Two Ways to Love Your Child Today
I have five children. Five. It seems like a lot. I guess it is. I’ve learned the secret to loving your children and it has nothing to do with hugs. Ok. Hugs are good. But keep reading to find two ways to love your child today.
Laundry and teaching have a lot in common. We will always be doing laundry. Similarly, we will always be teaching. Our families will always have dirty clothes and our children will always need to be taught something. My laundry piles up about twice a week now. I realize that might be nice for some of you, who end up doing maybe four or five loads a day. Before children, I did laundry once a week. As my children grow, as a result, so does the laundry! Soon I will need to be doing laundry every day. My children remind me every day that they need to be taught things as well. As a mother of small ones, I hear myself saying things like:
“Stop that.”
“Don’t touch that.”
“It isn’t nice to push.”
“Please stop blowing in my face – you cannot continue to blow in people’s faces.”
“Put away your dish, please.”
“Remember to flush!”
We teach our children to …
…be potty trained.
…wash their hands.
…pray.
…eat with a fork.
…sing songs.
…be respectful.
…be kind.
…not invade personal space.
How can we love when love is hard?
So many books and blogs on motherhood speak about doing the everyday things. Sometimes they say it is hard. They might say it is lonely. Sometimes they encourage you to “get through it.” Or, “this is only a season.” Teaching your children and laundry are not seasons. We will always be teaching. We will always be doing laundry (and dishes and mopping). Firstly, it can be discouraging. Second, it can be disheartening. Lastly, it can be tiring. How do we escape the discouragement?
Love. It may seem too simple, but it is not. Loving is so very hard. How can you love someone after they just threw-up all over you? What about loving something that takes all of your mental energy? How can we love while serving whether it be laundry, dishes, mopping, or teaching?
Two Ways to Love Your Child Today
1. Love the person, not the job.
Proverbs 10:12 says “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” (ESV)
We love our family and want them to have clean clothes. That is why we do laundry. We love our family and want them well-fed.
As a result, that is why we fix dinner every night. We love our children. That is why we continue to teach, discipline, and guide them. In other words, you do not have to love the fact that you told your three-year-old to flush for the 100th time. You only have to love that little three-year-old. Additionally, you do not have to love the fact that your five-year-old still tries to get your attention by blowing in your face. You only must love your five-year-old. And you do not have to love the baby’s dirty diapers. You only must love the baby. Loving that person allows us to focus on who we are serving, instead of trying to just serve.
2. Love with Jesus’ help.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit (love!); for without Me you can do nothing….As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love.” (NKVJ)
This is key. Moreover, this is the strength behind how we love. Only through Jesus’ help can we truly love. Our own love will fade and eventually fail. We have all tried to love someone on our own. Eventually, we fall short.
Only with Jesus’ love, living through us and aided by the Holy Spirit, can we truly continue to love those around us. Loving people is hard work. In other words, it takes more than you have. It takes more than I have. Filling ourselves with Christ each day and striving to keep His commandments is the only way to be able to love freely.
The Secret to Loving Our Kids in Motherhood
How do you continue to love in laundry (and the rest of motherhood)? Here is the secret.
1. Read God’s Word daily.
2. Pray daily.
3. Rest daily.
Finally, friend, if I can encourage you in ANYTHING it is this: YOU ARE NOT TOO BUSY TO READ YOUR BIBLE. It will be your lifeline. Don’t stop. Hold on tight.
Need a little hope?
Are you facing a season of loneliness, grief, depression, anxiety, or even hopelessness?
God says no darkness is too dark for Him.
(Psalm 139:14)
In conclusion, that same God who formed the stars holds your hand, even in the dark. Our hope may seem insignificant, but the scripture teaches that our hope is secure in Jesus Christ.
Join me for a 7 day hope challenge!
Sarah E. Frazer is a writer and Bible study mentor at sarahefrazer.com. She is the wife of Jason and mother of five who all serve as full-time missionaries in Honduras. Her passion is to encourage women to fall in love with the Bible. Sarah is the author of several Bible study resources for women. She shares tools for deep-rooted Bible study at sarahefrazer.com. Follow her on Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/sarah_e_frazer) and join her free prayer challenge at sarahefrazer.com/prayer
