Mothering Your Children with the Guidance of the Good Father

Have you ever found yourself struggling with doubt about the way you mother your children?

Have you ever felt the nagging guilt that you are making mistakes that will have eternal consequences for your children? Have you ever felt alone in raising them to truly love the Lord? Here are some ways you can let the Good Father guide you.

Have you ever been anxious over the thought of adult prodigals?

I do. In fact, these are my greatest fears. One morning, this verse helped explain why.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4

Raising faith-full children is our greatest joy!

So many parents revel in the great successes of their children; careers, relationships and prestigious awards - while these are certainly admirable and exciting, they are not the ultimate goal.

Are our children walking in truth?

Walking in truth matters more than anything else because that changes everything that matters! The only success that truly matters to any of us is wholly rooted in our relationship with Jesus.

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” 1 Corinthians 13:11

Mature faith grows like a child; it develops over time.

Doesn’t mothering often feel like we are accomplishing nothing? Then all of a sudden, one of our children will say or do something to let us know they are watching, listening, or learning.

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

Just as He was patient with our own faith journey, He will gently lead our children.

Looking back, I see God’s goodness throughout my life - even when I was far from Him, He was ever near to me. He will do the same for our children, our nieces, and nephews, our church youth, and our grandchildren through all generations. Mama, it is a promise.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6,7

What a relief to know our mothering is done alongside our good, good Father. There are many people that He will place in our children’s lives who will plant and water seeds, but God is responsible for growth - and our job is to let that happen.

This means we mustn’t try to shield our children from the necessary weeding and pruning God will have to (hopefully rarely!) do in their lives! Trust Him, because we are also grateful recipients of His mercy and grace. We know He is loving, patient, and gentle.

God is far greater than even the better best mom! We are not responsible for making or breaking our children’s salvation so let’s not carry that unnecessary burden but resolve to remain faithful; plant the seeds, water them, love our children well and watch God grow a new generation of disciples that will go out sowing seeds of their own.

He loves us. He loves them. He will never leave them.

Sweet one, you can count on Him.
XO, Heidi