Mommy and the Joyful Three 10/24/14
There is an epidemic amongst us, something far more terrifying than any disease. It can come into your home and tear it apart at the seams.
I’m speaking of our spiritual health. It is far more important than the shape of our bodies, for it is eternity that we should be most concerned about.
Too many parents are spiritually fading, caving to harmful temptations, and abandoning their children for them. Too many parents are allowing their problems to disrupt their families.
Raising children must be hard without understanding the love of God. Think about it; how could we possibly know how to love until we understand God’s unconditional love? How do we expect to fulfill our job of being a parent without first finding God’s peace and grace in our own lives?
Family does not mean the same thing it once did. In my son’s kindergarten class, I have been told three children do not have a mother or a father raising them. It is no longer taboo to walk away and wipe your hands of your children; instead society makes excuses for this behavior. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster care are left with the responsibility of bringing up children that some parents find themselves too unhealthy to raise.
While God’s plan sometimes may include a patchwork of people who are not our blood relatives to raise children, showing us that by His blood we are all truly family and that broken homes can be restored, I am talking more about the part-time parents who simply disengage.
Yes, of course, children are better off in households that free from abuse, drugs, addiction and depression. But we should be on guard for much more than that.
My depression caused me to fall away from my children. I felt overwhelmed by my own issues and I in turn began to let others take over for me at times. I sought the help of medical professionals. I sought the help of bad relationships and failing friendships. I sought the help of prescriptions that were made to help, but somehow only made it worse.
There was a hole in my heart, a sadness that felt so suffocating I could not muster the strength to take care of myself let alone my beautiful children.
How many of us know that there is an evil out to destroy families? When Satan sees a happy, whole God-fearing family, it angers him and he in turn attacks with the fierceness of a rabid dog.
You may wonder if this is the case, than how are we supposed to prevent the sickness of sin from entering our household?
Easy, vaccinate yourself with the love of Christ. Set your household firmly on the Word of God and allow Jesus to co-parent with you. The Bible is one of the greatest sources for parenting advice and Satan stands no chance of getting through the cracks of a home that is founded on God’s Word.
A home built upon God’s Word and love will not be shaken.
When I was at my worst, I saw life as a bleak, black hole of hardships. Soon I felt disconnected from the very life that God entrusted me with. I was sick, diseased by sin and incapable of overcoming the problems my family and myself faced.
My saving grace came when my loving aunt saw me at my lowest and told me that she would help me, not by raising my children or by enabling me. Instead, she said, “You will get up today and go with me to church. It’s been awhile and you need to go.” I had tried my own way and I knew she was right.
How God was able to heal my heart and make me whole again took my breath away.
There is much more to this story and the moral may not be found in one article. In a few weeks, I will expand on the godly impact that recreated my heart and home, but for now I am trying to tell you all if you are feeling spiritually weak or sick, it is time to protect your life.
This week, wake up and read your Bible before you log on to the computer. Use the power of prayer to ward off your anxieties. Start one day at a time and I can assure you that you will see a difference.
Do you feel hopeless? It is time to find again the hope that God promised you and the love you may have turned from.
I would love to hear about your own struggles and victories in the comments below. God uses each of us to help heal each other. Your words may help someone else find peace again.
It’s time to restore families. It’s time to restore health to our hearts and homes.
Is Your Family Spiritually Sick?
There is an epidemic amongst us, something far more terrifying than any disease. It can come into your home and tear it apart at the seams.
I’m speaking of our spiritual health. It is far more important than the shape of our bodies, for it is eternity that we should be most concerned about.
Too many parents are spiritually fading, caving to harmful temptations, and abandoning their children for them. Too many parents are allowing their problems to disrupt their families.
Raising children must be hard without understanding the love of God. Think about it; how could we possibly know how to love until we understand God’s unconditional love? How do we expect to fulfill our job of being a parent without first finding God’s peace and grace in our own lives?
Family does not mean the same thing it once did. In my son’s kindergarten class, I have been told three children do not have a mother or a father raising them. It is no longer taboo to walk away and wipe your hands of your children; instead society makes excuses for this behavior. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster care are left with the responsibility of bringing up children that some parents find themselves too unhealthy to raise.
While God’s plan sometimes may include a patchwork of people who are not our blood relatives to raise children, showing us that by His blood we are all truly family and that broken homes can be restored, I am talking more about the part-time parents who simply disengage.
Yes, of course, children are better off in households that free from abuse, drugs, addiction and depression. But we should be on guard for much more than that.
My depression caused me to fall away from my children. I felt overwhelmed by my own issues and I in turn began to let others take over for me at times. I sought the help of medical professionals. I sought the help of bad relationships and failing friendships. I sought the help of prescriptions that were made to help, but somehow only made it worse.
There was a hole in my heart, a sadness that felt so suffocating I could not muster the strength to take care of myself let alone my beautiful children.
How many of us know that there is an evil out to destroy families? When Satan sees a happy, whole God-fearing family, it angers him and he in turn attacks with the fierceness of a rabid dog.
You may wonder if this is the case, than how are we supposed to prevent the sickness of sin from entering our household?
Easy, vaccinate yourself with the love of Christ. Set your household firmly on the Word of God and allow Jesus to co-parent with you. The Bible is one of the greatest sources for parenting advice and Satan stands no chance of getting through the cracks of a home that is founded on God’s Word.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)
A home built upon God’s Word and love will not be shaken.
When I was at my worst, I saw life as a bleak, black hole of hardships. Soon I felt disconnected from the very life that God entrusted me with. I was sick, diseased by sin and incapable of overcoming the problems my family and myself faced.
My saving grace came when my loving aunt saw me at my lowest and told me that she would help me, not by raising my children or by enabling me. Instead, she said, “You will get up today and go with me to church. It’s been awhile and you need to go.” I had tried my own way and I knew she was right.
How God was able to heal my heart and make me whole again took my breath away.
There is much more to this story and the moral may not be found in one article. In a few weeks, I will expand on the godly impact that recreated my heart and home, but for now I am trying to tell you all if you are feeling spiritually weak or sick, it is time to protect your life.
This week, wake up and read your Bible before you log on to the computer. Use the power of prayer to ward off your anxieties. Start one day at a time and I can assure you that you will see a difference.
Do you feel hopeless? It is time to find again the hope that God promised you and the love you may have turned from.
I would love to hear about your own struggles and victories in the comments below. God uses each of us to help heal each other. Your words may help someone else find peace again.
It’s time to restore families. It’s time to restore health to our hearts and homes.
About This Blogger
Erin James is a freelance writer, mother of three, and author of CBN.com's Mommy blog.