My reality check

Here's a quote that's got me thinking (and let me warn you, it's a tough one):

"My children, my precious darling children!

What I want you to become, I must become myself."

-- Elizabeth Prentiss

Yikes.  Did you catch that??  "What I want [my children] to become, I must become myself."  I think Ms. Prentiss hit the nail on the head.

I'm embarrassed to say that my reality is far from this ideal.  What my children see in me on a fairly regular basis in not what I want for them.  Instead of showering them with the love of Christ, I too frequently model for them a life overcome with the distractions of this world.  All too often I get so caught up in correcting their speech and their motives and their behavior that I fail to see the areas in my own life-- the real heart issues-- that are in such desperate need of repair.  That's a big, big problem.

If I want the very best for my children, then they need to see the very best in me.  And that's what I want: souls set free by the power of the Cross, hearts fully surrendered to the Lord, and minds renewed by His Spirit... Lives, ready and willing to be used by God for His greater purpose and glory.  My children need to see these things in me.  Every day.  In the good and in the bad... a mom whose love for her Lord motivates everything she does.  It's time to set aside the cares of this world and focus on the eternal... there's just nothing that matters more.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in [me] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6