But MOM....!

Over the past three weeks, we have begun to look at what living a life of balance, harmony, and control can be with Christ in the center of our lives. As we head into week 4, our focus moves to looking at our actions and more about God's expectation for our actions.

If you are a mom, you have probably heard, 'But mom, she made me do it!' And without see the situation unfold, you are left to discern who is right and who is wrong, knowing that whatever side you pick, you are going to suffer the consequences.

From the beginning people have struggled to keep their lives under control. In Genesis when God asked Adam and Eve to explain their action they responded with "The woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." God said to the woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."

Given the opportunity most of us will shift the blame when we are confronted with sin.

For the past 10 years, the majority of weeks in a year I am a solo parent for a three of the four days in a week. Although you would think that after 10 years, I would have this down, I will admit there are some weeks when frustrations build and my parenting skills are not at there peak. After a few too many 'MOM! She....', I can be at my wits end. Milo walks in the door after a long three days of traveling and instead of a warm hug he gets an earful of my week. As I pour out my frustrations sometimes I end up blaming him for being gone, for not understanding, for not answering his phone, and the list can go on. Sometimes he retaliates and lashes back shifting his frustrations into the situation only to add more fuel to our fire. Other times he calmly confronts me with truth, asking if I am blaming him for either my personal struggles or my struggles with the kids.

It is those times when I am confronted with the truth that although painful to hear, it stops me to truly evaluate my lack of patience, my lack of boundaries in parenting that have caused this situation. Instead of shifting that on him I need to step back and look at my own sinful nature.

God created us in His image and gave us the freedom to make moral choices. He holds us responsible for the choices we make. Blame shifting is not an option; we are accountable ONLY to God for our actions.

So what should I do when those weeks of a few too many 'MOMs!' happen? Romans 1 - 2 gives me the answer.

'What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?'

It is important for me to remember to die to the old self and not let my sinful, human nature try to fix the situation. Instead I need to pray for discernment, patience, peace, and the right words to handle the parenting situation at hand relying not on my own power, but God's strength to get me through those three days a week.

As a slave to righteousness, we can live a life that pleases God. The time of negative reactions ends and positive spiritual control begins.

From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did. Romans 6:11

Blessings,

Jill