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God is good. Greg and I have been priviledged to spend the last 16 years growing our marriage and our family. Mikayla is our oldest child, Jordan is next, and Isabella is our third. We hope you enjoy reading about our journey of Faith, Family & Fun!

Friday, November 6, 2009

All it took was a change in ME!

This week has been a week of awakening (again) in the Earnhardt home. Unfortunately, the volume and tone of our conversations, especially those between my children, had been becoming louder and more disrespectful in our home. I just couldn't understand why this change had come so abruptly (or at least it felt abrupt). Then, last Sunday, I was challenged. The gentleman who will be leading out sunday school class for the next 8 weeks or so started his topic by giving us a picture of a pyramid. The base was our relationship with God. The next level was our relationship with our spouse. The next, our relationship with our kids (immediately red flags went up here in my head). Next, their relationship with each other. And finally, their relationship with thier friends.

I could write a book about all the ways things have changed this week. But all that to say that it just took a change in ME. It took me remembering that God is my first true love. It took me remembering that the order of how things work only truely works if God is first. My marriage is amazing but it is even better when I am giving God the first part of my day. My children are wonderful. But I am a better equiped mom for them when I am purposeful to approach the throne of grace and ask God to lead me every day to raise them up according to His will.

My children learn their behaviors from what they see in the home. They had begun yelling at each other a lot and disrespecting each other a lot. So, this week, I have turned my attention back to me. I have had to check and double check my responses to them. I have made sure that every moment is a teaching moment again instead of a "how can we get through this moment as quickly and painlessly as possible".

Greg and I knew that we had to get back into God's word WITH our kids. That was the part on the pyramid that was missing. Our children's relationship with God. But we were quick to realize that this piece had been missing for a while and it needed to be put back into the puzzle. One night imparticular, we were tired and after reading the bible story and devotional our kids sat there waiting. Greg was going to pray. Our kids stopped him and reminded him that they still wanted to read the story from the actual bible. "You know dad, the scripture verses." My heart leaped for joy. Not because I wasn't tired too, but because my children want to be in God's word. All it took was Greg and I remembering what our family's focus needs to be.

Although, I am humbled in admitting that things have been a little out of focus around here, I thank God for His unfailing mercy to wait patiently for me. I thank God that He is pursuing Greg and I and our kids. I pray that as every day comes and goes, I will stay focused and committed to the challenges of raising my children. Please pray for me that God will continue to refine me and make me aware of the areas in my life that I need to keep working on!

6 comments:

Breanna Golden said...

Stephanie,

I am praying for you! :) I praise God for His work in your life this week! Isn't being a mom one of the most humbling things...it brings us to our knees constantly! Your not alone in your confession or in your desires - I'm with you.

The Earnhardt Family said...

I agree, kids are very humbling... I've been feeling convicted a lot about that today, voices being raised unnecessarily (mine included!). Funny how the very think you get frustrated with your kids about ends up actually stemming from YOU...annoying really ;-) Kidding, but you know!

Good to hear you are already seeing positive changes, and that you're getting in that family devotion time. Another area we need to make a priority. Maybe we should all just be praying for each other in that whole realm! ...parenting is a lot of work... :o)

Carr Family said...

Thanks for sharing so honestly. Praying for you and the precious kids who follow in your footsteps.

Much Love,
Amy

Anonymous said...

Great way to express your thoughts and feelings. I'm praying for you and thanks again for inviting me tonight. It was fun to get a change of scenery. :)

Missy said...

Thank you for posting this. We have had the same kind of stuff going on in our house and I think it has to do with the same thing.

We have been sick and have not been making church and devotions a priority. Thanks for the reminder to get back on track.

Jane Anne said...

Stephanie, I will pray for you. Will you pray for us in this area, too? Seth and I often talk about how we want to do more training and discipleship with our kids but then we just don't make time for it. This- getting into God's word as a family- is a desire of my heart.