A Mother's Self Control and Restraint

Does anyone remember seeing TV shows from the 90's of people (children and adults) attacking eachother during counseling sessions with huge overstuffed pillows and big sticks with soft ends all supervised and encouraged by the all- knowing psychiatrist to just' let it all out'???

Well, needless to say this is wrong. On these shows we were taught a fallacious lesson...that displaying lack of self control and restraint was our personal right. Children yelled angrily at parents and spouses physically assaulted eachother under the counselors encouragement for the camera as viewers gasped (or cheered) at the sight.

But the Bible has many teachings for us about self-control.

"Like a city who's walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control." Proverbs 25:28

"...train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:4-5

"Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devils prowls around looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

It was harmfully detriment to those of us who watched this because now as Christians we have to learn not to give full vent to our anger. We have to 'untrain' ourselves and do the opposite of what we watched and learned over the years of growing up in an era where 'venting our frustrations' was the hip thing. Our view of self control has been so jaded and disillusioned that we have to relearn what it is and need help discerning what self control is and what is not.

So, you see, we mustn't get angry if the baby spills his milk, or if little Suzie hasn't cleaned her room--but instead we must have patience to teach and to train--not yell and throw our own childish tantrum! If we see shortcomings in our children, our hearts should be filled with mercy just as Christ had mercy on us, and see the situation at hand as an opportunity to teach. Many times a child does not know something because we have not taught it beforehand, we just expect them to already know it. I am brokenhearted when I hear mothers chastising their children with vulgar language because they themselves do not recognize the folly of their ways. So often they do not recognize what normal childhood development is and expect so much from their little children and mock them when they do not. I think it would be wise to follow these verses:

"A man's wisdom gives him patience, it is to his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11

"But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children." 1 Thessalonians 2:7

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matt 19:14

"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matt 18:6

Gentleness, love, and merciful forgiveness is what should rule the Christian mother.

And lastly I encourage you to:

"Train yourselves for the purpose of godliness." 1 Timothy 4:7

So that we might practice self control in our mothering and bring glory to our God.

(The Christian Mother Series, Part 10)