We as moms wear so many different hats! I recently read that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the market value of the work of a mom is worth $60,182. We cook, clean, taxi, nurse minor wounds, change diapers, educate, manage household finances, and much more. Sometimes in the midst of all these tasks we just get tired!
In all of our demanding jobs and our sleep deprived exhaustion, let us not lose vision for the most important job of being a mom: raising our children to be lovers of Jesus.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Psalm 127:4
Having vision to raise children who will be counted among the righteous is so vital as a Christian mom. Yet there is so much clamoring for our attention in the name of raising well-adjusted and successful children, that the most important thing gets pushed to the bottom of the pile. Already feeling defeated and insecure in our parenting efforts that just can’t keep up, we console ourselves that we will spend the time teaching them about the Lord tomorrow. The reality is we will always be pushing it back unless we have a clear plan and focus to make it the priority in our parenting.
Here are three simple ways to make raising godly children a priority in the midst of the chaos of life:
- Read the Bible together, taking time to talk about what it means. Memorize the Word as a family. (Psalm 119:11)
- Have a regular family worship time where you sing, dance, and take time to adore Jesus together.
- Pray every day for your children to be faithful lovers of Jesus and found righteous and blameless on the day of His return.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Phil 1:9-11
Remember to take the time to cultivate your own love relationship with your Savior in the midst of the busyness of being a mom. Don’t wait until the kids are older and it is more convenient. They are watching you and when they see you genuinely in love with the Lord, it is hard for them to not want it too!
Let’s rearrange our schedules, if we have to, to make the main thing the main thing: presenting to Jesus children who are righteous and sincere lovers when we stand before Him. Of all we do as moms, this is our highest calling.
In what ways are you walking out the vision of raising children who love Jesus? What is working? What are areas you want to grow in?
Charis (Ka-reese) is a 32 year old mom to 5 boys and wife of 10 years to her best friend Bill. They are a full-time intercessory missionary family giving themselves to oversee The Watch House of Prayer in Redding, Ca. She is involved in raising up godly children, pastoring, leading worship and encouraging people in growing in a life of prayer and pursuit of loving God as the “One Thing” (Psalm 27). She writes regularly at her blog, At the Gate Called Beautiful, where she shares her journeys and encourages other believers to grow in faith together.
Charis, this is beautiful. By grace…thank you for sharing. I love that dollar value expressed. It is so frustrating that the expectations of moms is so high and the value so low! Well, Jesus values us beyond all measure – but I am going to ponder the fact that I am contributor to the income of the home in many ways that are not monetarily compensated and show my hub how much money I actually bring in…;) tee hee. In His Grace with a touch of mischievous humor, Dawn
i too was amazed at the dollar value of the job of a mom! they don’t even realize all that is done in secret and seen by God alone. would love to hear your hubby’s reaction! haha! have a great day raising those lovers of Jesus!!
Enjoyed your post, Charis!
My Grandmother used to tell me stay-at-home moms don’t get paid because no one could pay them enough; so their reward is reserved for Heaven…I think she was on to something! ; )
I’ve learned examples are always best no matter what teaching style you learn best from. So that is what I focus on most. When my son cries, we sit down and pray because that’s exactly what I do when tears start falling. When any of us are grumpy, we crank out the worship tunes and start an impromptu dance session because that always works for me. My oldest is four and I am just starting Bible verse memorization through songs at this point, but it’s a start (and is how I first learned my verses).
Thank you so much for your encouragement today to take another look!
All for Him,
Nikki
your grandmother knew what she was talking about! as i said to dawn, i was amazed when i saw the $ amount as well… no wonder i am so tired at the end of the day!
you are right that showing an example of how it is to love Jesus is the best. i know an amazing mom of 6 girls who always says if you show them what it looks like to be in love with Jesus and simply lead them to Him, He will cause their little hearts to fall in love. the number one thing we can do it let them see us loving Jesus with our lives.
songs are a great way to memorize! i used to struggle in spelling when i was young and my parents would make up songs for me to learn how to spell the words. it totally works! i remember so many verses from the bible that were part of children songs i learned when i was young.
thanks for sharing. great addition to the post!
I love what your grandmother said Nikki.
I feel so overwhelmed that I am not doing enough with my kids all the time, so worried that they will grow up with an idea that believers are full of anxiety and stressed out (like their mom) and just hoping they will still love Jesus when their 18!! Sometimes i think those simple steps you laid out aren’t enough, and other times, I think I can’t even just do that- but for our family, worshipping together has been the one thing that has really helped them see me loving God. I think that no matter what, they need to see how much I love God in the midst of it all.
it was really cool a couple weeks ago we had no kids church and the kids sat with us and they just sat there and watched us worship. It really hit me, that no matter how undisciplined I am with doing devotions with them, as long as I am reading my Bible and worshipping God – and they are witnessing it, there is hope for their relationship with God.
gina, there are many nights that even after doing family devotions i wonder if all they will walk away with is our stress. i really do think the key is what you described so well- them seeing us love Jesus and that it really is our life source.
i know i was affected by watching my mom have worshiping Jesus woven all through her life and i remember that so strongly while she remembers a lot of her imperfections. i remember my dad’s bible in the bathroom and i knew he read it on his own not just in front of us. these are real things that shaped me. also, we need to never lose sight of the power of a mom on her knees crying out for her kids to follow the Lord- i have several friends who credit their entire walk with the Lord now to the prayers of their moms during some rough years. it seems so simple and small but it is powerful!
i am sure you have great ideas of how to expand devotion and worship
time with kids since it is what you do. would love any ideas of what you share with your own kids and the kids at your house of prayer!
Yes chaos. Sometimes I get a bit down on myself when I know my house isn’t as clean as it should be or all my meals aren’t as healthy as they should be or why I can’t figure out how to make it to an appointment with more than 2 minutes to spare. But then, when I hear my child pray to our LORD, I realize I am doing something right. Thanks for the reminder of what our focus should be. Loved your post.
wow annie! you are right – hearing our kids making their faith their own is what it is all about. i too am so tempted to make the urgent the important. but hearing our children pray – the real important. thanks for chiming in!