I recently had a young mum say to me that it seems like she is doing all the sacrificing (to raise the children at home full-time) and her husband wasn’t, so much.
Let me tell you that husbands DO sacrifice everyday so that he can provide for his family. My husband is a pastor. He sacrifices what he would like to do, (mountain climbing, hiking and being outdoors in general) to do the job God has called him to do at this time. There are days (which many men feel and particularly pastors) when he would rather be doing something else. Anything else! We ALL feel like that at times. Mums can feel like they are stuck at home, minding the children, cleaning the house, doing the laundry and they would be doing anything else but!
However, being a mother is a very high calling. You are given these precious children as a gift to nurture, love and raise to know God, to respect and love others, to learn obedience, to become selfless and productive citizens of God’s kingdom. Sadly the world does not appreciate the stay-at-home-mother nor does it realise that it is such an important and vital role in society. But God does and He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake and that He will supply ALL that we need to do His calling.
Raising children is not easy. There is not formula (sadly), no mathematical equation, no set of rules that will guarantee that your children will love the Lord, and will love others as themselves. We are all different, our children are unique and the whole lot of us are sinners. Mix all that up together and it makes for a challenging and yet, oh so, rewarding period in your lives.
My “baby” is now 14 years old. I still have 3 out of our 7 at home. Already it seems like time has flown so fast and I can see the end of this era of child-raising is in sight.
Treasure this time you have been given. Make the most of it. Yes, you need to make sacrifices, yes, you need to firm and loving, consistent and know when to show grace, to laugh with your children and at yourself, to know when you have stepped over the anger/frustrated boundary and you need to ask forgiveness. You may need to seek help and support from others (most problems are not new under the sun).
Trust in God for strength and wisdom and walk closely with Jesus. Ask for help to be godly everyday. Read Col 3: 12-15. Memorise it. Pray it into your life. Work on your marriage (the second most important thing (after God) that will benefit your parenting), and lastly, love your children.
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Rules the World
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- by William Ross Wallace (1819-1881)
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Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace.
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Infancy’s the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mothers first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow —
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Woman, how divine your mission,
Here upon our natal sod;
Keep – oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!
All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky —
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Wisdom and Musings For Christian Women 