Momma Goals

Laundry, mopping, toilets to clean, trash to empty, dishes to wash and the list goes on. How long is your list today, Momma?

May I suggest your job description isn’t limited to housework. A wise Pastor and friend of mine freed me from the feeling that cleaning, clothing and feeding my family was my most important responsibility. The lot of your list should be delegated to make way for the goals you have in rearing your children.

I now have 3 goals as Momma:

1. Raise children who love Christ. We attend church as a family and encourage church involvement, but we read the Bible and pray together as a family. We teach, “we are blessed to be a blessing.” We point to the One that does the blessing and serve others in the name of Christ. We have led each of our children to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and rejoice as each of them has found joy in the relationship they have with Jesus. This is not a responsibility to be delegated to the church. The church is there to support you Momma, but this goal belongs to you.

2. Raise children who are employable. I love my children and the thought of any of them leaving my house breaks my heart. However, that’s my job. My children need to be able to provide for themselves. My goal is to ensure their gifts and talents are evaluated properly then to pray over them as they seek God’s Will for their life. I also believe it is my job to provide an education to put all of these details together. Again, while you may delegate the teaching, don’t delegate the education. Schools (public, charter, private & homeschool) are there to support you Momma, but this goal belongs to you.

3. Raise children who will make a good spouse. I don’t believe everyone will be married, but my goal is to make sure if they do marry, they make a good spouse. We start with the saying, “we work hard, so we can play hard.” Marriage is hard work, so my children need to know how to work hard. No shortcuts. Most families contain two full-time working parents, so household chores must be split as well. My children are trained to operate a washing machine as soon as they are tall enough to put the soap in (thank goodness height runs in our family). My children are taught to close what they open, put away what they take out, and replace what they finish. My children are taught to serve others a drink when they are thirsty and make a meal big enough for the entire family. There aren’t many organizations out there to support you in this goal, Momma. In fact, we live in a culture that teaches the exact opposite. Our children are growing up in a “look-out-for-number-one” world. Momma, please don’t let this goal slip past you.

So, what do you think? Which goal do you need to make a priority?

 

Lies, All Lies

The first lie told thousands of years ago earned the privilege of being recorded in Genesis. The serpent, “more crafty than any (Genesis 3:1),” lied to Eve. I have always found it fascinating Satan approaches Eve instead of Adam. Satan hasn’t stopped lying to women (or men, for that matter).

Here are two lies I see most women believing:

1. I’m not pretty enough. For what should be our answer. Desiring to look like a super model after an extensive workout with Photoshop will leave you believing this lie. But, are you a super model by trade? I’m not! 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us that our bodies are a temple, so we should treat our bodies well. Being healthy and being pretty remain two different things. Pretty is subjective. Pretty is cultural. What are you trying to be pretty enough for? Is your focus on health, strength of character or good looks. I’m guilty of letting this lie steal my joy. I’m guilty of letting the number on my clothing tag send me into binge eating (and not healthy things). I’m not a size 6 and I may never be. My focus needs to be on having a beautiful character, because I want that for my daughters. I would scream if I heard my daughters decide their worth based on the tag in their clothing. I would have a fit if I heard them make fun of the way they look. Why, then, am I an exception to this rule?

2. I’m not smart enough. This lie has plagued me for 20 years. I never finished my college degree. I have allowed this lie to limit jobs and opportunities. When friends began telling me I should write and speak professionally, I allowed Satan to use this deeply planted lie to keep me from doing what God intended. Not everyone has or needs a college degree. Not everyone needs a high school diploma. Pursuing an education or higher education is a worthy goal, but not having one doesn’t necessarily limit you from becoming a success. Obviously, it depends on your chosen profession. I do like to see a diploma from a medical school on the wall when speaking to a surgeon, but if my hair dresser graduated from beauty school and not high school, I’m okay with that. I’ve come to learn that I write and speak about what I know; being a wife & mom, homeschooling & children’s ministry. My martial education, I’ve been married 17 years. My motherhood education, I’ve been “mom” to 33 children. Homeschooling 11 years & Children’s Ministry 10 years. I have an education to do what I do, some refer to it as On-The-Job Training.

So, what lies are you believing? Struggling with looks, education, parenting, job, etc? Willing to share & find the truth?

 

 

Crazy First Day

Today was my daughter’s first day at school. I dressed her up in a cute uniform dress, placed her brand new Hello Kitty backpack & matching lunchbox in her hand and headed to school. I’m an early bird, so I thought I would arrive early. I arrived to her school to find it swarmed with people. They must have given free lunch tickets to the first million without letting us newbies know. The traffic required I park a block away.

I hauled out the 50+ pounds of school supplies and carried them the block. Upon making it to the building, we were taken on a wild goose chase to find the correct class. I longed to set down the unbearable weight on my shoulder. Honestly, I would have donated the supplies to anyone willing to carry them.

After introductions, I reminded my daughter that no matter how much she wants to ride a bus, she is a car rider. I fill out the appropriate car rider forms, drop my supplies (which I labeled, because some people didn’t bring the WalMart school supply section with them), and kissed my Love Bug goodbye. I did reprimand a girl making fun of another young girl who was crying. I didn’t reprimand the boy standing at the teacher’s white board scribbling even though he should have been at the table. I didn’t because that boy’s parents were looking on without a touch of shock on their face (seriously, this isn’t a sign of art prodigy, tell your kid to sit down).

The day was busy, so honestly, I was okay. UNTIL pickup. The car line was crazy. Traffic backed up like Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day. Drivers anxious to pick up their children found favorite school activities to occupy themselves like music (horn honking), sign language (finger gestures – not appropriate for Elementary School) and drivers ed (weaving & cutting people off).

Thirty-five minutes after joining the car line, I was within the “loop”. I was asked which child I wanted. I thought this a particularly interesting question. Honestly, you will give me whichever one I want? You don’t need identification of some type?? I gave him my daughter’s name and grade and proceeded in line. The next person asked again who I wanted. This gentleman began hollering for my daughter, but I could see the children at this point and my daughter was NOT there. Just as I thought, she has convinced them she is a bus rider. Who knows where she is.

Minutes later out of a door, came my Love Bug. She had a smile from ear to ear. I didn’t cry when I dropped her off, but to see her safe and happy after her first day made me so proud.

To all you parents, teachers, administrators & kids: You are in my prayers. May God bless you with a much smoother day 2!!