Proverbs 31:1 "The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:"
Mothers, YOU are the one to teach your son how women should be treated by how you carry yourself, and how to know a wise woman. You are also the first one to teach your daughters how to BE wise women. In our daily walks of life, whether in Christ or the world, we are teaching our children how they should be when they get older.
I can remember the first time my youngest daughter displayed road rage, at age 7! We were in the car and someone had "wronged" me somehow so I began to yell at them as if they could hear me. As I was yelling, I could also hear a small sweet voice yelling at them the same things I was! Thank God I never cursed in front of my children.... well almost never. It was at that very moment that I realized my children imitate what I do. They are all mini me's. Now I would love to say that that was the pivotal turning point from me when I surrendered and led a Christ loving, God fearing, Bible teaching life, but I did not. I had many other times when that same way-to-bright light bulb went off when I was with my children. Slowly I began to see the poison I had spoon fed them ooze back out and show it's deadliness through them. My sarcasm, they had it. My smart mouth, they had it. My attitude issues, they had it. My carelessness, they had it. I would have given up if I had not seen one flicker of hope, my love flickering through. We were the Fantastic Four and no matter what we love each other. I could see that in how they clung to me when I was down.
We as moms need to be careful, even of our conversations on the phone. You know the ones when someone else is doing the complaining about the woman in church, or the mom in your study group who doesn't seem to have it together. The one where we "lend" our all too eager listening ear and every once in a while let out a "WHAT?!" or a "She did not!" or even a "Are you kidding me?!" Our kids are listening to our actions more than they are our words. Every little flinch we make when God brings a trial our way or when in our storms of life and it lightening we jump, they see that and will begin to react the same way.
Father, I repent and ask forgiveness for the way I have raised up the children You gave to me in confidence. I thank You that You knew what they would have to endure with me and have made a way yet to bring them out as pure gold, not only them but me also. I declare broken generational curses and from this moment on pour Your goodness into their lives only. Convict me whenever I bring out that old poison because it seems easier to give them and replace it with Your unconditional love for me so I can pour it out on them. In Jesus name, Amen!
