Do you ever wonder how well you’re doing as a parent? Are you getting through to those sweet little minds? Are you leading them well? Are they growing closer to the Lord because of your influence in their lives? If you really want to know, all you need to do is hand them a few dolls.

Yesterday I was lying on the couch while two of my daughters played with their dolls across the room. My rest was quickly interrupted by the sound of fighting. But upon closer listening they weren’t fighting. They were playing. And the mom was not a favored character in their play.

“Do you girls think of me like that?” I asked.

“No, we’re just playing pretend,” they answered.

But I saw the younger one hesitate. And I was hurt to the middle. The words they were ‘pretending’ were very true to life. I’ve heard myself talk like that. Inside I knew that I was building a crumbling foundation for them.

The oldest tried to make an excuse for her doll.

“She’s tired cause the baby kept her up all night.”

I wouldn’t let her comfort me. I didn’t show that I was hurt, but I wonder if a part of her knew that this was uneasy for me. Knowing that I’m teaching my children to live off feelings rather than for the Lord. No, I let the pain sink in. After all, how else am I going to grow stronger without some pruning? It was the ache in my heart that would remind me to speak kindly when my nature wants to be harsh.

I can’t even begin to imagine what Peter felt like when Jesus called him Satan. Here, the first disciple called to follow Him. What an honor! And now Peter looks into his saviors eyes trying to comfort him only to be reprimanded.

[Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection]

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
{Matthew 16:21-23 ESV}

Sometimes we don’t need comfort. We need the truth. No amount of coddling will grow us into a better person. A better follower. More often than not we need stripped of our comforts and shown how our lives are effecting others. Are we making any impact at all? If so, is it drawing people closer to Christ?

Is it any surprise that Peter later encourages others to put their old selves to death and to focus fully on their new lives in Christ?

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

{1 Peter 1:13-16 ESV}

Who better to receive these words from than the one who has walked through them? The words he spoke to Jesus were so very worldly, but in his heart he intended them to comfort. We have such good intentions at times. But it’s time to stop living and speaking to comfort hearts and speak to save souls.

Check yourself. Are the words you speaking meant to lift others up or to lift up His name?

Blessings!

I used to be a morning person. I’m talking annoying morning person. I’d literally spring out of bed, race to the shower, get dressed and eat breakfast and bound out of the house before anyone was even awake. My favorite job? Barista at a small coffee shop. I would be the only one there during my shift and got to socialize with all the locals. I was a fresh Christian and on the forefront of my mind was that I had the ability to determine how somebody’s day would go. So I’d smile and speak kind, loving words. Praying continually. Enjoying every moment I could make another person smile.

And then I had kids.

And now I was the one who needed the coffee.

I miss those days and how easy it was to start my day off right. How I had enough energy and compassion to encourage others as well. Where did that fire go?

I’m happy to say that through the encouragement of a dear friend I have been waking up every morning to read the Bible. Actually, a small group of us have been. We e-mail each other every morning and let the others know that we are awake and tell what we are reading from the Bible. And can I tell you how encouraging it is to have this beautiful accountability? We are all moms with two or more children. There have definitely been times my little ones have hobbled down the stairs in the wee hours while I’m trying to read. That’s ok. If I have to stop then I’ll continue in the afternoon but usually they’re kind enough to sit on the couch or at the table and wait for breakfast. Or I sneakily distract them into doing something else in order to buy myself a few extra minutes.

This all began from the blog Inspired to Action.

She has a wonderful e-book that explains how to create a morning plan. God bless her, she has exercise in there. I’ll try and add that in come October. Baby steps, right? Can I tell you that I’m slowly feeling that spring coming back into my step? Without an alarm clock the Holy Spirit has been waking me at 6:27. Every. Single. Morning. I love it! But most of all I love that I’m back in His word! I so easily allowed my exhaustion to keep me away from reading. So many excuses to choose from. I’ll read after the laundry. After homeschool. After dinner. After bathtime. Oh I’ll read tomorrow. But tomorrow would bring the same excuses. A terrible cycle that seemed unbreakable. Until a sweet soul, determined to not allow the needs of the world get between her and God, invited a few of us to hold each other accountable every morning.

Do you know of a few friends whom you could join together with? Would you be willing to be the encourager? The one that re-ignites a tired mothers passion for the Lord? Send that email invitation out. Make that phone call. Hold each other accountable and encourage each other in your walks with the Lord. It will change your days!

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)