Let all that you do be done in love—(1 Corinthians 16:14).
I hate to be the one to break the news on this, but there actually is a “Mother of the Year” award. As much as I always told myself there wasn’t, there actually is.
But who made motherhood a competition anyway?
I talk with lots of moms who are constantly wracked with guilt about whether or not they are doing the “right” thing for their kids. Fear about whether or not they are going to the “right” school, whether they have the “right” social activities, or if they are spending family time the “right” way.
The downward spiral continues when we start feeling guilty about the things we know we absolutely should be making time for but just can’t seem to manage it. After all, when you consider all the time gobbled up with soccer practice, ballet recitals, and homework, who has time to come up with an elaborate home Bible study curriculum?
I'll bet “Mother of the Year” has a home Bible study curriculum… .
Whenever I feel like what I’m doing with/for my family isn’t measuring up, I am reminded of an oft used mantra of Dr. Kimmel’s from “Grace Based Parenting.”
“It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it.”
I say this a lot but what does that mean exactly? It doesn’t mean you have to cook up some pin-worthy “Virtue of the Month” scheme that will rock the blogosphere. All it means is intentionally showing your kids what love and grace are all about through the way you handle the ups and downs of your daily life. For example:
We teach them commitment when we follow through with promises
We teach them humility when we handle our responsibilities with a happy heart
We teach them accountability when we apply consequences without anger
We teach them servanthood when we make time to bless others
We teach them responsibility when we give everyone a job to do
We teach them loyalty when we speak lovingly of others
We teach them forgiveness when we resolve conflict lovingly
We teach them stewardship when we use what we have carefully
We teach them the meaning of family when we choose time with each other over other temptations
In short, our kids are wired to emulate the behaviors that they observe from their surroundings. So while a home Bible study would be great, living out the Gospel will do so much more to touch their hearts… and yours.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” - Attributed to Mother Teresa
Written by Michelle Hutchison
