Every January I write a goal list for the New Year to give me a vision of what’s important, what I dream and hope for and what I want to accomplish. In January 2009 I wrote on my goal list "Learn to be kind like Mrs. Duggar". She's the mom star of “19 Kids and Counting” on The Learning Channel (TLC). Why did I make this goal? A couple years ago, I was watching their show when Michelle was getting a Mother’s of the year award on Mother’s Day. A few children commented on why their Mom was so special but one son in particular said something I’ve never forgotten. In fact, thru the wonders of technology I’ve been able look it up and write it down. He said, “Most people, when they discipline their kids, they’re more angry. But my mom, she’s real calm and she disciplines us that way. So I like it.”
I’ve watched most episodes of their show and read both Duggar books. I’ve never met Michelle Duggar but I consider her a mentor of sorts. I’ve seen so many desirable, Godly attributes in her like the respect she shows her husband, her meek and quiet spirit her ever present smile and encouraging words, and even the tone of voice she uses. I know she gets angry but her response is different than the norm...instead of yelling, she instructs and basically tries to be an example of Jesus. In her own words she says "I want our home to be a safe place where our children feel love and acceptance. Anger is a destructive force (and) can destroy everything we are trying to teach our children. It can build a wall between them and us" ( A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make it Work, p. 219). I truly want to learn what she has learned.
Fast forward to Jan 2010… Here I’ve been working on this goal for a whole year and in my mind I’ve made no noticeable progress. I’m still the same old me! So here we go again - “Learn to be like Mrs. Duggar” I write on my 2010 goal list with the resolve to work on it harder. I don’t know from experience, but surely it’s possible to be as 1 Peter 3:4 says, to "adorn myself with a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." Many more months go by-no noticeable progress - when one day I’m on the phone with a long distance friend. My friend says to me, “Will you excuse me just a moment?” I hear her voice drop real soft as she addresses one of her children and then she quietly send them on their way. I didn’t think much of it at that moment, but the memory of that event kept coming back to my mind, over and over again, till the awareness fully dawned on me – She knows something you don’t, so you need to ask her.
I did talk to my friend. She taught me some important Biblical principles about child training and discipline that I didn’t really know or understand. In hindsight I see now that I needed to learn and implement these principles in my life to enable me to reach my goal.
I’m trying to be very real and very honest as I “spill the beans” on myself and tell you how God is helping me. The whole point of my new blog is to embrace my God given life mission and share what I have learned with my family and anyone else who God leads to this blog. I’m going to chronicle this journey of Overcoming Weaknesses in a 6 part blog. Watch for them!
Part 5 Daily Spiritual Checkpoints
Part 6 Prayer
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