Beatitudes for SAHMs-4

Beatitudes for 'Stay at Home Moms' (part 4)

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is an integral part of being a SAHM. The Amplified Bible says this is seeking 'uprightness and right standing with God.' The Living Bible tells us that it means, 'to long to be just and good.' The Message states, 'You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God.' And, the Shepherd's Guide Commentary has this to say - "These are people who want, more than anything else, to see the world's evil (including what is wrong in their own lives) overcome by God's righteousness.' The definitions run the gamut don't they? But, I believe they are all applicable to SAHMS.

First an foremost, as SAHMS we MUST seek to be 'upright and in right standing with God.' We have to make time for daily quiet time, even if it is for only a few stolen moments. We model God's love to our children, and as SAHMs, we have much more time than most parents to either get it right or really mess it up! We are all human, and fail - we get angry, or distracted, or stressed out - but we can still model God's love by being honest with our children and admitting our failings - and asking their forgiveness if we fly off the handle needlessly. We also must model God's mercy and grace to our children. In order to do this, it is essential that we fully understand and accept the awesome gift of mercy and grace He gave us through his son, Jesus Christ.

We also must long to be 'just and good'. We must use God's word as a template for loving, raising and disciplining our children. As it says is Deuteronomy 6:5-8 "love the Lord your God with all our heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." It is our job as parents, SAHMs or not, to raise our children in God's way. I order to do that, we must immerse ourselves first in His word. We must use His word to temper our discipline, to ask forgiveness, to give forgiveness, and to show love.

As The Message states, we must 'work up a good appetite for God.' As a SAHM I know how easy it is to come to the end of your day and realize that you have not read one word from the Bible, nor taken then time to really sit down and have focused prayer. It is imperative that we find a way to seek God, to be hungry for Him and His word. Write down your favorite scriptures and put them in your wallet, tape them to your bathroom mirror, stick them on the dashboard in your car. Have your Bible handy, and read it when your little ones are napping, or while you are waiting at the doctor's office. Pray with your children in the morning and at night, at meals. Read a Bible story to them, and see what YOU can learn from it! Grab time with God however you can!

Once we seek to become closer to God, we can do nothing else but desire the see the evil in the world and in our own lives overcome by God's righteousness. Whether that is a disobedient 2 year old, or a teenager facing unthinkable peer pressure - we must desire in our hearts for the evil that tempts them to be vanquished by God's will. We want our children to be free from the fear of abduction, abuse, guns in schools, drugs and an entire laundry list of other evils. As SAHMs we must seek God, and pray as intercessors for our children, their teachers, friends and the world.

What is our reward for seeking God? The Bible states we will be filled. We know, of course, that this does not mean we will never have trials, or evil will not touch our lives. But, we must take comfort in the fact that our choice to follow God's will for our lives and our families and become SAHMs has allowed us continual opportunities to intercede. It also allows us the opportunity to see our reward, if we just look. When the 2-year-old finally "gets it" and obeys, when the teenager says no to a party because it does not agree with his beliefs.

Being a SAHM is hectic and fraught with surprises. We must seek God first in our day in order to be the best SAHM we can be. His will called us to the task, His strength - if we seek it - can carry us through.


About the author:

Cheryl is a SAHM to her three year old daughter. She worked as a nursing home administrator for 8 years before her promotion to 'Stay At Home Mommy.' She loves being a homebody, sewing, needle arts, scrap-booking and raising her daughter. Cheryl believes that SAHMs don't get enough support or encouragement in this day of two income families.

[ by Cheryl Novak, Copyright 2000 ]