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GOD'S GUIDE TO PARENTING

Dear Friends,

Hope all our Mums had a wonderful Mothers’ Day!

I love being a Mum and am so blessed with my beautiful family.  Being a mother is the best job in the world, but sometimes the hardest.

I remember as my children were growing up, that when all was going well I felt like a good mum.  But, when my children were naughty or didn’t fulfil my expectations, or expectations of others, I felt like I had failed.

As a perfectionist I was often hard on myself, and put too much pressure on myself to be the best Mum.  I was putting my worth in my mothering and the success of my children. 

I gradually learnt that my identity and worth was not in my doing, my performance, job or my children’s performance/behaviour.

My identity was being a child of God and when my relationship with God was my top priority then the rest of my life/responsibilities/attitudes fell into place.

I grew up under a guise of performance orientated love and it took me a long time (even as a Christian) to understand that God loves me, despite my sin.  His grace and love envelopes me, despite what I do or don’t do.

The best gift we can give children is enabling them to grow in the Lord.

How to be a great Mum (and Dad)

• Put God first in your own life.

 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.” 

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

• Dedicate your children to God for His purposes (not yours) and trust Him.
• Be intentional in building their spiritual development, as this is the most important aspect of their development.   Build them up for God’s Kingdom.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 

"Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)

• Give them unconditional love!  Let your child/children know that you love them because they are yours, not for what they do, or how they perform/behave.
• Be there for your child/children but don’t keep rescuing them.
• Spend special time with your child/children, whatever age they are.  Make precious memories.
• Forgive.
• Remember you are the parent, not their friend.  Many parents find it hard to say ‘No’.  Be consistent and strong in setting boundaries.  Agree with your partner/guardian in these ‘rules’.
• Do devotions and pray together as a family.

Blessings on your week,

Happy Parenting!

Catriona Wansbrough