Chapter 3

A couple of thoughts from Feminine Appeal, Chapter 3, titled "The Blessings of Loving My Children."

"Moms, you may be up to your earlobes with babies, and dirty diapers. Or you may be spending half your life in the car, driving your children to and from numerous activities. In whatever stage of motherhood you find yourself, may I remind you of something? It won't last very long. In Psalm 90 Moses depicted the reality of the brevity of life. He compared our lives to a watch in the night, a dream, grass that flourishes and then fades - all brief and fleeting images. Then he prayed this way: 'So teach us to number our days.' (v. 12). Have you numbered your days lately? If we pause to count the remaining days we have with our children, we will realize how few there are. This awareness will help to safeguard us from neglecting a tender love."

She goes on to say later in the chapter:

"So if today you missed opportunities to show a tender love, or if you neglected to pray for your children, or if you were impatient with them, and even if you lost your smile and feel like a completely failure as a mother - take heart! God's grace is sufficient for you. Look to the cross where Christ died. There He purchased forgiveness for our sins and power to grow in godliness. Not one of us is equal to this task of mothering, but He will help us in our weakness."

I was really convicted by this chapter. I so often give my kids an impatient answer or a sigh of exasperation. What kind of example does that set for them? And when I think about how little time I have with them in the scheme of life, I realize how much I need to redeem the time and spend that quality time loving my family. :)