I'm Growing Too

Wow. I look back at all my older entries and I realize, not only have the kids come a long way, but I am growing too. I wonder now, if I will look back at this post and laugh at how silly it is, like I do my past posts now. It's funny what seems so permanent at the time. Even if I know things aren't permanent I still act as though they are, and give things stress that they don't deserve. We all do it I think. Although, I am sure my husband would claim he doesn't. And rightfully so, I suppose. :-)
Anyhow, things are going great. I am in a home group now at church, and I am at the tail end of a class in the institute program I was speaking of before. Both have really helped me grow in my walk with God as a parent. It's so hard to overcome the habits handed down from generation to generation in my family. But little by little I am getting there. I often find myself shrinking around other Christian mothers who just seem to have it all together. I wonder how much of it is real, simply because I have never seen it all in action. I know I put up a good front when others are around but when I am alone with the kids, it's a whole different story. I guess none of us are perfect. We all have different priorities in mind and those are the things we strive hardest to perfect. The problems I face are: Looking down on other mom's because they don't do certain things as good as me, and looking down on myself because I don't do certain things as good as them. I think this is a common problem among many women. It's something that holds us back from being the best moms we can be. If only I would just learn to humble myself enough to let down my guard and admit I am not the perfect mom. How many of us have thought that before? If we thought of those strengths we have as opportunities to teach other moms, and the strengths of other moms as opportunities to learn from those moms, we would grow so much faster.
I ought not worry about what other moms would think if I let down my guard and showed my weaknesses. What matters is what God thinks of me. He is the final Judge and Jury. He has given me an example of what to strive for in Proverbs 31. That's what I should measure myself against. The theme I see in Proverbs 31 is hard work, not results. Results will come, but it's the hard work that is rewarded. I am comforted by this, because I realize, that no matter how I measure up to other moms, I am always working as hard if not harder to better myself, and that is all that matters. Flylady always says "progress not perfection".
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”’
Matthew 11:28
What great comfort that is, to know that Jesus asks us to lay all this stuff on Him. To rest on Him. (insert sigh of relief here). God is good. There are no words to describe just how great He is. I can't imagine what parenting without Him would be like.
If you are reading this, and you don't know what it is, to have the Savior in your heart, to take those burdens and give you freedom, find out now. Check out the Romans Road
And please don't hesitate to ask me any questions.