A Mom Just Like You.....My Journey through Life with 8 Children....

• Feb. 27, 2009 - Focusing and Always Doing Our Very Best....

Focusing and Always Doing Our Very Best... My sweet little 4 yr old YiYi just loves to color, write draw and anything else if it includes some kind of writing utensil and paper. As a matter of fact her twin sister YoYo is the exact same way. They will do schooling for hours, at their own request. Whether they are working on schooling or on some job that we assigned them to do, they will focus very hard and they do their absolute best. When they are done with their jobs they cheerfully come back and ask us what's next. From early on, in our children s lives, we instill the concept that whatever they do they are to do it to the best of their ability.  Good and Godly character is what we are striving to instill and build into their hearts and lives.  What they do and where they go will represent to others who they are.  They are also standing as representatives for our family as well as God's family too.  So it is important to us to be sure that our beliefs are well defined and that what they are modeling, with their actions, reflects the standards by which we live by. We don't ever want to be known as lazy, deceitful, complaining, discontent or dishonest people.  So we always strive to be hard working dedicated people in all that we do. We strive to do nothing less than our very best. From oldest down to the youngest we expect the same kind of attitude from each and everyone of them. By teaching this concept to our children we are developing a lifelong habit for them. This is a habit that will benefit and bless them in so many ways throughout the course of their life.  With time and repetition, this healthy habit, will eventually turn into a behavior that becomes second nature to them.  One day they will reach a point where they will no longer even have to think about doing it, they will just naturally do it.  It will become part of who they are. Doing something to the best of their ability also means that they take the time to be sure they are doing the job right. If they are unsure of how to do something, one of our family rules is, "When we don't know something, we ask." And most importantly they must always complete their task. They are to go from start to finish.  Sometimes children need to be lovingly, reminded, and encouraged to complete whatever task they may have started.  If you do not require that they finish the tasks they start in life, they will tend to carry that over into their adult life. Most likely (not always there are some exceptions) they will grow up to be irresponsible lazy adults who will never really complete or accomplish much of anything in their life. So by not taking the time to train this standard into your children and setting that standard while they are still young is actually doing them a huge disservice. Something I like to do is put praise music on so that they are learning to do all their jobs with a song in their heart. When we work with a song in our heart, we tend to be cheerful.  I think it would be pretty hard to be grumpy while singing songs of praise to the Lord. Having that cheery attitude in our hearts and songs of praise on our tongues helps us to see whatever it is we are doing in a whole different light. I believe that is why God says to be thankful in all situations. He said it for our own good because He knew that it would bring us joy instead of misery. I also encourage my children to take pride in their work and to be proud of their accomplishments. I don't mean for them to be prideful that is totally different than just being proud of the hard work they just accomplished. It makes your already cheerful heart even more cheery and encourages you to want to do more and to do it again. If our children work with a complaining or discontent heart it is completely impossible for them to do their very best and they will definitely not look forward to doing it again. Attitude is everything moms God emphasizes having the right attitudes of the heart and the importance of it. As mothers we need to be sure we are modeling the right attitude in all that we do. If we complain and are discontent our children will see it and they will do the same. How can you correct a child for having a poor attitude when they are only copying what they see you do? How can you require something of your children that you yourself are not willing to do? So that is why, when we teach and model to our children, the right attitude of the heart, in regards to doing work, it becomes a part of them and it will not be a battle inside of them later on in life. As long as they are doing their very best that is all that we ask of them. Each child is unique and different so be sure to get to know each one of your children mom.  Take the time to find out what is the best motivator for each one of them. Reaching out to them allows them to want to give you their hearts. When you have your child's heart you can teach them anything. They will want to listen to you and please you. So be sensitive to each child's individuality and work with them on that. I also always encourage my children to continue to grow throughout their life in every area of their life.  Expand in what they know and strive to improve in everything they do. Don't just except what you know and plant yourself there. No keep expanding and growing in all areas . I am always growing and learning something new or learning more on something I already know and my children see that.  I almost always have them by my side learning with me or I share with them the new things I learned! I am modeling for them what I would like to see them also do. Here's to doing everything we can to the best of our ability always!! Dearest Lord, I thank you for the gift of knowledge. I thank you for the ability to learn new things, and to grow in the areas I have already been gifted in by you. Help me to always be one who likes to share what I have learned, not in a prideful way but in a caring way. I love to help others and save them time having to figure everything out on their own so help me to always reach out and I pray my children stay that way too. Show me the areas you want us to be learning and show us the areas you want us to be sharing. Help anyone who reads this and struggles to build confidence in you oh Lord. Help them see they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them (paraphrased ) Philippians 4:13. May pride never enter any of our homes, minds and hearts! Give the big dose of confidence and encouragement to these precious women and also direct us in our learning for we want to be learning things that glorify you will benefit our families and others. Not things that are mindless and a waste of time learning! In Jesus name I pray~Amen!

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