspective as a Mother. I am so thankful that this task of raising our children has not been given to me alone.

Is there something in your life that makes mothering hard?

Join me on this journey? It is not a list of rules and how-to's but rather a chance to look into your own life and heart and be challenged to live a life wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord. 

For all posts in this series you can read them here.

Thank you for your comments. They are an encouragement to me.