As we conclude this series, I just want to say how much fun this has been for me! I have loved every minute of this wonderful journey! We have talked about the significance of motherhood, the obstacles that we face, and the 3 C’s of motherhood.

So, as we look at the big job of mothering, I want you to leave you with two things:

First, realize that failure is inevitable. Since we are all sinners, we will all fail.  We have hope that we are in the process of being changed, but we will still mess up.

“Once you’ve been freed from the expectation that you should be able for be a wonderful mother {on your own}, your heart response will be: I know that I’ve failed to be the kind of mother He wants me to be, but that’s why I need a Savior, and it’s why my kids need one, too. Thank you, Lord, that you’ve given me your perfect record, and that even though I sin, I am accounted perfectly righteous before you.  Please forgive me and help me respond to this great gift you’ve given in faith and grateful obedience. I trust you to work in me.” -Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me

Second, we cannot predict the outcome of our labors.  But we can choose to embrace our calling and faithfully obey the Lord in what He has given us to do, and rest knowing that we have done what has been asked of us.

” The path of obedience is the way to blessing.  We have only to do as the servants were commanded at the marriage feast in Cana, to fill the water pots with water, and we may safely leave it to the Lord to turn that water into wine.“ Mark Chanski- Womanly Dominion

So, fill those water pots.  Embrace mothering.  Enjoy it, let Him turn your water into wine, and leave the results and your children in the Lord’s hands.  

They are safer there anyway.  

Here is the entire series:

 And now, to thank you for joining me on this wonderful journey, I want to offer a bundle giveaway for one mama!

Included are the books Give Them Grace, The Mission of Motherhood, and The Mission of Motherhood, my favorite three resources for mothers!

To enter {please leave a separate comment for each thing}:

1. Leave a comment on this post
2. Share the giveaway on FB or Twitter
3.  Subscribe to Grace Full Mama

The 3rd C is Continual, Competent Teaching!

I know how it is when you have little, little ones.  You don’t want to say it out loud, but some days are just downright bo-ring.

Not that there isn’t plenty to do, there is.  There is cleaning, doing dishes, making meals, and of course, the changing of diapers, ad nauseum.  And all of the sudden, the glow of motherhood meets reality and you’d give anything for something exciting to change up the routine, right?!

I remember when Britton and Hannah were little, I would think up some item that we needed from Target, and then bundle everyone up, just to go and cruise the aisles with a popcorn and a big Diet Coke.  Is that wrong? No, not at all!

Sometimes, though, we WANT to be intentional mamas and we just need some good ideas on how to fill our day! And so, here are some simple ways to teach your kids all throughout the day.

1.  Bible Teaching- let His Word be always on your lips.  This can be done formally and informally.  ”You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you rise up and when you lie down.”  Deut. 6

2. Read, read, read! Go to the library, fill up a big bag, and have fun!

• Tsh shares a great list of preschool books here.  These will get you started!
• A list of 1,000 great books…this should keep you busy!

3. Arts and crafts

• Amanda at Impress Your Kids has so many great ideas, you’ll have ideas forever!

4. Cooking (yes! have them help you in the kitchen!)

• Janelle from Comfy in the Kitchen has lots of kid-friendly recipes to try!
• Our Best Bites has a whole section on cooking with kids!

5. Nature walks

• Try a Nature Scavenger Hunt
•  just have fun playing outdoors together

6.  Chore Teaching- setting the table, folding the towels, counting out silverware, pouring water

• Here are some great chore sticks to make!

7.  Manners Teaching- make it game, asking to be excused, saying please and thank you

• Here is a list of 25 manners every child should know

8.  Speak up- teaching them to speak up for their faith from a young age

If you incorporate each of these things into your day, in say, 30 minute increments, add in meals and a nap or two, and you have your whole day planned! These are not things to add burden or stress to your day, but just some simple ideas to teach your kiddos all day long!

   Click here to download the printable.

 What are your best ideas or websites to share? I’d love to hear your favorites!

Here’s a list of all the past posts in the series:

All we have left is the conclusion, which you don’t want to miss! Subscribe to Grace Full Mama here.

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Number two of the three C’s is Consistent Training, but only after Constant Love!

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

When talking about training children, often we want a good three-step program. This is not that, and here is why.  We mamas needs to be at the feet of our Savior to truly know how to train our children’s hearts.

We need to get our directives from Him, not a formula.  Our training should come through searching His Word, relying on the Holy Spirit, bathing our situation in prayer, and resting in His strength and grace.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

“Abide in Me and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:5

“Grace based parenting is a heart-acitvated plan that takes it’s cues from a daily walk with Jesus Christ.” Tim Kimmel, Grace Based Parenting

Train your children towards first time obedience

Work towards training your kids to obey “all the way, right away, and with a happy heart.”

 ”Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother-which is the first commandment with a promise- that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3

“Correction is about reaching your child’s heart….The heart is fallen and sinful (we want to sin), but God changes hearts by His grace to respond to him, and that is the purpose of biblical discipline-to train the hearts of your child to respond to God and His grace.  Paul told Titus that the ‘grace of God that brings us salvation’ also ‘teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives.’ (Titus 2:11-12)”- Clay Clarkson, Educating the Whole Hearted Child

Consistency, Consistency, Consistency- 

Simply let your yes be yes and your no be no (Matthew 5:37).  Stick to what you say and follow through.  Don’t threaten and don’t give in to whining or fits.

“Children can be trained in almost any direction. Their natural tendencies may be so curbed and guided as no longer to show themselves in disagreeable prominence. It is a parent’s privilege, and it is a parent’s duty, to make his children, by God’s blessing, to be and to do what they should be and do, rather than what they would like to be and do.” H.Clay Trumbull, Hints on Child Training

Reach their heart, not just their behavior

Don’t settle for outward behavior. As much as you are able, seek to draw out the why’s of your child’s disobedience.  Connect your heart to theirs, seek to understand them, give them grace, and train them in the way they should go.  Love them in the midst of training and discipline!

“Every way we try to make our kids good that isn’t rooted in the good news of the life, death, resurrection is damnable, crushing, despair-breeding, Pharisee-producing law.” – Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace

And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” -Luke 11:39

Speak God’s Word into them

Scripture is useful for all things, so get those Bible verses into your child’s head and heart from a young age!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tell them of Christ’s work on the Cross…tell them over and over and over!

“Our being reconciled to God by the Cross should be the message of our parenting.”- Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace

Pray with them and pray over them

Prayer is often an untapped weapon!  Show your kids the power of prayer specifically as it pertains to their lives!

 Some of my favorite resources on correction and discipline:

•  Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick
• Wise Words for Moms by Ginger Plowman (a calendar-like chart with offenses, heart questions to ask and Scripture to help teach and train)
• Making a Peace Place: Godly Anger Management for Children an amazing post by Ann Voskamp, one I use and has revolutionized my parenting!
• The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
• The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
• Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp

Here is a list of the posts so far in the Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood series:

1. The Beginning
2. The Significance- Part1
3. The Significance- Part2
4. The Obstacles- Part1 
5. The Obstacles- Part2
6. The Obstacles- Part3
 7. Anger and Patience
8. The 3 C’s of Motherhood

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We are almost done! Next is the 3rd C and a printable!

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