Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Mama Knows Best

As a mom, I feel desperate most of the time. Desperate for just the right tools to toss into my parenting toolbox. Different tools for different offenses. Different tools for tinkering around bad attitudes, lying, whining, leaving a mess, and acting disrespectfully.

I remember as a new mom, I read every book about parenting and discipline. Lisa Welchel wrote a book called “Creative Correction.” My personal copy is barely recognizable. It’s been earmarked, written in, and tagged with sticky notes. I thought if I read enough, somehow I’d be good enough.

I’ve listened to the best of advice.

“Breast-feeding is good; formula is bad;”

“Children should be potty-trained by age two;”

“Make sure you get on the pre-school waiting lists, they’re awfully long;”

“Don’t spank, time outs only.”

With all these “do’s” and “don’ts,” it’s amazing we mama’s know what to do and when to do it. No wonder our multi-taking, over-worked mama brains are on informational overload.

It’s confusing to a mom who just wants to get it right.

If we let him, God will re-direct our thoughts.

In the midst of highlighting line after line, page after page, God interrupted.

In the middle of pencil scribbles across the margins of the latest mom book, God re-directed. He spoke these words straight to my heart:

“There’s only one Book you should be reading. Stop listening to everyone else. You need to be right with me first. Then everything else will fall into place. Then, you will become the godly mom your children deserve.”

God didn’t create us to follow self help advice tucked inside well-meaning parenting toolboxes. We were made to follow Jesus. That's it.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will,” (Romans 12:2 (NIV).

As believers, we aren’t supposed to respond like everybody else to life’s typical situations. Instead, we are to be transformed as God renews, replenishes, and redeems us~ as he molds us into the image of Christ.

I’ve never been more desperate for Jesus than I am right now. Being a wife, mom, and child of God humbles me. I am humbled by how much I don’t know and by how much I need Him.

How does this apply to the ordinary stay-at-home mom’s life?

Well, when we’re drowning in laundry, child-rearing, and errands, we cry out to God, “I can’t do this on my own; guide me, strengthen me, show me what to do.” As we do this, we loosen our grip on worldly tools for success and courageously embrace the words and ways of God, Follow me and walk in my paths,” (Ps. 81:13, NLT).

Lord, help me to follow your ways and nobody else’s. I am desperate for you. I need more of you. Please guide me down your path of righteousness. Amen.

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11 comments:

  1. Thank you for encouraging me today to give it to Him. His shoulders are so much bigger than mine, but I still need that reminder.

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  2. Great post Kelli and lovely family photo. So often we get advice from others to see how they do things when God want us to follow His advice, for what He gives to one is for them and for us what is for us. I know having a busy schedule can be over whelming at times, now I've downsized my list and have more time for what is more important. God had to show me what we better not what I thought was better.

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  3. Great encouragement today. We often want to find quick fixes to our parenting challenges but if we stay connected to Him,then He promises to guide us and give us the wisdom.

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  4. Thank you fellow stay at home mom! I too have been struggling.. finding myself repeating God help me God help me way to often lately. I too think How does one be a "mom" without His help? I am so weak,, hahaha I can ONLY do it with him. His ways are truly not My ways Hallelujah! He is so Good, He is the rock I rest on. Loves and Prayers.

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  5. Kelli, you read my heart with this post. So many of the things you said really touched me, but I especially like this - "Stop listening to everyone else. You need to be right with me first. Then everything else will fall into place." Ok God, I'm listening.

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  6. I'm thinking "desperate" is right where He wants us... and I'm learning that it's also right where I want to be :)Great post... love you!

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  7. Great post Kelli! For so long I would not read devotional / self-help type books. I refused. But then I found one person who I just loved and was so excited to try her book. I became so addicted to reading her books and others she recommended. I felt like I couldn't get enough. I would easily read four or five devotionals in a months time and sometimes I was reading more than one at a time (talk about confusing a girl!). So many different ideas and thoughts. God told me the same. You only need to be reading My Word. Yes devos are good, but if I am putting those ahead of God's Word, then I am in the wrong. I want to be right with God first. I want to read HIs Word first. I want to follow hard after Him first. Thank you for this great post.

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  8. I only want to listen to the guidance that He provides through His word. But it sure is hard to resist some of the 'wordly' influences that are always shoved in our face! I pray that I will use the only tool that I need to be the Mommy He created me to be.

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  9. So true! How soon we tend to forget that All the answers we need are in the Bible!?!
    Thanks Kelli!
    Love
    Laura

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  10. When I first found out I was going to be a father, I did exactly the same things Kelli; I researched, and read and scoured the Internet for those pieces of wisdom that would make me the ideal dad. In the end however, if we follow Christ's examples and directives for us, the rest really does fall into place.

    Wonderful post!

    Have a Blessed Day Dear Lady!

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  11. Oh my gosh - I was so sure I posted something here yesterday. Must be a menopause moment :) I loved this post and could SSOOO sympathize! Just keep turning to the master of all instruction books and don't fret - you're doing an amazing job!!!!

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