My most recent inspiration

I'm not much of a reader, but I try. It's just that I have a hard time getting invested in a book, and it's really not something I want to do when I have a moment of free time. I prefer to feed my facebook addiction or shop online or read other blogs, but a book...that's just too much of a commitment for me. Anyway, the two things that I do enjoy reading about is deepening my relationship with God and parenting. I found a book that has the perfect combination of the two. It has changed my perspective in so many ways and has helped me to be a better parent by investing more into my children.

When our kids are young, being a good parent involves providing for their basic needs; changing diapers, feeding them, dressing them, bathing them, etc.. Although this may be physically exhausting it isn't complicated and doesn't really take a lot of thought....just energy and maybe a large dose of caffeine! What I have found really challenging thus far in raising my children is attempting to mold and shape their character. What parent doesn't want to raise their kids to be honest, kind, generous, loving, spiritual, moral, and compassionate young people? I want my kids to make good decisions even when I'm not there standing over their shoulder. I want my children to love and serve others, just as Jesus did. But yet we are born selfish and taught as toddlers to share and treat others as we would want to be treated. This is a life long lesson. I've realized that I can't just expect my kids to make the right choice and share their new toy with another child at the park, forgive each other when one gets hurt, or hold the door for a stranger at the store. I have to model these behaviors and fill their hearts with grace.

This book that has really inspired me is called The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson. Her stories are real and familiar to me in my daily experiences raising my family but her examples of how she uses these experiences to teach her children about grace, inspiration, faith, training and serving others is what is remarkable to me. She is an amazing woman and her book is well worth the read. I promise you will learn something from it. I wish I could have read it when my older children were younger because it has reshaped my parenting and it will impact how I encourage them to become who God created them to be!

http://www.itakejoy.com/ministry-of-motherhood-book-club-and-giveaway/