May 8, 2011

  • No perfect mothers, Only a perfect Savior!

    I had an ‘Ozzie and Harriet’ childhood! Those of you who are older will immediately recognize what I am saying.  I had a stable home with parents who loved each other and loved their children. We lived in the same house for many years. My sister and I never went hungry and all our needs and many of our wants were met. It was an ideal childhood.

    My mother has lived in the same home for the last 25 plus years. It’s the ‘family home’ and we’ve spent many, many holidays there. 

    That was the dream I had for my children as a young mother who had barely come to know the Lord. I wanted a ‘stable’ life for them lived in a middle class home in a nice little neighborhood with parents who loved each other. Yet, those dreams did not come to pass for my children. My first husband left me when my son was five years old. I remarried again but the first couple of years were very rocky in our marriage and as far as that stable ‘home’ in a middle class neighborhood… my children had many homes as they were growing up. We finally were able to purchase a home before they graduated and lived there for 10 years. Most of you know the story of how our business was growing and we sold that home to expand only to have to sell once the economy began sliding. Then my husband became disabled 1 1/2 years ago so we sold that home and now live as caregivers in a studio apartment.

    While visiting my mothers home several years ago I remember being saddened with the realization that my children will never have the joy of a ‘family home’ as my mother had given my sister and I. I felt so very, very sad about how I had failed my children but as the day progressed the Lord began to speak to my heart that I had placed a high importance on something He had not made important in His Word. Later that day when I spoke with one of my children I told them how I felt but then ended with these words, “Your father and I may not have given you the ‘stability’ of a ‘family home’ and I know the beginning years of our marriage were anything less than stable for you children but I realized today that I had not failed as a parent because I had given you something eternal. I taught you that the only way to peace with God is through His Son Jesus Christ and you have seen the power of God’s Word change a bad marriage to the praise of His glory”.

    None of us can claim to be perfect mothers but every mother can point their children to THE PERFECT ONE.. Jesus Christ!

    It’s never too late to fulfill our duty to our children by sharing Jesus Christ. Even if you became a Christian after your children were grown and were never able to teach them about the Savior as they were growing up there is still TODAY.

    But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
    2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV

    I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
    2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

     

     

Comments (4)

  • We lived in the same house, though my parents only rented it.  When I was 10 my folks were divorced.  The stabilizing influence in my life was my maternal grandmother who lived with us.  I also loved my paternal grandmother who prayed for me.  Our small church was a big influence too.  God has ways of providing what we need through less than ideal circumstances and in spite of human imperfect parents.  Praise His name!

  • What appears to be an “Ozzie and Harriet” home and family on the outside is often much less when seen from inside. You truly have given your children what is stable and never changing–a relationship with the Lord–and I’m happy that you realize that what you once saw as a failure is NOT that. We mothers all fail in once way or another…every one of us. Giving children that stable, loving family home is NOT ENOUGH. It’s the eternal home that counts.

  • I enjoyed this post very much!

    Happy Mother’s Day to you!

    No we aren’t perfect mothers.  Jesus is PERFECT!

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