A Mother's Heart

I am reading yet another amazing book. I have said before how much I love good books. I don't just love to read, I just love good books that change me, that make me think. This book is one of those. A Mother's heart by Jean Flemming. Wow!

Here are some things that hit me upside the head so far:

When talking about mom's being underchallenged and bored at home and the Great Commission(Matthew 28:18-20)

"No one who takes Christ's last words seriously need ever feel bored or underchallenged. Unless we mothers relate our lives to God's Great Commision, no matter how noble our goals for ourselves and our children are, we will miss the mark if we fail to experience this redemption personally and involve our lives in helping others experience it.
However, we sometimes view our children as a hindrance to our involvement in God's plan.......We need to remind ourselves and each other that our family is our primary ministry and not a frustrating obstacle to "real" ministry(pg 30)."

I need this reminder often. I love and enjoy my kids, and we are in the process of training them to be respectful of other adults when they are talking. They seem to be especially demanding when I have someone over or trying to talk on the phone, discipleship times and even the times I teach at church and drop them off at their classes.

..."i had nothing visible to show for my day, but i had spent time with God, i had focused attention on my children; I had made people more important than accomplishing tasks...."

"I will walk in my house with a blameless heart"(psalm101:2) When God speaks to me about being more loving, this verse reminds me tomake application with my family first-and then to others. It forces me to ask, "Am I more spiritual, more loving, or more fun somewhere else? Who gets my best, my family or others (pg 53)?"

"The goal of parenting is not for us to decide what we want our children to become and then ruthlessly teach, train, squeeze, badger and cajole them into that mold. Instead we recognize that God has already designed them. God already has a mature person and long range person in mind. Our job is to see our children as God does and involve ourselves in God's plans for them(pg 89)."

"I Corinthians 13, which I have paraphrased,

If I keep my house immaculately clean, and am envied by all for my interior decorating, but do not show love in my family- I am just another housewife.

If I am always producing lovely things-sweing, art; if I always look attractive, and speak intelligently, but am not loving my family-I am nothing.

If I am busy in community affairs, teach sunday school, and drive in the carpool, but fail to give adequate love to my family- I gain nothing.

Love changes diapers, cleans up messes and ties shoes-over and over again.

Love is kind, though tired and frazzled.

Love doesn't envy another wife-one whose children are spaced better, or in school so she has time to persue her own interests.

Love doesnt try to impress others with my abilities and knowledge as a mother.

Love doesnt scream at the kids.

Love doesnt feel cheated because i didnt get to do what i wanted to do today-sew, read, soak in a hot tub.

Love doesnt lose my temper easily

Love doesnt assume my children are being naughty just because their noise level is irritating.

Love doesnt rejoice when other peoples children misbehave and make mine look good. Love is genuinely happy when others are honored by their children."

These are just a few highlights...i HIGHLY recommend this book for mommies!!