Monday, May 21, 2007

Book Review: The Ministry of Motherhood, Ch 5

Chapter Five - On the Mountain a Model for Inspiration

This chapter begins be retelling the Ascension.

"Yet often, I think, we get lost in these multitudinous tasks that rule our lives, and we lose sight of the underlying purpose behind all these tasks, which is to prepare our children to go into the world and make disciples for our Lord.

Jesus promised that h would be with us. He also promised that he will come back. It is to him that we will have to give an account of how faithfully we sought to pass on his message and his commission to our children. Giving our children the gift of inspiration - helping them understand their spiritual purpose, which is to glorify God and to make him known - is one of the most crucial tasks of Christian parenting. " p 66

"Each of our children has been given a specific personality and a particular set of circumstances that will give shape to God's purpose for his or her life. It is our privilege and responsibility as parents to help our children understand their particular fit in God's plan. This means pointing our special skills and talents. It also means helping children realize that God didn't give them such skills and talents just to use on themselves, but to glorify him and bring others to him through the stewardship of their lives. In other words, we are to help them see themselves and their potential and then to inspire them for God's purposes." p 67.

This is one of those times I can almost hear myself talking. I've seen so many parents beat themselves up for the lifestyle their child has been raised in, for not having enough $, for having to many or to few children , or whatever.... and really God has given each child gifts, a personality and CIRCUMSTANCES that can be used by Him.....GOOD thing to hear, isn't it?

"When we remind our children of their eternal significance, using everything from lullabies to bedtime stories to simple phrases such as "I wonder how God will use you in the world?" we help fulfill the deepest need of their hearts to be a part of a kingdom that is much greater than they have ever seen or known. As we give our children the gift of inspiration, we will find ourselves being pulled down the road of our own purpose and significance, and we will intuitively verify the importance of God's design for motherhood." p 68.

Mike and I have worked with a lot of young people. It is so sad how many of them are searching for something BIG and MEANINGFUL, beyond themselves that is worth living and dying for. I think that so many youth are feeling this so strongly because as a society we've turned from God....and God gives this meaning to our hearts.

3 comments:

Lisa in Jax said...

Love this chapter! I really believe in the importance of leading our children to their gifts. It means that we must be close to them to be able to see what those gifts are.

I love how she brings those gifts out to show them how they can be used for God's glory. Excellent chapter!

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

I agree Lisa - this was a great chapter.

jennifer said...

Those same quotes spoke to me, along with "Don't get lost in the multitude of daily tasks. Remember the underlying purpose of the tasks, which is to prepare our children to go into the world and make disciples for the Lord." That is a good reminder for me, because I sometimes feel weighted down by the sheer number of "daily tasks" on my list.