Mother’s Day is the day set aside to honor those who have loved us and raised us, either physically or spiritually. But many women hate days like Mother’s Day because it hurts. It may hurt because there is no mom to honor, either because she has physically passed from this earth, or maybe she is not one worthy of honor. As we parent three children who are learning to heal from the pain of being rejected by their birth mother, we get to see that pain up close. The pain is real!
It’s been funny watching my little kids try to secretly make plans for Mother’s Day. After all they have been through I am so grateful their hearts are still tender and willing to love. This is our third Mother’s Day together.
The thing I can’t get them to understand is that all I really want is for all my family, big kids and little kids, to be gathered around my table to eat… drink… and laugh! There really is little more that I desire than to be with my family and enjoy being together… to walk in harmony together. That most likely won’t happen this year as there are still some struggles… BUT I am blessed beyond measure and I WILL enjoy the goodness of the Lord.
I received this question in response to yesterday’s post When Mother’s Day Hurts- Rebellious Children
Could you give examples of the difference between “lifestyle” and “sin”?
A friend of ours has a 22yo son who has completely walked away. He is going to college (they’re paying for it), comes home with his friends and smokes marijuana while mom does his laundry, his girlfriend lives in the dorm room with him, he won’t go to church, talks negatively about God, the pastoral staff, the believers in our church, etc.
Mother’s Day is not a joyous occasion for all moms. Many moms suffer heart ache. They long for what could have been or what should be. Their heart’s desire is to have a happy family, to have their children grow and mature into their friend as they become adults.
I don’t know too many mothers that have not suffered heartache at the hand of a child. I know personally how deep that pain is, I’m not sure if there is a deeper pain. It is as if your own flesh is attacking you.
As I told you yesterday we had a really nice Christmas weekend. For those of you that have been here a while you know that life here is not perfect. We’ve experienced rebellion and our son leaving home on not-so-good terms at 18. I don’t want to share the details of this publicly because it is also his story and when he is ready to talk about, if ever, then WE may share it.
Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens
Here is an excellent resource for parenting teens.
You can get it for under $3 (plus shipping) at Amazon.
This one is great if you are trying to win the heart of a younger child.
This weekend our girls attended the Rebelution Conference put on by Alex and Brett Harris, the authors of Do Hard Things.
The Rebelution is all about encouraging teens to rebel against low expectations. I believe that our culture has lowered the standard so much that we actually expect very little from our young people, not just academically, but also morally. What we expect from them concerning character, manners and skills is at an all time low. There are several reasons why we have come to this place, which you can read about in the book .
When I refer to a "child" in this post I am referring to older teens or adult children.
There are many parents that have raised their in kids in Godly homes, parents that have walked the talk (imperfectly), not just talk the talk, and yet some still have "issues" with a child and sometimes more than one child.
In some families all of the children turn out to be responsible and kind, loving the Lord with all their heart and having strong character; with the exception of one child.
