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Modeling Grace as a Mother
by Ann 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 make the worst interpretation of these things. Remember
that there is 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.
Ann Elliott is the author and illustrator of the Christian children's
book series GypsyBridge Friends, and the Christian parenting newsletter
GypsyBridge.
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