Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work. – C.S Lewis

 

This quote above catches my eye quite often whether seeing it on social media or in a framed décor.

 

To most, it can be translated as a declaration.

 

A declaration to igniting a hopeful future. The future being; Our Children.

 

Being a stay at home for the past six years, has been the most challenging thing in my life. Especially within my spiritual walk.

 

Not that my children tested my faith or of what God is capable of doing.

Truth is, I know confidently I would have not chosen to leave a career I loved to become a wife and mother with a servant heart without Jesus Christ leading me and being with me everyday.

 

My time as a stay at home mom has been challenging because I have experienced so many times of questioning, doubting, and becoming uncertain of myself and of what my true calling is.

 

Thoughts such as:

“Is this what I am supposed to every day for the next seventeen years?”

“Watch kids?”

“Make dinner?”

“If I am doing this everyday, what’s going to happened when they get older?”

“When am I ever going to feel useful outside of being a mom?”

 

Then there has many days, I have said within myself; “If the kids could just be quiet for one hour, I could get so much done, I can write more, I can make more time to read my bible and become more confident as a woman. Do more ministry work. Have time to take a shower, dress myself, and spend time with other godly women that would like the company.”

 

So many days of this nonsense which started as a thought would then become a day of frustration because my mind took over  with the “WHAT IF” syndrome.

 

But then quotes from such wisdom such as:

Redirects me and reminds me….. Isn’t this the position I sought God to put me in?

To be in a place where me staying home was a option?

Where me staying home has no end date till we hear from God just as we waited to hear from God to release me from working?

 

I have gone through too many days where I am trying to do other things to make me feel like I am fulfilling a calling in my life that I easily forget about all those days that I begged God to let me be the one to raise my children.

Days where I pleaded with Him to teach me how to become frugal, to let go of all the materialistic items that I craved.

The many prayers that I asked God to transform my husband’s heart and give him great understanding to the purpose of me being home with our children and to be in agreement.

 

Two things I have learned recently that has made me realize the importance of proclaiming salvation for my children and future generations as I work the ministry of Motherhood:

1. I forget so easily how much our ministry is in the home first. Ministry in our home is biblical. Literally biblical! How can we do other ministries if we are not upholding our own homes first?

 

“For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” 1 Peter 3:5

 

2. When I speak life into my children it is speaking life into the very reason why I am doing what I am doing as a mom.

I think we could get stuck on thinking training up our children is just the first few years.

I know I did with my older two! Once they were old enough to go to school, a burden come off of me of spending quality time with them. I pretty much did one of the biggest #momfails I could…… I left it up to the school system to teach my children every thing I think they would need to know to become a well lived citizen with itelligence, mannerism, appreciation for a people, and so much. Ridiculous? Right?

 

Yes, it is!

First of all……

 

We, as their parent need to be the ones to speak life to them whether it’s through encouragement, giving instructions, and through discipline. Yes, even through discipline.

Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work. C.S. Lewis #Christianparenting #motherhood Share on X

 

Don’t know about you moms, but I am a recovering yeller at my kids. Now that I have five kids, yelling quickly becomes tiresome and burdensome. Soooo not worth it!

 

Even though about three years ago I went into recovery with the Lord’s help, some days the desire to yell catches up with me and I fail. I will yell….ahem…. I mean raise my voice.

Just imagine me standing across a room from my oldest son, yelling at him for not taking the trash out once again but even through my frustration, I think to myself: “At least speak life to him, don’t screw up on that part.”

So then I start raising my voice to:

“You will be a good husband. You will never make your wife have to take a trash bag out or ever have to ask you. I am raising you to keep a clean home and to be a man that will help and serve to the women of your household.”

 

So yeah, that’s a average trash is overfilling again type of day in our home.

 

Two things usually happens after that kind of situation. I realize I yelled again so then I cry and ask God to take that urge away and for temptation to not be set in front of me again.

For example: make my son, see this is one of the few chores he has and leaving trash will only tempt me to yell. (palm face)

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But then something sparks joy in me; I remembered to speak life.

I remembered to speak of his future.

 

Even through my fails and my faults as a mother, I pray the words that speak life is always abundant out of my mouth.

 

Speaking scriptures, hope, plans for a good future sets up a proclaimed path of victory for our children.

It also reminds us as parents what the word of God tells us, promises us, and ensures us for our children’s future.

Memorizing scriptures about salvation for the future generations will help build your confidence in what you are doing.

 

The MOST important work! Raising your children to know the Lord.

 

Some scriptures I try to memorize  to pray, or have in conversations, or raise my voice with (wink, wink) in regards of my children are:

Psalm 144:1

Praise be to the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.

Proverbs 22:6

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they old they will not turn from it.

Deuteronomy 6:7

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.

Hebrews 12:11

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

John 12:26

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Psalm 145:4

One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.

Psalm 78:6

That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children,

Psalm 79:13

So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture. Will give thanks to You forever; To all generations we will tell of Your praise.

Acts 16:31

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.   

1 Thessalonians 5:9

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,   

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.   

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 1:12

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,   

Lamentation 5:19

You, O Lord, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation.

Daniel 4:3

How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.

Romans 10:13

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”   

Titus 2:11

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,   

Joel 1:3

Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

Luke 1:50

And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.

Ephesian 3:21

To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

How do you speak salvation into your children’s life? What are some things you do with them that helps you build confidence in their future as a godly man or woman? I would love to know!