True love is not Indulgence

There is a big difference between love and indulgence. You can never love too much. You can never love your children too much. You cannot love your husband too much. But love is not indulgence. God, who is Love and who shows us how to love, does not indulge us. God does not give us everything we want whenever we want it. He gives us what we need and what is best for us. He gave us the greatest gift that we will ever receive - salvation. God's love caused Him to give His dearest treasure. He sacrificed His own precious son on a cruel cross because of His love for us.

Love is giving. Love is giving until it hurts. Love is sacrifice. But it is not indulgence. To give into your children for every demand for "attention" or for"things" actually hurts them. It trains them in selfishness. In some homes, if children don't like the food that is provided, the mother will make something else. If they don't want to fit in with parent's plans, the parents change their plans for them. This is not godly training! Help! How will they survive in marriage, which consists in giving rather than being waited on?

Of course I am not talking about mothering moments for little babies. Little babies should be totally mothered. I believe that God provided the breast to fullfill the baby's needs for food, comfort and whatever emotional need they have.

Another point to remember~~mothering changes through the years. When your children are little, they will thrive on mothering moments. As your children grow and learn to take responsibility in the home, you no longer have to do everything yourself. Life becomes easier. You have more time to spend special times with your children.

I have a dear friend who had 16 children. As their children got older, she would take one of the children for an hour on their own each day~for a walk or a bike ride or some place where they could talk and share together. Family life continued at home as there were still many older children to care for the younger ones during this time.

                              Forget the guilt!

Can I encourage you again dear young mother? Embrace motherhood with all your heart. Give it all you have got. But forget the guilt. You can't be everything to everyone. And you don't have to be. Just be available for every mothering moment. Give your mothering moments freely ~ with love, joy and a smile on your face. You will be happy and your children will be happy.

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Posted by kayinpa

Nancy Campbell is such a godly woman. Thanks for passing on her encouragement. I really enjoy the AR magazine and am getting ready to jump into a study with the Power of MOtherhood book!

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