When We Sin Against Our Kids
Filed under {!-- ra:000000001ed64bab0000000064180c78 --}{if 'When We Sin Against Our Kids' == '52home' && category_name == '52home'} Motherhood {if:else} Motherhood {/if}If you’re like me, you’re painfully aware of the imperfect example you are to your children. But this is good, for it brings us back to the cross.
We are sinful mothers; however, we must not forget that the Savior died for sinners. We will never be able to hold up for our children a perfect example; however, we should display the humble, honest example of a woman striving after holiness, by the grace of God.
In fact, our sins provide an opportunity for the light of the gospel to shine into our relationship with our children. If we humble ourselves, confess our sins, and ask for our children’s forgiveness, we will be showing the power of Christ’s saving work.
I vividly remember one interaction between my two daughters—Nicole and Kristin—when they were little. I had gotten angry with Kristin and afterwards I overheard Nicole reassuring her sister from vast experience: “Don’t worry, Kristin—Mom always asks forgiveness.” I didn’t know whether to be pleased or discouraged!
While I didn’t want to believe Nicole had so many illustrations to draw from, I was relieved that her experience, though not of a perfect mom, was at least tempered by some measure of humility on my part.
Paul Tripp concurs: “Living consistently with the faith does not mean living perfectly, but living in a way that reveals that God and his Word are the most important things to you. Such a [mother] can even honor God in [her] failure, with [her] humility in confession and [her] determination to change.”
We can honor God in motherhood failures by humbly confessing our sin and drawing upon God’s grace to grow. What a powerful example of gospel-centered mothering!
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14