I do not know where this will lead...already have 7 of them and more in my head. But, I came across this one today and wanted to share it...food for thought:
The Joys of Motherhood
1 John 4:7
By: Serena Kleppinger
In the book of 1 John chapter 4 we read these words: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. I was reminded of these words this week after my latest small group Bible study.
The call to love each other seems clear, crystal clear, as it is stated multiple times in Scripture, using various phrasing to get the point across. You may ask how this relates to motherhood. Well, let me explain.
Those of us who are moms know what an awesome job, experience it is to help raise, mold, and teach our children. We want to find the best car seat to protect them, we read all kinds of books to figure out the right discipline methods, and so on. We get to be ‘experts’ on what it means to be a mom. Well, sometimes we take the ‘expertise’ a little too far when we decide we have the right to tell another mother that how she is choosing to do something is ‘wrong.’
If I have learned anything in my 11 years of being a mother it is this…I know NOTHING! It doesn’t matter how much I read, one of my 3 children will come along and disprove whatever ‘must-have’ idea that’s out at the time. But, we become so sure that we are doing things the RIGHT way that we feel we can tell another woman she’s doing it the WRONG way. WHY?? Why do we do that?? Aren’t we supposed to be all in this together?? Haven’t we been around our children long enough to know that what works for one won’t work for the other even in our own homes, so why are we so arrogant to believe that what works for our children will work for someone else’s child??
The Scriptures are clear. We are to love one another! So, tell me, how is it “loving” to tell another mother she’s doing this whole motherhood thing wrong?? It’s not!! We should not judge one another, we should support one another! We need to be walking side by side in this journey and helping each other be the best mother we can be! If we are striving to live lives pleasing to Christ, then who are we to say the way a woman is raising her child is wrong? Could it be that the way she chooses to discipline, for example, is what Christ has revealed to her as she’s called out for His guidance in how to raise these gifts God has given her??
When you think of it in those terms, we may just think twice before giving OUR opinion as to how someone should be raising their children. Motherhood is hard enough without bickering over who is doing it ‘right’ and who is doing it ‘wrong.’ Instead, let’s find way to love one another! Find a woman you can have a child-swap with – watch her children so she can go get her hair done or something, then have her do the same for you. Find a new mom to come along side to help during those trying moments we’ve all had when we’re certain we’ll never make it! Make a meal for a mom who’s having a rough time! Find a single mom and ask her if she’d like a night out! The ideas are endless, but let’s find away as moms to truly live out 1 John 4:7 and love each other as Christ has loved us!
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