My sister in law and I were talking and she made the statement about how Raylea has always had to be the guinea pig. Raylea is our almost 6 year old daughter, who is extremely smart, active and tender hearted.
I thought about how from the time she was born, she was not only our first child, she was the first grandchild on both sides of the family and she was the first baby amongst most all of my friends. Most of my friends were either still in college or newlywed. So, not only was she the guinea pig baby, I was the guinea pig mom.
I felt a lot of different emotions that first year as a new mother.
It made me think of how there are truly countless emotions a mom can feel and how every single situation really is different in it's own way.
Some moms have had tough roads.
Maybe you got pregnant as a teen and had that hardship of going from being a child yourself to raising one over night.
Some moms married their high school sweet heart, had a few kids and 30 years later find out their husband wants to separate.
Some moms work a 9-5.
Some moms stay home with their kids.
Some moms endured trials, losing a baby, or two, or five.
Some moms have a child who has a disability.
Some moms have a child who shouldn't have made it through the pregnancy.
Some moms had a child but lost them to a sickness at a young age.
Some moms feel insecure.
Some moms feel overly confident.
Some moms watched their adult child die from cancer.
Some moms raise their kids on their own, with little to no help from others. The dad left a long time ago.
Some moms aborted their baby.
Some moms take a child in from a horrible home and raise them as their own.
Some moms died giving birth.
Some moms pretend to have it all together, but inside, they are falling apart.
Some moms think their kid is the only one in the room who matters.
Some moms think all other kids are the devil, except their own, of course.
Some moms have lost their cool.
Some moms pray over their kids each day.
Some moms cuss their kids out each day.
Some moms use the excuse of "I never had a good mom, so I don't know how to be one," their entire life because they are too afraid of letting their own child into their world. They fear rejection that much.
Some moms favor one child over the other.
Some moms use their children for their own advantage in life.
Some moms won't let go, and they try to force their child into a future they think is fitting.
Some moms don't care.
Some moms just need a hug and some encouragement.
So much diversity.
It seems that is what is celebrated these days. To be different.
Well, I 'celebrate' how all moms are the same.
Every mother was given a free will by their Creator to do with their children whatever it is they feel like doing.
Helping or hurting... loving or leaving...
It is up to you, Mom.
God gave you a gift. The Bible explains your role. These days, that role is fogged by all the glitz and glamour of social media, our identity, and our status in life.
You aren't successful as a mom if your kid doesn't graduate with honors.
if they aren't prom king, if they aren't the captain of the football team, if they don't have a car that is less than 5 years old...
Making your kids fit in and be popular isn't what will get Jesus to say "Well done."
It isn't buying them the nicest clothes or the coolest little accessories. It's not feeding them healthy food, bathing them and making sure they are safe each day.
Your real job is this...
to live a life in front of them that reflects the godliness, the holiness, the love and character of God.
If you're human, and have been a mom for more than 2 days, you've likely made some form of a mistake regarding that precious little life. We all make mistakes. We all have to say we are sorry. How on Earth can we expect our kids to be able to know how to apologize to God for their sins and short comings when we can't even model that action?
I heard something pretty genius today.
"You can be gracious with the person, but you can't be gracious with the spirit."
They were talking about bad spirits.
It says in the Bible we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(Ephesians 6:12)
Sure, be gracious with yourself, but not with that hateful spirit you've been having towards them.
Perhaps you aren't hateful, but you are jealous. You compare you kids to other people's kids and you can never just appreciate what you have. Or maybe it's a spirit of doubt. You pray for your child, but you doubt they ever will get saved.
Unforgiveness. You haven't forgiven your own mom for her short comings when you were growing up, and that holds you back as a mom... and person in general.
Look up what the Bible says about not forgiving others...
Immodesty. If you're walking around wearing stuff that makes others take a second look, don't wander why she is doing the same thing here in a few years.
Stop tolerating sin. Stop tolerating the evil spirits attacking you as a mother.
Address it and call it what it is and GO TO JESUS.
Black is black and white is white. I don't believe in grey areas.
There is HOLY and there is UNHOLY.
There is God and then there is Satan.
Pick who you will serve. Likely, your children will follow in your foot steps.
Remember... you have a free will to do what you want.
Choose wisely.
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