4 Secrets to Staying Spiritually Sane While Raising Kids
You remember those blissful days of peace and quiet when all was well in the world--days you could read your Bible and have hours long times of uninterrupted prayer? Of course you don't. Me neither. They never existed in real life, so why pretend like they're going to happen now that you're a sleep deprived mother with unending breastfeeders and toddlers who wake up at o'dark:thirty in the stinking morning?Consistent, meaningful times alone with God are difficult to pull off anytime of your life. When you have a new infant in the house it's hard. When you have toddlers it's hard. And when you're parenting teens it's hard. Susannah Wesley, mother of John and Charles of founding Methodist fame, was surrounded by scads of kids, (19 born, 10 lived), and managed to be alone with God anytime she wanted, just by lifting an apron over her head. Back in the day, that was the international symbol for leave mom alone or else. But for those of you who don't sport aprons, here are 4 secrets to staying close to God while raising kids:
1. Start Small.
There's a story in the Old Testament (Zechariah 4) that encourages us how God can take small things, and by His power and Spirit, bring about big changes. I think we can take that principle and apply it here. Take 10-15 minutes, open your Bible, read one itty bitty chapter, and pray for five minutes. Bam. I think sometimes we make this harder than it is. We want to create some big wah-hoo spiritual moment, when all we need to do is focus for a few moments. Little by little, over time, God will bring the eternal truths of those short stories to your mind just when you need them.
2. Stay Consistent.
At some point in our marriage, Bill and I began having a quiet time together in the morning before he goes to work. Early morning works for us. But for you, time to read and pray might happen best during the kid's naps, or at night after they're in bed. Reading the Bible on your way to work is not an option--unless you're on the bus. However, listening to the Bible on your favorite electronic device might be. The point is, find a way to read/listen to the Bible and stick with it. And when you miss a day, don't freak, just start again the next day.
3. Share what you learn with your kids.
In Deuteronomy 6:6, God says that His words "shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." We not only have a responsibility to know God, we also need to train our kids to know Him, too. Take what you read and teach it to your kids in their language and at their level. The best time to do that? When you're standing in the kitchen, driving in the car, changing the baby's diaper, and tucking them in at night. In other words, all day long.
4. Pray without Ceasing.
Prayer is the secret sauce to staying spiritually sane, and we can pray anytime, anywhere. Before I throw off the covers each morning, I pray, God help me through this day. I can't do it without You. Prayer is a habit, and we can build in our children a habit of prayer by simply modeling it in front of them. Let's thank God for our food. Let's pray that God heals your boo-boo. Let's pray for Daddy at work. Let's pray for the fireman who just passed us on the road. Kids will pick up on prayer quickly, and even begin to initiate prayer when they feel the need.The Bible says if we draw near to God, He'll draw near to us. So start small in reading the Bible, stay consistent, share what you learn, and pray. Plant small seeds, and over time you'll reap an eternal harvest--in your life, and in the lives of your children.