I haven’t read a book in a while. I love reading books. The problem I have with reading books, is I get SO EXCITED about what it says that I need to share it with someone. Usually that someone is all my friends on Facebook.
See, that’s not the problem. The problem is I’m posting something, like every ten minutes. And they’re usually long. And I think my friends get sick of it. And I’m quite sure I’ve lost a friend or twenty, because of it.
What some don’t realize, is for every person I irritate, there is someone else messaging me telling me how much they needed to hear it.
So, I keep doing it. However, I do try to be courteous to those who get tired of it too.
The books I read are Christian non-fiction. So I guess my posts come off as a little preachy. I get it.
That being said, I’VE STARTED READING A NEW BOOK! It’s super good and I can’t wait to tell you about it! 🙂
The book is called, Saturate: Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life, by Jeff Vanderstelt.
The title pretty much gives away what the book is about. However, I started the book thinking it would help me disciple peers, but as I read, it started to speak to me as a mother.
I’m always doubting my parenting skills. I continually think I must be doing something wrong.
If you were to line my children up with other secular children, I guarantee you would never believe mine were raised in a Christian family home.
They say Jesus is the light, well, there’s no light shining here. There is no sense of love permeating from our front door. And trust? We have locks on our front door, back doors, garage and all the windows, not to keep people out, but to keep kids in during the middle of the night.
As a Christian mom who has spent hours reading her Bible, praying with her kids and for her kids, dragging their little butts to church and youth groups, and just flat out telling them what is right and what is wrong, this is quite disappointing. Doesn’t the Bible say, ” Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)”?
Well, obviously I must be doing something wrong.
Then I got to chapter two and I had an epiphany.
Although the author is not talking specifically to moms, he states, “It’s not activities and events that are primarily Christian. It’s people. Activities and events, by themselves, are not sacred, but people are.”
So, whether my kids turn out being missionaries or hardcore criminals, I have dedicated my children to the Lord, and every parenting decision I have ever made, was done in hopes of bringing Him glory. My family is sacred.
“Our job is not to be Jesus. Our job is to believe Jesus, depend on Jesus, and submit to Jesus working in and through us to accomplish his work. We are not meant to carry the weight of the world or the mission of Jesus on our shoulders. Jesus came to seek and save. He doesn’t expect us to become the saviors.”
Therefore, I need to stop worrying about screwing them up, or I’m doing something wrong. If they do not turn out as I hope; being straight A students, volunteering their time, or just being stinkin’ decent and polite individuals, it’s ok. I am not Jesus. He doesn’t expect me to be their Savior. I am to do my best and trust Jesus to be Jesus. What they need, he will provide through me.
“Where are you tempted to hide or cover up? Do you still believe you have to perform well for God in order to receive his loving acceptance? Do you believe God loves you more when you obey and less when you disobey?”
I cannot take blame for any of their bad decisions, anymore than I can take credit for any of their good choices.
Their behavior is not a bad reflection of me, since everything I do concerning them “…whether (I) eat or drink, or whatever (I) do, (I) do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31
As a mother, with less than perfect kids, this totally spoke to me. Probably not how the author intended, but it impacted me just the same.
I can’t wait to read some more!