I’m so excited to participate with Holley Gerth in her Coffee for your heart: 2014 Encouragement challenge. Today, I’m linking up to tell you what God is speaking to my heart concerning motherhood. I hope it encourages you!
Dear Moms,
Over the weekend I saw the movie Walter Mitty. Walter is a daydreamer. His imagination takes him to places where he accomplishes everything he would like, but in reality doesn’t have the superhero abilities to achieve.
Have you ever “checked out” of difficult situations while wishing you held some type of control? Do you often play the blame game? Confession: I’m a mother, and I have “Walter Mitty moments” every day. I remember when my oldest son was in second grade and having trouble in math. I cried because I was never any good at math and therefore, it had to have been ALL MY FAULT he was struggling. (By the way, he is now 21 and second grade math had zero bearing on his future.) 
When my youngest son was diagnosed with a weak muscle in his eye requiring him to wear glasses, all I could think about was how he was born 6 weeks premature. IF I could have just carried him safely in my womb a little longer, maybe he could have been spared the aggravation of uncomfortable eye testing and glasses. 
The other day as I looked at my daughter I whispered audibly, “She is so beautiful.” My husband said, “That is because she looks like you.” I dismissed those words. 
Why is it so easy to release the good and accept the bad? Why does motherhood stamp the word guilt on our foreheads immediately upon delivery of each child?
God is not the author of condemnation, and this new year I’m praying for clarity of thought over the way I view myself and how it relates to my children.
Listen, as mothers, we will always want our children to be the best at everything. We will continually hold hope they will attain far more than we ever will. And if they don’t… We. Will. Hurt. It comes with the territory.
However, and we all know however is just a fancy word for but… so hold on tight because this is a ginormous but!
BUT GOD has a plan for our children far beyond what we’ve imagined. And the first prayer we should all pray over our children each day is that they would learn to submit to Him.
BUT GOD can help our children with mathematics and every other subject in school.
BUT GOD can heal and give us wisdom for the best medical treatments for our children.
BUT GOD can remove the fog from our eyes and allow us to enjoy that our children are beautiful despite the fact they look like us.
How we view ourselves will carry on to our children, and I want mine to see me as one who believes in the God who can do all things and created each of us in His image. His plan is perfection.
BUT GOD can do it, and He will!
So this new year when you are tempted to examine all your faults and worry over situations you cannot control, remember this: BUT GOD.
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie Walter Mitty. Yet, from the Christian perspective, if you were to ask me a weakness Walter had, I would tell you this: Walter imagined himself to be the one who saved the day. Our “Walter Mitty moments” should serve as reminders that only Christ can save us from our daily battles. It is His wisdom which allows us to conquer the tough moments in life. Through those moments we should remember to submit our lives, and the lives of our children, into His hands alone.
All things through prayer and supplication unto a faithful God…
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
-Psalm 73:26
You can do this, friend!
Love,
Jennifer
I will be linking up with you and so very much looking forward to reading all the encouraging posts. As moms we could always use some encouragement…especially in those moments when the guilt takes over. Thank you for your words, “BUT God.” They birth an immediate perspective change in all lies and circumstances that take us away from the truth of God. Blessings! love, Rachael @ Inking the Heart
I really enjoyed your encouragement post, Rachael!
I truly enjoyed this post. It is certainly something I need to work on. I’ve been feeling lots of mommy guilt lately.
Thank you so much for reading, Leilani! Yes, motherhood has a way of doing that to us. Take heart and keep trusting! I’m sure you are doing a wonderful job!
I don’t know about second grade math, but I know your eldest did very well in Pre-Algebra and Algebra! 🙂 Let me repost here something I posted on my prayer page. It goes along with prayers for our children!
From Enduring Word/David Guzik/Commentary on Job 1:“What a beautiful example is furnished by Job to Christian parents! When your girls are going among strangers, and your boys into the great ways of the world, and you are unable to impose your will upon them, as in the days of childhood, you can yet pray for them, casting over them the shield of intercession, with strong cryings and tears. They are beyond your reach; but by faith you can move the arm of God on their behalf.” (Meyer)
Thank you, Sharon. Your words are always so encouraging!
Jennifer, maybe your daughter is beautiful Because she looks like you! You’re a radiant woman of God and a great example for her. Please be encouraged yourself by that fact .These are wise words to aid us in raising children and as a newly fledged grandma I will bear them in mind for that role too. Lovely to meet with you here from Holley’s page! Blessings on your family and ministry for the Lord. 🙂 xx
Thank you so much for your beautiful words to me! Thank you for reading!
I love your reminder that God has a plan for my girl…a perfect one, too, and I need to trust it. 🙂 I had to smile with the math thing…math, I can do. Science, not so much. I should start praying already!
I loved Walter Mitty, too…fun story and movie. The boy who played Rich (Cheryl’s son) was a student at our school when we taught in Indonesia. It was so cool to see a friend on the big screen! 🙂
Hi Mel. Wow, it is so cool you know the boy in the movie. I so enjoyed it.
I love this… and loved the movie too – and I love that we seemed to have brewed the same coffee this morning, friend! Stopping by from Holley’s – enjoying a cup of coffee with you!
Thank you, Karrilee!
Thank you. Your encouragement was much needed today. Your wise words about parenting came at the perfect time. “BUT GOD has a plan for our children far beyond what we’ve imagined. And the first prayer we should all pray over our children each day is that they would learn to submit to Him.
BUT GOD can help our children with mathematics and every other subject in school.”
I’m so grateful you found encouragement. Keep on keeping on, girl! God bless you and your children.
Thanks so much for linking up today with Coffee for Your Heart, friend! XOXO
Thank you for the opportunity, Holley!
Jennifer, this Mama can so relate to the struggle with guilt. I love how you asked, “Why does motherhood stamp the word guilt on our foreheads immediately upon delivery of each child?” Even with adult children (19, 24) I have to recognize and resist the siren call of guilt and accusation.
But God… is powerful hope and encouragement!
Hi, Deb. Yes, it is important to recognize when it’s guilt that is taking over and trust God for wisdom. God bless you today, friend!
Jennifer,
Thank you for reminding me that we do not have to be the ones to save the day! You are right about mommyhood=guilt! I am learning to let go of those guil feelings and thoughts, but they still creep back into my heart. The more I learn to lean and rely on the Lord, the less I have to deal with guilt alone.
So true! I think the more we learn to let go, the more we learn to stand firm and guard our hearts from allowing old feelings to creep inside. Thanks so much for reading! God bless you!