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So many things to share where do I begin....
How did I fulfill my role as wife, mother, and worshipper of the True and Living God?
As wife I took time to look outside myself an view a disagreement with my husband from an outsiders perspective. I spend a lot of time counselling, mentoring, and walking other women through struggles and joys in their life. What I have found is that an outside perspective is usually much clearer and more accurate because it is not based out of emotion or personal baggage. So that is what I applied to my own life. I was able to understand why I felt the way I did, but I needed to evaluate the way my husband was feeling and why. As women we often take the "he doesn't understand, or he doesn't care about me" route. When more than likely he understands what he needs to and he cares above what we think. I know for my husband in particular he looks at the BIG, LLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGG term picture. While I am pretty much the small (I want it now), and quickly picture. As a result I (with the power of the Holy Spirit) have and are choosing peace, and patience. I praise God for that....evidence of the work of Christ in my heart, mind, and soul.
As a mother I have decided to STOP NURSING MY CHILDREN! I have a 10, 8, and 7 year old. I cook all the food (most days), I clean all the rooms (most days), I wash all the laundry (most days), I clean my own car...van actually, and on occasion I do the yard work. Now as I read scripture there was a King who was 8! As I look at other countries kids are holding it down in labor. When I went to Tanzania, Africa there were children younger then mine carrying the five gallon bucket of water on their head. Now why are they able to do this and not mine? Oh, it is because of expectation. These children are expected to help in their home...in fact they have to. While I work to the bone and allow my children all kinds of freedom and privilege. This week I have STOPPED NURSING MY CHILDREN! Have you seen a woman breastfeeding a 4, 5, or even 6 year old? Trust me it happens and is completely ridiculous. There is some twisted fulfillment the mother gets out of that because there is not real need for the children to breastfeed at those ages. So it is with me. What twisted fulfillment am I getting out of nursing my children in regards to laboring around the home? Maybe the thought of I am really doing this, or some appreciation from them or others that I am freeing you and I will be SUPER CHRISTIAN MOMMA....who takes care of home, husband, and children. The thought of my husband and children not have to lift a finger around my house. Those thoughts are sinful, prideful, and arrogant. The reality is I do need them to help. Not just for me but to help them capable functioning adults, and children who are respectful and grateful, and know how to take care of things. I gave assignments, instructions, and I stepped back to watch. We also added this....You how when Jesus was on the cross and He cried out "It is finished", well that is a statement of a servant returning to the master that the job is complete. We talked about that and I explained that they need to follow Christ example and let me know when the job is done.
As a worshipper of the Most High God I really spent time seeking the Lord and being thankful for Christ on the cross! Christ was mangled for me! Christ took on my sin! Christ is in all ways wonderful. Words fail to express how thankful I am to God who revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. I Love HIM!
6 comments:
This is awesome! I'll stand on this soapbox with you every day of the week sister!!!
WOW!! thanks for the encouragement!! I going to stope nursing mine this week as well!! wow..conviction is not even the word!!
love you
Yep... Ross has taken to arguing that I can do it myself (which I can but that's not the point). However that's one thing I've always gotten comments on (not my own kudos here) - that my children can take care of the house while I"m gone etc. In fact as I write I'm at work - the kiddos are at home and I fully expect that by the time I get home they will have things fairly ready for camp! Clothes at least laid out if not packed (girls and Ross at least), house picked up and vaccumed, laundry done or close to it and the back seat back in the van, trash ready to go to the curb. I always figured that kids 50-100 yrs ago were expected to work so why shouldn't mine? Plus it's been a HUGE help with being a military family! Good for you mama! Love ya!
ps... I'm sure there are those who would say "well your children are older..." to which I reply Yes they are but they didn't get to where I could trust them to do chores by not doing them when they were little! They weren't born that way... my girls were doing dishes at 9 (loading and unloading the dishwasher, rinse and stack, wipe counters and sweep) with a little supervision, by 11/12 I could say do the kitchen and just come check it. If you watch shows like Road to Avonlea or Anne girls were expected to be able to manage the house by that age!
My mother once said that the best gift she ever gave me was "having a lazy mother." What she meant by that was not that she was truly lazy (she's one of the hardest working teachers I know), but that she made me do chores, contribute to the house and therefore made me capable as an adult. I'm doing the same thing with Cassie. At 3, she already has a list of jobs that are "hers" and once I've assigned them, I don't take them back unless there's a doggone good reason. She unloads the silverware from the dishwasher, makes her own bed, folds the washcloths and helps fill the washer each morning with the load of the day. I hope that having a "lazy mother" is a gift she will recognize when she's an adult too. Now to go put a similar reflection on my blog ;)
My mother once said that the best gift she ever gave me was "having a lazy mother." What she meant by that was not that she was truly lazy (she's one of the hardest working teachers I know), but that she made me do chores, contribute to the house and therefore made me capable as an adult. I'm doing the same thing with Cassie. At 3, she already has a list of jobs that are "hers" and once I've assigned them, I don't take them back unless there's a doggone good reason. She unloads the silverware from the dishwasher, makes her own bed, folds the washcloths and helps fill the washer each morning with the load of the day. I hope that having a "lazy mother" is a gift she will recognize when she's an adult too. Now to go put a similar reflection on my blog ;)
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