I’ve been thinking about how to be a better mom.
What things do I need to know to be a better mom?
Can I learn how to be a better mom?
What lessons around me can teach me how to be a better mom?
The hidden story going on in this unassuming flower bed has me thinking about motherhood and godly parenting.
Her life is consumed right now with her new babies. From the time she built the nest to the moment her eggs were laid to when they hatched into tiny baby birds until they fly from the nest, she will continue her constant vigil. She will stay close, find food, guard the flower box, chirp loudly when she is away from the nest, anything to let us know she sees us and does not want us touching her babies.
This is her life. Her job. Her passion. Every instinct in her body keeps her close to that nest.
As the story unfolds on my mom’s front porch, I can’t help but think of my job in motherhood. My passion of godly parenting. How close I must stay to my children to be able to raise them to know the Lord and have a personal relationship with Him.
How I can use this story to learn how to be a better mom.
The world is after my girls. Marketing to them. Catering to their wants and desires. Sneaking in slowly and with great care.
My girls are asked to grow up quickly, wear clothes that display their bodies, fit in at all costs and go with the flow of society and it’s whims. Music that targets young girls is full of promises of love and inappropriate words. TV shows that hit our elementary and teenage girls are full of lies, broken relationships, free-for-all parenting and so many other things, too many to name, things I don’t want my girls to want to be like or wish their lives were like.
Books, ideas, speech… we have to check every word, every lyric, every theme… that is our job.
I am the guard against them and the world. It is my job as their mom to protect their minds, their hearts and their bodies from what the world is offering them.
I have to be the Mommy Bird. On guard at all times, never going far from the nest, keeping watch over my babies, protecting them from the elements, the harsh reality of sin and making sure they are prepared to leave the nest. Making sure they are ready to stand strong for God on their own two feet.
Building strong, godly principles into their young lives.
It is constant. It is my life. It is my goal and my passion. To raise girls who will fly from the nest right into God’s perfect will for their lives. Guiding them so that they won’t fall into the traps of sin and this world.
Compromise is not an option. Bending the rules will not work. Allowing things to “fit in” is not the answer.
Only standing firm on the guidelines of God’s Word will help us to raise kids who love God with all of their hearts.
It isn’t easy. It isn’t always fun. It is plain, hard work. But, it is our job.
Our precious, amazing passion and God-given opportunity of parenthood.
How He helps us learn how to be a better mom.
What are ways you can learn from this story how to be a better mom?
How does God challenge us in our role as a mother?
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Anything But Ordinary
Beautiful Jennilee! We are not so much differant are we from God’s other creations…well, ok..we do have Him indwelling us in the form of the Holy Spirit…But sometimes I think most animals have a closer walk non-the less!..thanks for stopping buy…
I don’t know why, but God puts your family on heart to pray for daily!..blessing to you all!
Wow Jenilee!! What a beautiful post!! Thanks so much for your heart!! Thanks so much for your diligence and determination, and like you said plain hard work in raising your girls to love and serve the Lord. We are instructed to raise up a godly generation and it is impossible to do it with compromise. I appreciate the steps you take to guard your precious daughters from the world that surrounds them, and that you don’t even begin to consider compromise, as it’s end is only death! I share your heart, your desire, your intent. May God bless our feeble attempts to do all that we can do with His grace and power, and may our daughters (and sons) be spared from the overwhelming sin that invades our culture!! Thanks for sharing =)
It can be tough sometimes to guard our children from all the filth out there. It’s esp hard w/ my stepdaughter when her mother doesn’t guard things.