Unintentionally Inspired by Mom
To continue All About Mom month, it is my pleasure to introduce guest blogger, Erin MacPherson, my friend and the author of The Christian Mama’s Guide series. I was honored to endorse, The Christian Mama’s Guide to the School Years.
xoBecky
P.S. Enter to win the four book series! Details are listed below.
Unintentionally Inspired by Mom
by Erin MacPherson
My mom and I. Me and my mom.
We have an…what shall I call it?…interesting relationship. Formed through years of prayer, decades of hopeful conversation, mutual understanding, strong-willed emotion, and a good dose of teenage angst and rebellion mixed in for good measure.
I’ll admit it: there was a time when I was convinced that my mom was a relic. A relic that couldn’t possibly understand the modern world that I lived in.
I, of course, had life all figured out. But she was old—outdated if you will. How could she at forty understand what its like to stand alone in a college dorm room and choose right over easy? Or to know that buy-it-now-and-pay-later is much more convenient than eating dinner off of a cardboard box because I couldn’t afford a table? Or to know recognize that the tried-and-true principals she had touted when I was a kid simply didn’t cut it in my new-thinking world.
I didn’t need my mom’s old-fashioned ideas. (Didn’t she realize that things have changed since the 70’s?)
I didn’t need my mom’s help. (Unless, of course, I couldn’t pay my rent.)
And I certainly didn’t need my mom’s advice.
But then it happened: I had a son.
And not the sweet-tempered, well-behaved son that I had envisioned raising, but instead, a wild-hearted boy who thought he knew all the answers. Sound familiar?
And suddenly, my vision cleared.
I remember a day that my son leaned over his plate and spit food out onto the floor saying “No eat this, Mommy!” Words that I had read in my modern world of books and websites echoed through my mind. Clear expectations. Consistent consequences. Spare the rod. Break the will.
But none of my knowledge—my modern-world gleaned expertise—could match my toddler’s will. Or my mom’s experience.
I called my mom.
She prayed with me. She reminded me that God has incredible patience with his children and urged me to show similar patience to my son. She gave me few simple tricks, a tip here and a hefty dose of prayer there.
And she reminded me: God’s principles are timeless.
And so is my mom’s love for me.
Erin MacPherson is the author of “The Christian Mama’s Guide” series, a series of books born out of her quest to help moms through camaraderie, friendship, and God’s love. Her mom, Ellen Schuknecht, a 35-year educational veteran, prayerfully came beside her to help her write her books, even contributing expert advice in places. Erin blogs at www.christianmamasguide.com.
WIN THE FOUR BOOK SERIES!
Enter the give-away by leaving a comment below before Mother’s Day, May 12, 2013!
NOTE: This give-away is open to residents of the U.S. only. Void where prohibited. Must be at least 18 years of age to enter.
© 2013 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
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