Do you ever wonder if you are raising your kids the right way? I do. I wonder if I am teaching them and living out a good example for them. How do I teach these Little Blessings to love Jesus? To find true satisfaction in Him alone..
Do you like a good flash back? Let me set the stage for this behind the scenes look at our family:
Satisfaction is the pursuit of every American. We indulge every sense we can in an ever illusive pursuit of joy, happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction. We over eat to enjoy, under eat to be beautiful, over dress to impress, underdress to entice, binge watch, over spend and so much more.
Always seeking a satisfaction that feels just out of reach.
This induction into the crazy cycle of life starts almost at birth in our culture. It teaches us who we are and what we need to seek to reach the goal.
I learned early on in life that I was not enough. That is the message isn’t it?!?!
- You need more stuff to be satisfied.
- We need to look different to find love that satisfies.
- A better job will bring satisfaction
Early on I believed I would never be beautiful enough for love. Do you ever believe the enemies lies? If love was out of reach I would settle for acceptance.
We Settle don’t we…
The lies of the enemy really sink into our soul don’t they!?!?!
Satisfaction was too far out of reach, until I met Jesus.
Jesus loved me before I ever met Him. I didn’t realize how much He loved me until I started being a disciple instead of just a Christian… Crazy to believe that a man who lived over 2000 years ago could bring true satisfaction. No-one I have known in this life has ever loved me unconditionally. But Jesus does.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Jesus shows us what True Beauty means. How love is not based on what we look like or how we perform. Love is a choice. Love shows beauty bravely no matter what.
Just as I stepped off this cycle of satisfaction and discontentment I became a mom.
It has been my joy to be the mom of 2 beautiful Little Blessings. I am truly blessed to pour love into their lives and raise them up knowing Jesus and His love.
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But the crazy cycle that I left is still active and enticing.
My oldest is just entering her Tween years. Already she wrestles with self worth, beauty and identity. I watch her agonize over what to wear to church and cry if she thinks others laugh at her. Crazy, where did that come from?!?!
She is the picture of beauty, yet she doesn’t believe it.
1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.
How can I teach her to find true satisfaction in Jesus alone?
I tell her, I show her, I go out of my way to demonstrate who she is, who Jesus is and how that should make all the difference.
But at this point she is her own person – making her own choices. All I can do is equip her, pray for her and watch as she begins to own her faith.
My faith isn’t enough. She needs to own her faith in Jesus.
She chose Him, but like all of us, she has to walk in it, learn and grow in it. That is so hard to watch. I want to help her, save her from all of my mistakes. But I can’t. She has to live her life.
I am always searching for Resources to help her on this journey. Earlier this summer I was offered a Free copy of Brave Beauty to review. I jumped at the chance because that is what I am working through with M.
Brave Beauty is a great tool to help grow a young girls faith and her identity in Christ.
- It is written in a simple language.
- The study does not always give her the verse it reverences so she needs her bible alongside it.
- I love when studies do that because I believe it is crucial children are hands on with scripture.
- The study is fun and interactive with cute quizzes that really captivate a young girls mind and heart.
- It speaks to her on her level about the real identity struggle she is having in this season.
We used the study on our Mother Daughter Mentoring day out (Read more about it here). It’s been fun reading the devotional together. It has stirred many good conversations. What do you use to start spiritual conversations with your Tween?
in HIM,
I struggle with the balance of it all. Between homeschooling, working from home and staying up on housework.
Yes, that is it isn’t it Annette! Balance. I can’t remember being so busy before kids. What did I ever have to complain about or not finish before!
I understand the struggle. That verse in Proverbs 22 is an encouragement, train a child in the way he should go and he will not depart. I just have to be faithful to give them Jesus and be an example and they will not depart. Thanks for the resources. They always help with giving them Jesus.
So glad it encouraged you Kelly!