Mommy Life: To Moms who need a fresh start

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March 21, 2006 9:14 AM

To Moms who need a fresh start

I receive a lot of mail from mommies who need to make a fresh start - like this one this morning:

But I am SOOO excited to get this book now, even though I didn't make the top ten!! (I was planning on buying it anyway if I didn't make the top ten!) Thank you so much for doing this fun contest, it will put your book in so much more perspective as I strive to "Meet Him in the Laundry Room".

I feel like I am at a real "turning point" in my mama life--like so much of the info I have read for years is finally taking hold of my heart, it seems. It took 4 children to feel this way. I feel I'm just getting started!

I wrote:

I'm thrilled to hear where you are right now in your motherhood journey! Even those of us who/ve already made a fresh start at sometimes have to come to grips with the fact that we've slacked off - as you can see in my recent post about family devotions.

It's always an exciting journey when you're moving forward, though!

Love,
Barbara

If you've been around here a while, you know my style is to always be honest and quick to repent when I find myself in the wrong. Accountability and transparency are so important. And since I share so much publicly about the things I've learned to do right, i also am compelled to share when I find myself falling short. Otherwise I'd be a hypocrite.

A couple months ago as part of a longer entry, Mothers in the Hands of a Merciful God, I wrote:

Will we make mistakes? Of course we will. Think how young and inexperienced we were when we started! God doesn't call the equipped - he equips those he calls. And just like the all-too-human characters in the Bible, we will live lives filled with the good, the bad, and the ugly. The important thing is to be like David – humble and teachable and quick to repent – rather than like Saul. To not expect perfection from ourselves – because only God is perfect – but to lean on him to reveal how we can become more like him each day.
Parenting isn't just about us helping our kids reach their potential - it's about God helping us reach ours. All of God's children have free will - even those with whom he walked in the Garden of Eden. God will not judge us by results - how our kids turn out or how they feel about us.

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

I don’t know about you, but I find that very reassuring!

Love,