Babies don’t come with an instruction manual. But with all the how-to books and unsolicited advice directed at us as mothers, it’s easy to feel like we can’t measure up. When we’re up all night and surrounded by laundry all day, it’s easy to forget why we’re doing what we’re doing.
Sometimes we just need to pause and remember that children are a blessing from the Lord. And that He gives us grace for each moment, strength for every day.
Mandy J. Hoffman 8 Minute Read As a young mom, I would browse the parenting section of our local Christian bookstore only to become overwhelmed by all the choices. Brightly colored covers offered a new kid by the end of the week and tips on how to parent without going crazy. Other titles offered comfort with their claims to teach me…
Jeannie 7 Minute Read I have long wanted to be the parent who doesn’t just dole out punishments when my children disobey. My goal isn’t to produce a little army of “yes men” who blindly obey anyone in authority. I want to raise confident, competent adults who have the inner strength to honor God regardless of what the rest…
Natasha Metzler 5 Minute Read I used to devour books by the dozens. I’d read theology, fiction, memoirs—whatever I could get my hands on. Except one thing. I didn’t ever read devotionals. (Well, except that one time I picked up a Guideposts and read the whole years’ worth in one sitting.) The problem was they only took like 2.3 seconds to read…
Hayley Novak 8 Minute Read Last week, tilted back in the dentist’s chair, unable to speak, I listened to the technician praise my kids. “They are amazing. I wish every kid was like your kids. They’re so good.” I couldn’t argue with her or let her know the true reality since I couldn’t talk, so I decided to just bask…
Caroline Rose Kraft 10 Minute Read Dear Adoptive Families, You may be wondering why I’ve called you all here today. You are probably already on the defense, expecting me to ask you all sorts of inappropriate questions. You have little laminated notecards in your purse with “auto-responders” for queries such as, “How much did your kids cost?” and “Are they real…
Natasha Metzler 8 Minute Read I did not think of myself as someone who had it all together, but I suppose I came off as one who did. So many children had passed through my care that dozens of moms asked for input on parenting, never mind that I was a single, childless woman. After I married and infertility became…
Jeannie 2 Minute Read Earlier this year I was struggling with guilt. I mean, really struggling. Nearly every day there was some sort of failure in my life, something I wished I’d done better, some area I didn’t measure up to my own standard. I got impatient with my toddler. I didn’t keep the toys picked up. I let…
Jessiqua 5 Minute Read Little arms wrap around my waist as my young son hugs me from the side. I’m busy changing his baby brother’s diaper, so I hardly pause to ruffle his hair. “You’re beautiful, Mommy,” he suddenly says. That surprises me. I look down into my boy’s sparkling eyes. Honesty brims in his heartfelt gaze. He means…
Guest Author 3 Minute Read by Charlotte Gray Hey you, Yes, you, the one who is a mother without documentation to prove it. The one who has given mother-love to those who didn’t come from your body. The one who wipes snotty noses at a daycare. The one who dries tears at the playground. The one who babysits for free…
Callie Mitchell 5 Minute Read I will never forget the first sight of her itty bitty wiggly body, or hearing the sound of her dainty feminine cry! At long last, my baby was here! The doctor scooped her up and laid her on my chest. As we snuggled on our living room couch, skin-to-skin, full of tears, joy, relief, and…
Gretchen Louise 8 Minute Read I first caught the vision when I heard someone share during a funeral at our church. The man’s grandson reflected on many memories, but said that the one impression that would never fade was what he saw each morning during visits to their home. He’d awake to find his grandparents sitting at the kitchen table reading the Bible…
Callie Mitchell 6 Minute Read The siren sounded and I wasn’t ready. For several days I had this nagging thought that I needed to prepare a bag for a quick trip down to the bomb shelter, if it came to that. Israel was engaging in Operation Pillar of Defense, and we were living through it. With the battle in…
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The End.