In Other Words: Builders

 

Afew days ago,  I had this conversation with my five year old daughter at the laundry line:

Daughter:  “Mama, when I am a mom, can I tell my kids what to do?”
Me:  “Yes honey.”    slight pause . . .
Daughter:  “When I am a mama, I am going to let my kids have a popsicle whenever they want.” 
Me:  “Really?” (not knowing what to say . . . and another longer pause.)
Daughter: “Mama? . . . can I have a popsicle now?”
Me (knowing I would win the meanest mom award of the day): “No honey, your room is still not cleaned up.”    Daughter leaves with a long sigh.  It didn’t work.  But my husband and I sure got a chuckle out of it . . . one of those treasured little moments we tuck away in our hearts and will hopefully remember when she is a mama. (But then “I” will be the grandma and give her children popsicles whenever they want!)

As moms we have a lot of building to do.  I am in the process of building ten lives . . . and included in building these ten lives is building godliness and character.  It’s work, just like building a house.  Sometimes we have to tear old walls down – where we let things slip and God convicts us to make changes.  We find that we allowed things to be built on sand rather than solid ground – solid on God.    It’s not an easy job, and many times it appears we are that  ”mean mom” who says no.  Yet, sometimes we have to give in – even to letting my little girls have a popsicle when their bedroom is not clean – and my laundry is not caught up.  Taking that time out to build memories, share secrets, laugh and giggle and share the goodness of God.  Yes, as the world throws at us so many negatives, it can be a struggle as a mom to find the positives.  Teens especially know how to “push the buttons” and keep mom on the edge.  It’s so hard to not nag and forget to build them up and look past some of the flaws.  Yet, we need to build them up in God – not in the world, and though I might win that “mean mom award”, I don’t want to lose them either. 

“Every wise woman builds her home, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands”
Proverbs 14:1

We as women are to build our homes (on solid ground) and watch over the affairs of our household, and if we are not, we are instead plucking it apart.  That’s scary.  We may need to get back to the building, and remodeling, knowing God’s mercies are new every morning.  It’s not just building our children’s lives, but also letting God build ours and remodel ours, after Him.

 

This week, Chelsey is hosting “In ‘Other’ Words” at her site, “Joyfully Living For His Glory“.  Be sure to visit her site and the links to the other women who have shared on this quote.  Then come back here on Friday, for next Tuesday’s new quote for In ‘Other’ Words.Be blessed.

~

~ by Loni on July 22, 2008.