“A woman’s family is held together by her wisdom, but it can be destroyed by her foolishness.” ~Proverbs 14:1 (Contemporary English Version)

I was at the public library yesterday when I heard several loud “slaps” followed by a child’s uncontrollable wailing.  I waited a few moments to see if it would stop, but it continued.  So, I went into the restroom to see what was happening.  When I entered the restroom, a mother and daughter were standing in one of the small cubicles together.  The child’s pants were down around her feet, while the mother stood over her degrading her because she had wet her pants.

I “busied myself” – so as not to be SO obvious – while I “monitored” the situation.  The mother kept on and on towering over the little girl and telling her how horrible she was for wetting her pants at 7 years old, insinuating that the child had intentionally messed up her clothes.  I tried to “lighten” the situation by making a remark that “accidents happen”, but the mother’s eyes were fixed upon this child.  She simply continued glaring down at this little girl, while continuing her ugly remarks.

As a mother of two girls (now 13 and 10), I’ve made many mistakes and am certain that I’ll make more in the future.  But as I watched this situation take place yesterday and saw the look in that little girl’s eyes, I was reminded of a time when God spoke very clearly to me about allowing my children the privilege of making mistakes.

You see, you and I make mistakes everyday.  When we do, we want God’s grace to cover those mistakes and hope that the people around us will also extend grace to us when we fall short. 

In that same manner, we MUST extend grace to our children when they make mistakes.  We MUST let them know that making mistakes is simply part of life and that they don’t have to be “crippled” by those mistakes.

As mothers, it is our responsibility to turn our houses into homes.  We are the ones who “set the atmosphere” in our homes. 

So let me ask you a few questions:

• Do you allow your children “room for error”?
• What is your response when your child makes a mistake or a wrong choice?
• Do you encourage your children to reach THEIR destiny in Christ?
• Do you speak positive or negative words over your children?
• Do you respond to your children’s mistakes the way you want others to respond to yours?

Let me encourage you today….You CAN be the kind of mother who helps your child reach his/her destiny in Christ.  You CAN be the one they trust to call when a party goes the wrong direction or friends engage in things they shouldn’t.  You CAN be the one they talk to when difficult situations arise.  But it won’t happen if you don’t set that atmosphere.

Maybe you need to step back and look at things a little differently.  If you do, then do it.  You’ll be glad you did.  And in so doing, you’ll build a home where your heart of love shines brightly into the lives of those you love most!

*photo above taken from www.freefoto.com