Mom Heart Moments #105

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

A SWEET MOM ONCE WROTE me a letter to say she and her friends were reading through Ministry of Motherhood together and really enjoyed it, but it was a little overwhelming because it seemed I was consistently positive about my children and acted loving toward them. Then she asked if I truly always felt that way!

We all go through seasons when we wonder if some of our children came from another family. Sometimes we wonder if we even like them, and sometimes we just wish we could escape!

I learned very early in my Christian life about the concept of obedience. Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15, NLT). So, obedience is a response that comes out of love, not feeling. Many times I do the right thing even though the feelings don’t match. In other words, I know it is right to act in a loving, patient manner toward my children or to respect Clay —even when I don’t feel like it! Because I want to love Jesus well, I obey. What I’ve found out is that my feelings follow my actions. In other words, the more I obey the Lord in serving my children and encouraging them, the more of an investment they become to me, and the more I cherish them.

Growth is a long process. My deep love and reverence for my children has grown through many, many years of cherishing them, sometimes because I truly felt loving and enjoyed them —and sometimes purely out of faith! As in a garden, whatever you water and nourish most is what will flourish. If you water the garden of family and children and love and lifegiving words and beauty, it will grow and flourish —it is a long-term work.

Are you practicing obediently cherishing your children? Do you see loving them well as part of your obedience to God?