Skip to main content

Giving the gift of Humility to Our Kids in a Me Only World



Moms, stand as a hedge between your kids and the "what's in it for me" rush in our culture!  The best gift we can give our kids, is the gift of knowing it is not all about them.

Because, (wait for it) it is not all about them.

How can it not be, when they are the most amazing and cherished children in the world?  At least mine are the most amazing.  Loving my three boys has been the best part of my life.  Right behind  my husband and God.

I would love to say I faithfully kept these priorities throughout their lives and I never obsessed over or stressed them out with my "loving."  Or that work or helping someone else didn't ever come before them all at times.

Reality is, sometimes it is easier to make life all about them.  

Or is making it all about them really about making it all about me?

It is so easy to do.  

And so important not to to do.

If I could pass any words of wisdom to Moms raising young children; it would be to intentionally live out humility and right priorities.  

I've just joined the "Empty Nesters" club, and believe it will be more important than ever for me to model, live and teach humility.  

To lead, instead of push.  To take responsibility for me, now that it is no longer "all about them."  To share my reflections of learning with them.  

Keeping this very fine line in mind.

Ken Blanchard says, "Humility does not mean you think less of yourself.  It means you think of yourself less."

From this moment forward... (Isn't this said at weddings?)
 The way I want to model humility is:

1.   Walk Humbly with My God.The more time I spend in God's Word, prayer and walking with Him daily; the bigger and better perspective I have.  I have a different vision and purpose for being. 

2.  Foster Servant's Heart for My Husband.  Do I put him above myself?  How do I show and express this?  If I am to model to my boys a woman who loves her husband well; how can I do it intentionally?

3.  Fulfill my Calling.  Rekindle the fire and passion for the hurting and oppressed.  To serve as a coach.  To love my family.

4. Sacrificially Love my Boys.  To pray for and love them well so they have the security of knowing they have someone always holding the ropes for them.  To release them.  To not allow my fear of abandonment and rejection keep them tied to me.  I will give them the freedom to live their lives and ask good questions. 

5.  Connection with Big Family.  My extended family.  What ways can I honor my parents?  Not in a codependent and unhealthy manner, rather giving unconditional respect and honor. How am I serving them?  Reconnecting?  Am I modeling to my boys a right priority in relationships? 

6. Serving God's Family. Belonging to a church family keeps my family's perspective.  A church family gives our children the gift of belonging to something bigger than themselves.

7.  Lifelong Reflection and Learning. Lead by humbly seeking wisdom and continuing to grow and learn. What am I reading to challenge my thinking and grow?  Am I spending time reflecting on my learning, being and acting?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Starting a Journey

September 3, 2010 Originally posted How to Begin a Journey 1. Pick a destination or simply start. 2. Plan a detailed itinerary or just take the first step. 3. Pack everything or travel lightly. I am choosing to just begin. To leave behind the baggage, pick up a day pack, and go. Several nights before we moved to Ogallala, I was praying about the transition when I heard that still, small voice of God. In that moment, I knew He heard my Heart's Cry. He hears every whispered plea, every unspoken longing. If I truly sit with that truth, it humbles me. What courage, boldness, passion, and decisiveness I have when I remember: He never leaves or forsakes me. He provides for my every need according to His riches in glory. My hope is to encourage you He hears your Heart's Cry too.
2 comments
Read more

1940 Canned Apple Butter: Family Root Cellar

I loved exploration as a child.  From opening the door and going down the stairs to get something from my Grandma's root cellar or exploring old homesteads while checking cows.  I credit my Mom with teaching us to appreciate those things that represented the people who had gone before us. When I moved with my husband and boys to a house on the family ranch-I began exploring immediately.  This was the house my Aunt and Uncle lived in during my childhood.  My Grandparents had lived there and many other families dating back to 1900 when it was built.   With two little boys in tow, I made my way to the root cellar and found a treasure cove.  Old text books belonging to the original family who had been a teacher, the original medicine cupboard, tools, trash and memorabilia.   I felt like an archeologist sifting through layers of debris representing generations and culture.  And I was.  I hauled truckloads of trash to the dump (some...
4 comments
Read more

Diabetes-Opened to Disease OR Open to Connecting to my Strengths

I've tried living in denial for two years after the big D diagnoses was handed over.  Honestly, I just don't want to talk about it.  Outwardly seemly calm and disconnected from it.  Inwardly terrified. As a plant that is stressed is open to disease, injury and death so to our bodies are.  I opened myself up to this.  Stress, lack of sleep, bad nutrition, overweight and lack of exercise.  For some reason I believed that if I ran fast enough and worked hard enough, I would outrun my family genes.  The tiny room in the back of my brain locked with a key has kept the fear of this disease at bay even though I could hear its screaming when life quieted down. My Aunt died piece by piece to this disease.  First a heart attack and quadruple by-pass.  Then a toe.  Next a foot.  Legs came next along with more heart attacks.  Kidneys shutting down.  She died very young. When I was little, my Aunt Ally gave herself s...
4 comments
Read more