Humble and Gentle
- Cathrine Schmelzer
- Dec 11, 2024
- 3 min read
“When I go to them and apologize for getting really upset and mad, it gives them the opportunity to be humble, gentle and to make an allowance for my faults.”
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
We all know the truth that we are Christ’s representatives here on earth. We talk about shining a light for Jesus on people around us when we are at work, the grocery store, or just out in public. We are also called to do this with our children. He has called us to be humble, gentle, patient, understanding, and peaceful. Our kids are watching (not listening, let’s be honest here), can they see Christ in you?
Moms are not perfect, yet we have this tension to expect our kids to be. We are called to love others despite their faults. Honestly, who has more faults than kids who are still learning and developing? How else are they going to learn if we aren’t there teaching them?
I feel a generational weight, a heaviness, to this. We shape and mold our children in order to help them become good adults. How we act and react with our kids will affect the way that they parent one day.
Truly, I do not say this to condemn or shame anyone. This hits so hard in my own life. I think of all the times I’ve lost it with my kids and immediately felt regret. But God is able to use those moments as an opportunity to teach our kids this same principle of patience with others. When I go to them and apologize for getting really upset and mad, it gives them the opportunity to be humble, gentle and to make an allowance for my faults. It allows them to experience true forgiveness.
Patience in motherhood is such a hard lesson! It is almost a moment by moment battle. We are going to lose that patience, but each moment is a new moment. So be humble and gentle with yourself too. Make an allowance for your own mess-ups and allow yourself to be loved by God. You were made for this mama! Seek Him in everything you do. Run to Him every time you feel like you messed up. He will meet you there and give you what you need.
And I’m sure He will give you more opportunities to continue to grow in the area of patience!
Action Step:
Reflect on some of the questions that were asked in the devotional:
Can your kids see Christ in you?
How else will your kid learn if you aren’t teaching them the way that God has called us to act and react?
How is what we are doing as a mom going to affect our kids if they become parents? What kind of parent would you like your children to become?
Prayer: Lord, I thank You so much for my kids. I thank You that You have given me the important job of raising them. I pray that You give me patience to do this in the way that You have called me to. Help me to show them You and Your nature through my actions. Thank You, Lord, for being so humble and gentle with me. You love me so much to allow me to continue to come to You in all of my times of need. You are so kind, Lord. I love You. Amen.
Written by Kara, a mom trying to be humble and gentle