Life in Christ
September 24, 2009
by Gigi Metzger
Being a mother is a hard job. I have to balance so many responsibilities from grocery shopping to meal preparation, balancing schedules to taxi-driving, house keeping to homework; and let us not forget the ever-present laundry!
As my children (now ages 3 1/2 to 10 1/2) grow older, and I am not able to be super-mom and do it all alone, I realize more and more that I need to train these precious little ones to grow in their responsibility to do their part around the house. The problem is that children will be children who are inherently irresponsible, forgetful, distractable and immature. I have found myself reacting to their childish ways with impatience, anger and an ugliness that was the old me before I knew Jesus.
But I am a new creature in Christ. Old things have passed away, behold new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Even though I became a Christian 18 years ago, I have needed to remember this verse all over again in my ever-demanding role as mom. I have had to cling to the passage in Ephesians 4:17-32 which reminds me to lay aside my old self, be renewed in the spirit of my mind and put on the new self, which has been created in the likeness of God. There is also practical instruction to let no unwholesome word proceed from my mouth, put away anger and be kind, tender-hearted and forgiving as Christ has forgiven me. These are disciplines that I have forgotten in the midst of the stress of life as mommy. I have in no way "arrived" but I am so grateful for God's Word to help set me back on course to living my life in Christ for the sake of these precious ones He has put in my care.