Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Example (07/25/13)
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TITLE: How to Be a Mommy Class 101 | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Berg
08/01/13 -
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Giggles escaped from the three younger daughters, Louise (10), Laine (7) and Loreen (5), while they scurried to get their choice chairs. The older two daughters, Lynn (13) and Lanae (12), rolled their eyes at each other. Lynn twirled a strand of hair with her right index finger, while loudly smacking her gum. She pulled up a chair and sat down with a firm thud. Lanae slid into a chair next to her, eyes darting between her older sister and me, watching for my reaction. Louise sighed at their antics.
I was so excited! I had waited years to give our five daughters this most important of training. After all, was my thinking, with five daughters, certainly it was part of my motherly responsibilities, to teach them “how to be a mommy.”
I had all my lesson plans prepared. I had actually created a Scope and Sequence, just like a real teacher. It contained the what, when and how to be taught with specifics for each lesson subject.
The First Lesson would be on how important it was for a mommy to have a good God honoring relationship with the daddy, marriage before, of course.
Lesson Two was the lesson on the physical part of becoming a mommy. I was planning to divide my class into two age appropriate classes for this lesson.
The Third Lesson was the one that would include how to physically care for a child from infant to young adult hood.
For Lesson Four I would teach them how to nurture children emotionally. This would include affirming them, encouraging them to be all they can be, and coaching them in their efforts, you know, healthy self-esteem building.
Lesson Five was going to be on the necessity of discipline as a mommy. Discipline given for the purpose of training the child in obedience through all stages of their life.
The Sixth Lesson given to our girls would be on the importance of training their children about seeking an education.
Lesson Seven, although last would not be the least, but I wanted to leave them with the most important. This lesson would be about teaching our daughters how to help their children develop spiritually with a heart for God, with a desire to follow Jesus, how to love others and serve, and with a focus on their eternity in their life choices. Daddy was going to teach this lesson.
I was planning to use lectures, discussions, worksheets, projects, video and audio presentations, books, research assignments, and role playing as teaching tools.
“Mommy, mommy.” The high pitched excited voice from our daughter Laine brought me back to the present as she finished with, “We are all ready.”
“”Yes, girls….let’s start.”
“Our class today is going to be about How to Be a Mommy, because some day, you may grow up and choose to be a mommy.
With arm raised high, waving, as she half stood and half sat on her chair, our daughter, Loreen said, “I know the answer mommy. Pick me, please mommy?”
“Okay, Loreen, what is the answer.”
“ It’s when God puts a baby in your tummy.”
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If you think this article is facetious: not to be taken seriously, you are right.
The values espoused above are fairly inline with what most of us as Christian parents would want for our children in learning how to be a God honoring adult: specific to this article, a mommy. Teaching, training, encouraging, loving, affirming, educating, disciplining, nurturing are all important to giving our children tools for their healthy development: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. One thing is lacking though. Without our example of those things we are teaching being lived out as core values in our own life, our efforts can fail.
It’s the marriage of our word and our life example. To our children and others, it means we are authentic. Authenticity has value. In this case, value to influence.
We find perfect representation of this in Ephesians 5:1, “Follow God’s example dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ gave himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
He’s the real deal.
If we follow God’s example, walking in the way of love, just as Christ did…we become like a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
An example of authenticity with value to influence.
Scripture Reference (NIV) Ephesians 5:1
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