My first real interaction with Sarah, and her husband Derek, came in the form of marriage counseling. Chad and I wanted to walk through marriage preparation with a couple who didn't know us at all. It was our hope that the unfamiliarity with our relationship would provide objective counsel as we prepared for walking through life together. That was nearly five years ago. Since those evenings spent on their sofa in deep discussion, Sarah and Derek have been our pastors, but most importantly our friends. Sarah and Derek are the pastors at River Church Charlotte and have two beautiful girls, Caroline, 16 and one of our treasured babysitters, and Kate, 7.
I'm excited to start this series with a word from Sarah's heart on being a mother.
Proverbs says that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue". That's huge! We actually have the power to speak life or death over those around us. As a mom, it is so tempting to speak what I see in my children, but the Lord has been dealing with me lately about calling out the good in each of them.
Rather than constantly correcting bad behavior, it is vital that we catch our children doing something right and bring that to their attention. For example, I have been struck with what I Corinthians 13 says about love not being self-seeking. So when I see my children being selfish, I remind them that love is not self-seeking and because the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts, they need to tap into that love. I don't want my girls to identify who they are with the behavior they may be exhibiting at the moment. Yes, at that moment, you were acting selfish, but that is not who you are in Christ.
As moms, let's encourage our children to discover who they are in Christ, and before long their behavior will reflect that. It takes time, but the harvest is well worth it. Speak life over your children. Call out what you want to see in them and watch it become a reality.
You can follow Sarah at Sleeping with the Pastor. You'll be glad you did.