Seeing Our Children As Eternal Beings

Matthew 6:19-21

"19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

So often I get caught up in the minutia of the day that I forget that everything I do/ do not do, has a consequence.  Our children are eternal beings, just like we are.  Their souls and lives will last for all of eternity and this small space of time that we are influencing them will have a tremendous impact on how they live their lives when they are older and whom they will follow.  Am I showing them Christ as I correct them, am I speaking with wisdom and kindness when I am exhausted, in my day to day are they seeing me interact with the Lord and depending on Him for all things and in all circumstances? Am I showing them that they are worth my time?

 It is easy to become frustrated when they interrupt my time or become irritated when they spill their milk for the third time in a half hour.  However rather than becoming frustrated when I am trying to squeeze in a workout and my toddler wants to read a book, I have found the joy in stopping what I am doing and taking those fifteen minutes to invest into my little man so he knows he is valuable to me.  When the milk is spilled again rather than fuming about it I can take the time to teach my child how to be responsible for their own mess.   My children will become treasures in heaven if they learn to love God and serve Him with their whole heart but the only way they are going to learn is if they are taught by us.

As a Momma,  I am helping to shape their souls in a way that pours life into them or a way that takes the life out of them.  I don't know about you but I do not always see these children as unique individuals each with their own spiritual gifts. I do not always remember that I am raising the next generation who will impact this world for better or for worse... they will go on to have children and what I do today will have an effect on how they will parent.  It is a tall order when you stop and take time to think about it.  I am ashamed to say that  I too often see these arrows in my quiver as children who need to be fed, taught, cleaned up, instructed, re-directed and played with as if they are a task on my to-do list.

  I feel like Paul when he writes in Romans -

"15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate."

I know the kind of Mom I want to be. My desire is to be gentle and kind, speaking words of wisdom and teaching my children that which is good, Godly and true. I want my home to be a home of peace, where my children can find sanctuary from the pressures of life.  I know that I cannot do it perfectly... in fact, as of recently, I have learned that  I cannot do it at all.  At least, not in and of my own strength.  I need to surrender my life and lay it down at the foot of the cross.  When I give Him my ordinary, every day, messed up life - He makes it extraordinary.  He gives me strength when I am weak, He helps me see my children as He sees them and He blesses the mess.

I am on a journey, one that is teaching me how to be a better Mom, a better wife, a better me.  Lord willing, I will be sharing the journey with you over the next few weeks.  It's messy and real and in the midst of the brokenness there is beauty and life.  I hope you come back and join me and share what you are learning in your own life with me.  Feel free to leave a comment below or email me at maineacmom at gmail dot com.  :)

In His Grip,
Dawna