In the previous blog article we discussed how Christian motherhood should be joyful. There were so many ideas on my list that I personally did not want to cram them into one long post so here’s Part 2! Motherhood is more than being a mother of small children, kids grow up and teenagers need Mamas to remain joyful despite their own peaks and valleys. Joy is so closely associated not as an emotion but actions reflecting the heart. Don’t expect your kids to be happy to be in your family if joy is lacking in your heart and expressions of love toward them. Let’s push through our own fluctuations of emotions and allow God to shine through us no matter the age(s) of our children.

Reading and singing with your children. My most special moments as a mother have centered around reading books together and singing together. I have grown myself in reading books to our children. The Bible is a special book to read together, don’t neglect those opportunities to open up God’s Word and read it together. Family devotions are special but so is simply sharing those things God has been speaking to you about.

Singing hymns and spiritual songs is a favorite past time we enjoy. Occasionally we set out singing as I cook breakfast just singing song after song that we can think of or going around and singing each child’s request. It always lifts our spirits to sing of our Saviour and dwelling on spiritual truths together. The best joyful entertainment you can have is in reading God’s Word and singing praises to His name!

Asking for forgiveness and granting it to them. After months of a parental struggle with one of our children I was asking my mother-in-law for advice and she simply said, “Well sometimes you just have to forgive your children.” Duh… It struck me that I may have been the one who was keeping our relationship from moving forward because I could not let go of the repeated action(s) that were occurring. I did forgive him and we began connecting again.

On the flip-side I have been the offender who has needed to humble myself and ask my children for forgiveness. So far, when I do it genuinely from my heart, our children have been quick to grant forgiveness and quickly want to give me a hug to demonstrate things are right between us. Joy is hindered when we don’t keep things right between our children.

Laughing together (and sometimes at each other’s mistakes). My children love it when I mess up, whether it is answering a knock-knock joke wrong or mixing up my children’s names, they like to laugh. Create an atmosphere of comfort about being laughed at sometimes. You Mamas who are a little tighter wound, let your hair down a little and tell your kids funny stories from your childhood…i.e. Your most embarrassing moments and stuff like that. Kids are quick to catch the funny and the witty. Keep joke books around, listen to good clean comedians (Donald Davis is our favorite funny storyteller), and whatever else it is that tickles your Christian funny bone. Joy and laughter go joke-in-joke, I mean, hand-in-hand.

Teaching and learning from one another. One night while we were living with my in-laws (last year) my husband asked his mother about certain keys of music. In a matter of moments they took a  trip to the baby grand piano in their living room and in playing and discussing together his question was answered. She quickly helped him comprehend the subject matter.  It just shows it’s never too late to keep investing in your children.

Stay humble enough to realize that with all the knowledge out in this world, you simply cannot know it all, and your children will be growing and learning in different areas and may have some great insights and information you can also learn from. Joy comes in being able to reciprocate a transfer of knowledge one to another.

Praying for their heart’s desires and burdens. Somehow God can link what our children are going through straight to our Mama hearts (probably because of that link when they were living inside us). Good communication allows us to know what our children are wanting to do and those things that are weighing heavy on their hearts. Many parents suggest that tucking your children in at night will allow you the time to discuss things that their hearts may not tell you in the busy activity of the day. Yes, even at those older ages a stop by their room before bedroom can help!

Praying together helps to carry those things, both happy and sad, together to the Lord. Taking the time out of your day to pray with them can be very meaningful. It teaches them how the most “trivial” things can be brought before the Lord because He cares about our hopes and dreams as much as He does our  hard times of life. Praying about these things in their presence is a heart-connecting activity. Peaceful inner joy fills the hearts of mothers willing to pray with and for their children because while the answers to the prayers may be unknown, you have security in knowing the Lord is listening.

I am no perfect parent, and I wish that I was as beautiful as a Mom as so many others are. I battle in these areas but am finding each specific thing God highlighted in these articles are what makes my motherhood joyful. When I am doing these things in our life, then I have a joyful spirit. and our kids have a different type of Mama: one who cares about them more than herself and is cultivating a love for wholesome godly living. My goal is to encourage the nurture and admonish of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Your joyful motherhood may look differently than mine, and that’s okay…whatever areas that makes your family life better and makes you Mama Joyful is what you need to keep doing. My suggestions and observances are not dogmatic scriptural musts, but just little gleanings through experience. I trust in your journey in motherhood you will have some pretty special gems of joyfulness to look at and cherish.

In the spirit of Mother’s Day, may you be filled with joy and growth in your relationships with your children! Happy Mother’s Day Ministry Mama!