Everyday Moments

Thinking about comments from our Mom's Discussion Group this evening. The topic was on having a servant's heart toward our children, of self-sacrifice in modeling God's love and care for them. Our talk tonight was counter-cultural in our self-seeking, self-interest world. As we read our chapter for the week, we highlight significant statements from The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity by Sally Clarkson. We talk about those statements when we come together. One of mine this week was:

But it's the way I respond to my children in everyday moments that gives me the best chance of winning their hearts.

It's about touching their hearts for eternity. Our children are the only "things" that we can take into eternity with us. They matter more than our personal time and interests and the myriad other distractions that draw our own heart away.

When our heart is in tandem with God's eternal purposes, not so much seems like a sacrifice. We begin to see our children as God sees them, and it powerfully affects us as well as them. Our eyes open to teachable and touchable moments--to show them God's love and care in a fallen down, broken world.

Our children learn much about God by how we respond in those everyday moments.

Painting ~ The Prayer Before Meal 1740, Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin 1688-1779

WikiArt public domain