There’s something approachable and winsome about somebody who has the bravery to publicly look at one’s self, laugh, see the faults, work on what’s workable, and learn from what’s done.

This nice lady had the courage to write just such a post. I don’t agree with everything she has to say, but it takes humility to write words such as these.

My children are young, which means most of my “mistakes” are really ongoing struggles. God is giving me the opportunity to repent before the cement has hardened. Here are my initial thoughts on the matter.

• I’d be more humble. Really, all of my problems stem from pride, but not aggressively rooting out pride has been a problem. Pride’s effects are wide reaching, not the least of which is that I cut myself off from God’s grace that he promises when I humble myself to Him.
• I’d ask more questions of older moms. Part of the problem is that I’m not a great questioner. I don’t always know what to ask, but the reality is, I’m far too critical and figure my way is better. I need to be inviting them over and stumble over the questions anyway.
• I’d read my Bible more. Yep. I know how important it is; I know wisdom is like hidden treasure. But the reality is, I’ve spent more time at the computer than at my Bible.
• I’ve been hypocritical in front of my kids— God revealed this to me one morning as I heard my oldest child waking up, and I quickly closed my computer, and pulled out my Bible so he would see how important reading the Bible was to me. That’s really a bad, bad thing to do. I’m just understanding how I’ve set one standard for anger for them and another for me. I’ve been critical of their inability to listen in church while my mind wanders.
• I’ve not followed through on wisdom that God has given me. Take, for example, this post. My list of challenges is nearly identical. I’ve grown spiritually, to be sure, but I’m still struggling with these very same issues, largely because of my pride in considering them inconveniences, bad habits, but not sin. Humbling myself and asking for specific prayer has been helpful, but I have still a long way to go.

The good news is that God’s grace is sufficient. I am not supermom. I use cans that go pop. I forget to brush my children’s teeth, and I sometimes forget to brush my own. I sin. I get angry. I worry. I fear. I am lukewarm. If my children grow to love the Lord, it will be because of Him, not because of me. Yet, I do so long to hear him say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. So I will press on.

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