That's Mommy's Job

It seems these days there is a lot of controversy over issues of what happens inside the walls of homes.
That is why I am so thankful that I get to do my job as a mom in a Spirit led way. He is my boss. He is my direction giver. He is the one I look to for all my answers.
I do want to grow in all area's of my life in terms of how I parent, and mother. I want to be all that God can make me to be. This requires me to continually lay down my pride. To continually admit that I do not have this thing all figured out. It continually helps me to strive towards Godly excellence because I know in His hands are wisdom, knowledge and understanding. All things I truly want more of.
At the core I just want kids who learn to love their Maker, exemplify their Creator and who speak His love to all who they come into contact with. It's all about dealing with heart motives. It's not about fixing their bad behavior.
SO in light of what I just listed as things that are on a need to know basis for me, (His will) it seems that I need to get more focused on one thing: Having undivided attention. I need to not be checking my phone, calling friends or wondering when I will accomplish my own selfish to do list. God knows when the things that haven't gotten done yet ought to get done. As I wake up each day, and before my feet hit the floor I can say this: "Lord, take my feet and let them move, at the impulse of thy love." All I do, everywhere I go with my heart, hands and feet can be motivated by His loving direction. His Holy Spirit is there to lead me and orchestrates my days as a composer writes a symphony, the wrong notes are obvious and so it's clear also when the music is played as it ought be. My life is a song, and my existence is His paper. He can write my days, attitudes and thoughts as I let Him have the wand!
I love analogies because they paint a picture that connects the dots.
Anything can be done, but in order to do it WELL, we must be focused on giving Him glory. I can pick my kids up from kindergarten any old day, or I can march in with purpose and a smile on my face and be genuine with my kids. Intentional. Leaving my phone in the car and sitting with them in an undivided state of mind and heart.
God does this with me.
Every time I open His word, and come with an open heart, He speaks. Just to me! And I have His full attention. I need to learn from Him.
No one mother will ever be perfect all the time, but God has given us as mom's all we need to do the job we need to and to do it well. It's just about taking the time, and it's about letting God change our hearts.
Most of my mothering has been about finding those moments for myself so I can relax. Not that I am saying we do not need these moments to relax but God will help us even in finding those as we place our time schedules in His hands and say, "Go." Giving Him permission to run the show frees something up in our minds. It helps us to let go of what we are doing on our own time table, and telling God He has full reign over what happens in and through our days. It isn't just this way with mothering, it's this way in all walks of life, but for me, mothering is where I am at, so that is where I focus.
My children are gifts. Every one of them. They are unique, the are small and innocent, and they need to be encouraged, taught, and most of all they need to be built up and rooted in Christ. This will only happen when the parent is teaching in an authentic, "sold out for Christ" sort of way.
I don't want to teach them to go through the motions. I don't want to tell them (with my actions) that other things are more important then chasing hard after God.
My first concern is that they see Jesus in me. In my attitude, (even when I'm tired) and that they see the love of Christ, (even on the hard days) and joy, (even when it's dark and cloudy) and thankfulness (even when the roof is caving in.) These little eyes that watch me every day can read between the lines, and I want them to be reading Spirit led things. I want them to see the things of God even when I am not trying so hard to teach them.
Does this sound like a lot of work? I used to crawl in a hole and cry because I felt like such a failure as a mother. I yell to much, I'm crabby when I'm tired and I don't want to talk to them until I have had at least 2 cups of coffee. Anyone else feel this way?
I am here to encourage you sweet mommy friends. Listen to this joyful noise that only God can make spring up in us!
He sent His Holy Spirit to guide us as believers in a new way, so that we can be that mom we long to be! We will be all He wants us to be as we simply wake up each day, slip into the mind of Christ, (hang out in His word) and put our hands in His and let Him guide us through the day.
Sometimes it's fun for me to visualize Jesus. I hold out my hands, I smile, I place my hands mid-air and reach for His grasp. It's not fairy-tail, friends, It's reality. Jesus is the most real thing you will ever experience. He is my air.
So each day, when I again feel as though I didn't measure up to the way I wanted to walk through my day, I come before the throne of my heavenly Father, and I kneel. I ask Him for forgiveness for the times I chose my own selfish path in the way I mothered, (whether I yelled in a moment of frustration of shushed them when they were sharing their hearts)  And I accept the forgiveness only He can offer, and then I refresh myself with His word. And I learn. And I pray. And I seek His council.
He is my lifeline. He is my light. He is my map. HE IS EVERYTHING I NEED. He leads me to the best parenting books for this phase of my life, He leads me to the right scripture I need for the source of encouragement I need for that moment. He is it for me.
I can be a joyful, God chasing, God fearing, delight to my children each day, when I rest in Him as my everything.
I am not perfect, and I stumble. Often.
But, God and His grace is where I camp. Join me here? You will never go back to the place you came from once you realize who sweet the water is here.  Mother in the Spirit. You will never look back once you do.