Modeling Grace as a Mother
By Anne Elliot
Mothers have an incredible role in determining the future of the
country. No, not in voting for education or against gun control,
though those things are important. The immense power that mothers
have is in forming the lives of the future generations.
Our children learn what love is from us, who God is, ethics and
social behavior, and patience in their closest relationships, from
their mothers. It was recently in the news that we are the PR
department for our husbands; how we interpret their father's actions
is the point of view our children accept. No doubt this is true of
their siblings and teachers and community leaders as well.
Life is stressful, and it is in the fallen nature of humans to hurt
each other. Our co-workers are not always respectful, our children
don't always get along, our husbands aren't as thoughtful as we would
like, or perhaps there are examples in all of these where people are
actually malicious and mean. But remembering that our attitudes
toward events and people is a powerful ingredient in forming our
children's lives can give us grace not to take the worst
interpretation of these things. Remember that, no doubt, your
children's adult lives will be filled with these same types of
occurrences. You have the power now to give them the attitudes of
grace that will enable them to handle these situations successfully.
Sometimes just considering that the next generation of husbands, co-
workers, and yes, children, will have the same human nature as this
generation is enough for us to adjust our point of view. It's not as
personal as we might like to feel it is. Modeling for our
children `the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,' is a
powerful example of living victoriously.
About the Author
Ann Elliott is the author and illustrator of the Christian children's
book series GypsyBridge Friends, and the Christian parenting
newsletter GypsyBridge News. For fun children's activities,
animation, songs, educational books, and parenting articles go to
GypsyBridgeFriends.com.
