Let's Walk Together

by Jeri Carr

Do you ever feel alone because of parenting choices you've made? It can be discouraging to see and hear people's reaction to certain choices. . . their dire warnings, their eye rolling, their tut-tutting, and, at times, even their hostility.

As uncomfortable as the reactions of others can be, it feels good to know that God has a plan for each of our families, and you are part of that plan. He chose you to be your children's mother, and He doesn't make mistakes. As we learn to respect our God-given mothering instincts and to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in parenting our children, we will find that many times we are called to make choices that look far different from other mothers we know, even other Christian mothers.

Maybe you have chosen not to put your baby or toddler in the church nursery. Or maybe, instead of scheduling feeding times, you've decided to nurse your baby when she shows signs of hunger such as opening her sweet mouth wide like a hungry baby bird. Maybe, after prayer and study, you have decided to seek alternatives to spanking and yelling and to learn how to discipline with grace and gentleness.

Such choices are peculiar to many people, and some might even accuse you of being unbiblical. These negative influences--even when we make right choices--can cause us to question ourselves and to let worry creep in, but our worry will be replaced with peace when we cling to our loving Abba Father and humbly pray and give our worries to Him (Phil. 4:6; I Peter 5:7).

As you seek to follow His will for you in your mothering journey, let us at Gentle Mothering walk with you. Through prayer, encouraging words from other mothers, and study of His Word, together let's learn to love our children and above all to glorify our God.

Article first published in Gentle Mothering in December 2002