“I took some cookies to my daughter’s class. I wanted her to have something extra to put in with her Valentine cards. We were going to make them together last night, but when I made the dough, I didn’t read that the recipe said to chill for 3 hours. By then it would be too late to bake them. I got up and made them this morning, but only let the dough chill for an hour. I think they still turned out OK…” She sighed, “I guess I’m not one of those moms who can bake with their kids and let them get flour all over the place.”

“You probably do other things with them, though.”

“Yes, I like talking to them, and engaging them in conversation. I like to hear their ideas. My kids started talking when they were really small. They’ve learned a lot of words.” We talked for a bit longer. She left, encouraged that she was doing something for her kids.

What mom hasn’t put undue pressure on herself by looking at the abilities of others and thinking, “Why can’t I_________(fill in the blank)?” We will never be the moms we envision ourselves to be. But we can be the moms that God allows us to be. Imagine if our kids could see a mom that …
~starts, carries on, and finishes every task with God
~acknowledges God in everything, and attributes her successes to Him
~consults Him about everything
~keeps Him constantly before her eyes
~loves Him with her whole heart
~thanks Him for it all

Sound harder than baking cookies with your kids? Of course it is, if we imagine ourselves arriving at the end result in one jump. We need to look, rather, at the day- by-day leaning on, trusting in, and relying on God. If we are His children, then He wants the best for us. Why would He allow something so important to be impossible to do?

Prov. 3:5, 6