Epidural or natural childbirth?
Nursing or bottle feeding?
Pacifier or no pacifier?
Cloth or disposable?
Co-sleeping or in the nursery?
Vaccinate or not?
The debates swirl. The amount of heated discussion about these topics has fascinated me since I first became pregnant with AG. I have my opinions about all of the above, and I'm sure you do, too. Add in competitive-feeling discussions about when our children slept through the night, started solid food, potty trained, etc... and it makes me want to avoid other mothers, to be perfectly honest!
My question is: why are we all so angry about everything? Why can so many of these discussions turn hateful and petty?
My opinion is that it's the me-monster. The me-monster that is fed by insecurity, fear, and pride. The me-monster that wants to be better than other mothers, to have the best child, to be vindicated in the end.
The me-monster is ugly.
I find that my best defense against the me-monster in my own heart is keeping a proper perspective of myself before the Lord.
- Am I trying to find my worth in being a super-mom, or am I finding my worth as a child of God, created in His image, purchased with the precious blood of Jesus?
- Am I turning my children into my idols? Am I trying to define myself by them, look good because of them, find worth in them?
- Am I considering others before myself, or are my pride and self-righteousness blinding me? Have I latched on to one or more of these above-listed issues as "my thing," and so doing am turning others off from the love of Jesus Christ? Are they offended by truth that I share, or are they offended by my attitudes and condemning opinions?
Motherhood brings out my me-monster. It also kills it. True sacrificial love for my children demands that I lay down self. It demands that I do what is best for them, even if others don't agree. It demands that I consistently do what God has called me to do... even when it leads me to a life seemingly full of anonymity, sacrifice, lowliness in the eyes of the world.
My me-monster and I have to lay down daily on the altar - I have to daily ask the Lord to search my heart, examine my thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Romans 12:1-3
As moms, we need the Lord to transform our hearts and minds every second of every minute of every day. Will you join me on the altar as we sacrifice the me-monster yet again?
Dying daily,
Amen! Amen! So incredibly well said, Kristi (as usual).
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It never ceases to amaze me how some things never change as these were the very struggles my friends and I faced as we were having babies and raising our little ones. The only solution any of us has is found in God and laying our lives at His feet no matter where we find ourselves in life. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! I feel as if everyday is a battle to control the me-monster that wants control of my life.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh, how easy it is to fall into the me-monster. Thank you for sharing this!
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