Standing in the GapWritten by Kimberly Chastain
I’m weary of saying No to my children. Not just everyday No’s. Don’t hit your brother and No, you cannot have 5 pieces of candy. I am weary of No I am continually saying to our culture. The world is bound and determined to take away my children’s innocence. They want my children to grow up way too fast. They want my little girl to dress like an adult. They want my little boy to know things he is way too young to know. I’m weary of saying you can’t go to that movie, because it is not appropriate for your age. No, you can’t wear what everyone else is wearing, because it is not appropriate. The straw that finally broke camel’s back was when my son walked in while I was watching news. He asked me, “Mommy is it true that men can marry men and women can marry women?” “Mom, if two women marry can they have a baby?” My son is 6. I don’t want to be discussing sexuality with him much less homosexuality. So, I told him that no men can’t marry men and women can’t marry women (for now anyway) and that women with women cannot have a baby. (Don’t get me started on explaining how they can). I should not be having these discussions with my children, but I’m being forced too. What happened to childhood innocence?As I was thinking about my weariness I remembered song and verse in Bible about Standing in Gap. I also realized that God cares more for my children than I do. He is there to guide me and support my weariness. He knows there is sin in world. God wants me to rest in him and seek his guidance in these difficult times. He wants me to say No and set moral limits based on Biblical standards that differ widely from world. He expects me to raise children who respect God and obey his commands.
| | A New Years Resolution – Rest Written by Kimberly Chastain
I rarely meet a mother who is not tired. Sometimes I think that is definition of being a mother. As soon as you sit down to relax someone needs something or there is a “crisis”. A definition of a crisis certainly is in eye of beholder. We all get tired and when we get tired we often neglect our time alone with God.Recently, I got a way for a weekend by myself. I was weary, tired, and needed relief. I stopped at grocery store before I left and saw a book entitled, “When Women Need to Rest” by Cindy McMenamin. (You will see book on Resource page of www.christianworkingmom.com) The book was calling my name. So, I got book and took it on my trip. I desperately needed to hear what it said. One important point of book that stuck out in my mind (my paraphrase) was: Maybe God wants you to start doing less for him and just spend time with him. When was last time you rested in Lord? Do you come running to him and want to just crawl up in his lap and rest? Often, as women we give and give until there is nothing left.
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