My reading in “Loving the Little Years” this week really had some convicting and encouraging meditations for me.

The chapter “To the Fifth Power” was a very good reminder to me about how quickly and easily we can blame-shift onto our children when things get harried and stressful around the home.  Rachel describes a situation in the home such as we all have had, with a crying baby needing to be changed, a child missing a shoe, and we are all late for church already.  Then, one of the children does a minor infraction. Yes, it need to be lovingly addressed.  Yes, what they did was sin. But, instead of dealing with it in a godly, loving way…we take all of our tension of the moment and pour it onto that child, by dealing harshly.  How many of us moms of many can relate to this situation that happens all to often?

In  chapter 10,”Know your Sheep”  Rachel again hits the nail on the head…bigtime.  She addresses the trap that outward order is the priority.  As a neat freak and OCD perfectionist this can be a real downfall for me.  And in fact, this goes right along with my ebook- Embracing the Mess.  I so often focus on whether the schedule is going perfectly, the house is tidy, everything ship shape…but what about the hearts?  We must be pastoral in the raising of our children, not militant.  Look at this quote:

“This is why you may have known families who seemed to have it all together. Everyone to his own military bunk. Dinner from the crockpot at 6:00 pm on the dot. Family worship in the living room.  Children quietly doing the dishes afterwards.  Then, as the children hit their teen years, you start to see that alongside all that organization was some serious neglect and hurt.

It is possible to organize your children right out of the church.

So while your children are little, cultivate an attitude of sacrifice.  Sacrifice your peace for their fun.  Prioritize your children far and away above the other work you need to get done. They are the only part of your work that really matters.”

So mothers, this weekend…let’s be a pastor to our children and care for our little sheep God has given us.

Would you like to jump in and join us?

Loving the Little Years