Faith in Parenting

This week’s topic was dealing with our feelings of “failure” as moms. We all have them! Those times when we question our course of action or wonder whether we’re doing this “right.” I’m especially grateful to the women on today’s call who shared their own experiences with these all-too-common feelings.

If you were unable to join us today, you can listen to the call in its entirety right here on the Web site.

One thing we talked about was a three-step plan of action for dealing with our feelings of failure:

1. Ask yourself whether you really feel this way in your heart, or whether these feelings of failure are perhaps coming from outside yourself (other moms, our culture, etc.). Julie Barnhill, author of the book One Tough Mother, suggests asking yourself, “Does this really matter in the light of Eternity?” That’s an excellent way to separate what really matters from what doesn’t!
2. If your response is “Yes,” then ask yourself what you are willing/able to do about it at this time. Realize, too, that taking baby-steps in the right direction is probably going to be a whole lot more effective - and lasting - than trying to accomplish a complete 180 overnight.
3. If the answer is “No,” ask yourself how you can take steps toward letting go of the issue.

In addition, something powerful that came up during the call was that we all have different gifts as moms! I’d encourage you to spend some time this week thinking about what it is that your kids get because they have you for a mom, that they might not otherwise have. God put them in your family, with you as their Mommy, intentionally! And He has equipped you with specific and unique gifts to share.

Finally, I shared with the moms on the call two verses that I think speak to this issue. The first is 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, where Paul is explaining that it is through his weakness that God’s strength shines. That’s true for us as Moms, too! Instead of hiding our weaknesses, we should consider how God might use them to show His strength in our lives.

The other verse is one that Lisa Welchel shared on Saturday at the Hearts at Home conference. It’s 2 Timothy 1:12b, “…I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

In other words, I know that it is Jesus himself in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard and protect my children, whom I have entrusted to Him.

That’s huge! Yes, we fall short as moms. We do. We simply can’t be perfect. But we’ve already entrusted our children to Him, and He will equip us! Amen!

Listen to the Call: Dealing With Those Times When We Feel Like a Failure as Moms

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 9:26 pm and is filed under audio, support, scripture, parenting, children. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.