"Being a mother is like being in the Refiner's fire"

Galatians 5:19-25
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.  I warn you as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

I just started doing a devotional that I found for Amazon Kindle that was free and it’s actually pretty awesome.  Lately I have been realizing I have really missed my time with the Lord, in the Word.  The author of this devotional is a Mom (Jamie Bowman) and it’s called Breathe, 30 Moments with God (For Moms).  At the beginning she starts out by saying that like many Mom’s, she found it difficult to have “quiet time” with God.  Every time she tried to sit down and read her Bible, someone needed something and about waking up before everyone else to do it, yeah that wasn't going to happen (which I personally agree with).  Some people can do it, but I feel like if you can’t get up at 4:30 am that’s okay and you shouldn't feel guilty about it.  Anyway…she created this devotion for Mom’s like herself.  At the beginning she lists a scripture (not the actual verse so that you have to get our your Bible and look it up) and then a reflection on it, application and some questions at the end.  What I listed above was today.  The author commented on how funny it is that the things that Mom’s struggle most with are sandwiched right in between sexual immorality, witchcraft and orgies.  We might harbor jealousy towards another Mom because she potty trained her child before we did; or maybe her stroller or diaper bag is nicer.  Fits of anger?  Yeah…any Mom or Dad knows about that, especially in the toddler phase (which doesn't always end at 2 by the way).  Dissension can exist between spouses when communication breaks down.
For me it’s the fits of anger that get me.  I often feel like an idiot because I’m acting exactly like my kid is and doing the thing I’m attempting to tell them not to.  I feel like I’m getting better but it’s a struggle. 


“Being a mother is like being in the Refiner’s fire.  Daily we are faced with situations in which we can choose to respond.”  Man, if only I could keep this in mind daily…that although it might feel like pulling teeth at times, I am actually being refined through it.  What struck me most today was this, “we can become so set on changing our children’s behavior that we overlook the fact that Christ is trying to change our own behavior as well.”  Wow, such truth.  If I could just tuck this away in the back of my mind for those moments when I feel like punching the wall, crying in my closet, yelling or just giving up.  As much as I would like to see my children learn how to communicate their feelings without screaming and stomping, Christ would like to see me, His precious child, teach my children with love, gentleness, self-control, patience…..I hope this encourages you like it did me.  Seriously, even if it's only 10 minutes a day that we are in the Word, praying, meditating on His truth; that is OK and it's life renewing.

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