Knights Becoming and a Lady in Waiting

A Mother's Purpose

Princess Moo (4DD11mo)  wouldn't sleep tonight, so I was sitting in her room, near her bed.  That calmed her enough that she would doze off before her tummy (I think she had gas) woke her up again.  Then she would see me, stir a bit, and go back to sleep.

I'm not very good at sleeping on her bedroom floor and her crib doesn't fit by my bed, so I was just sitting there, waiting.  Then (duh), it occurred to me that this was the perfect time to get in some prayer time.  While I was praying for each of my children's salvation, it hit me like a lightning bolt: this was my purpose as a mother.  Not to feed, clothe, and bathe my children (although they tend to appreciate that motherly aspect the most).  Not to teach my children, both esoteric facts and Godly ones (the aspect they often appreciate the LEAST).  No, my purpose was to pray daily for my children's salvation and to-- prayerfully, hopefully-- lead them to salvation someday.

In the book The Power of Prayer, R.A. Torrey says this:

Oh, mothers and fathers, it is your privilege to lead every one of your children to the Savior.  But it costs something to have them saved.  It takes much time alone with God, to be much in prayer.  It costs also your making those sacrifices, and straightening out those things in your life that are wrong; it costs fulfilling the conditions of prevailing prayer.  And if any of you have unsaved children, get alone with God and ask Him to show you what it is in your own life that is responsible for the present condition of your children, and straighten it out at once and then get down alone before God and hold on to Him in earnest prayer for the definite conversion of each one of your children.  Do not rest until, by prayer and by your putting forth every effort, you know beyond question that every one of your children is definitely and positively converted and born again.

What a blessing-- and what a responsibility!  To know that my sins (NOT my failures) could be keeping my children from salvation is a sobering and humbling thought. 

18 'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.'

Numbers 14:18

Yes, we are now under grace, but there are still physical and spiritual consequences to our sins that play out, not only in our own lives, but in the lives of our children and our children's children.  It is part of our legacy to them.

Oh, how I ache at this thought!  My temper issues, like those of my father before me, will be paid for in my children.  The sooner that I give over all my anger and rebellion to God, the less the impact.  The sooner my heart is cleansed of any sin I am holding onto, the more effective my prayers for my children's salvation.

Dear Lord, take this burden from me and give me your patience, peace, gentleness, and love in its place.  I've kept my children home... now help me bring them home.

you are great

7:59 AM, Aug. 30, 2006 .. Posted by Juliestew

hey,
thanks for the sequential spelling link. thats the one i was thinking about. sorry for the lack of the apostrophe in thats. for some reasjon my key board is doing some funky things this morning. ugh....computers!!!

hope you have a terrrific day with your kids.
julie

Untitled Comment

9:33 AM, Aug. 30, 2006 .. Posted by tallenmomof5

Thanks for the wake up call this morning!

Maybe we should do a blog together to save time searching for eachother's comments. :)

Now that would be quite a read!