Where did you learn that? I wonder as the story of the behavior described by my child played out from the teacher.  “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it”, she said.  My child stood their seemingly somewhat aware that the conversation did not shed a favorable light but did not fully grasp the gravity of what was being said.  Where did I go wrong?  Was their something on tv or the tablet I unknowingly allowed them to see or hear to introduce this idea? Does not full-time work outside the home decrease the time I have with them so that other influences have a space to shape an undesired character trait.  I shared with my friend my dismay and my questions only to learn that she too had a similar experience and similar questions.  Children will make you question yourself and sometimes your ability to answer the call of motherhood.  Jesus shows us in this Passover week how to respond to the highs and lows of our calling.

From praise to pain

Jesus starts Passover week with palms laid for his arrival amongst shouts of praise and worship and ends with being beaten and rejected.  During this week, knowing what was to come he continued to serve (John 13:2-5).  He continued to fellowship with the one who would betray him (Matt 26:14-16, 21-25), others who would not believe him and one who would deny him (Luke 22:54-62).  He continued to do what he was sent to do despite those close to him and seemingly the world turning their backs on him.  He continued to lead by example and teach.  He showed love in the face of the failures of men calling from the cross for God to forgive them.  He went on to teach them of the one to come to help them continue to do the will of the Father in his absence, the Holy Spirit.

In spite of it all

In this week, we see the power of the spiritual battle that still wages for our souls.  The very ones who he helped and would praise him would be some of the same ones who would yell “crucify him”; yet, he stayed focused on his mission, stayed true to his call.  He took the slashes and the beating even for those who would continue to reject him, even as they taunted him while he hung on the cross.  He could have come down and went away leaving us to pay the price for our sins alone, but he did not.

How many times have I been faced with opposition or blindsided by unexpected actions of those close to me?  When my child behaves in a manner contrary to the way I am leading, I question even if only for a moment if I am on mission?  As moms, our children will sometimes say and do things that causes us to question our parenting choices.  Those little ones who words and actions can levy a punch because of what we have given to love them the best way we know how and set them up to succeed.  Those sweet little ones who will hug us and say I love you can turn around in one instance and say I don’t like you when upset.  They will react to our guidance with distaste or will behave in a way counter to our training, but Jesus shows how to respond. 

• Stay on task and keep serving. 

• Pray for guidance and strength for yourself to continue to walk in the call of motherhood.  Pray for them because they do not know what they are doing. 

• Remember we are continuously in the midst of a spiritual battle for their souls and our hearts to not waver. 

• Know it is okay to ask the Father why with reverence because Jesus did from the cross (Matt 27:46).

• In doing so, expect Him to guide you where you where you might need to correct course if that is needed. 

As we keep serving and following the will of the Father, know that our work as moms is not in vain because it all works out in the end even when it looks like its over. God has the final say. 
 
Sow the seed: Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it.  Pro 22:6
Nurture the seed:  Your work as a mom is not in vain.  God equips us for our works as moms (Heb 13:20-21).

Until next time,
Happy sowing!