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Wynter Pitts Christian Blog and Commentary

Act now to share the love of Christ in the Middle East

Wynter Pitts

Wynter Pitts is the founder of For Girls Like You, a ministry to girls and their parents, that includes a quarterly print magazine, journal, and other print and web resources.

God Answers Prayers

  • 2015May 26

 

I’m not sure why I was feeling particularly brave this day. Normally, I would carefully adjust my schedule in order to avoid this type of thing. Meaning, normally I waited for my husband to come home before I left the house…..with the kids…..alone.

I’m only slightly joking…keep reading and you will understand why.

However this day I decided I could do it.

I went to Target.

On my own.

With all 4 of my girls.

BRAVERY.

I am not sure what I actually thought I was going to buy or where I would put it, considering my cart was full before I even walked through the doors! But on this day, for whatever reason, I decided I could do it and I could do it alone.

I can only imagine how we must have looked…..A five year old tugging at my left thigh. A three year old waddling on my right and a shopping cart loaded with two infant car seats. 

I was that mom. The mom you watch in awe and amazement with a twinge of sympathy and pity.

We were strolling the aisles pretty seamlessly when somewhere between the cereal and toothbrushes it happened.

The moment all mom’s dread… “I have to go potty!”

OH NO!

I tried to ignore her 1st three cries.  But as I watched her hand intensely cup her bottom, I knew I was in trouble.

We scurried through the aisles back to the front of the store and reached the entrance to the restroom.

A sign read, “No shopping carts allowed beyond this point”

Oh my! I began to play the scenarios in my head:

Scenario 1- Remove my two infant seats and carry my twins one by one into the restroom, while towing along the two older girls. Sit the seats on the floor outside of the stall…line the paper and load the 3 year old….wash hands and head back out to the cart.

Scenario 2 - Leave my cart, my twins, and my 5 year old outside of the restroom…..

….ok clearly I only had one option!

I have been forced to develop the skill of creative problem solving, but I was out of options.  Meanwhile my three-year-old’s hand was getting tighter and we were all in tears, helplessly standing outside the door.

I took a final scan of the store. I guess I thought one final look before I began the process might give me some new insight….Nothing.

Finally I whispered a desperate prayer, “Lord, help me!”

It was in that moment that out of nowhere I saw a familiar face strolling towards me!

I practically threw my cart in her direction as I yelled, “I’ll explain when I get back….”

I’m not sure I’ve recovered from this experience. However it has surely served its purpose. I often recall this experience to remind myself…..

God answers prayers

…..Sometimes he’s just waiting for us to ask.

I Will Never be a Perfect Mother

  • 2015Jul 23

I recently read this and immediately recognized it as one of the truest statements ever…

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Have you ever felt like this? I not have phrased it as eloquently as the above, but now that I have children the notion of perfection is laughable.

“Children bring out our weaknesses and lack of faith, ultimately leading us to a posture of prayer.” {Tweet this!}

Pre-kids I had a list of “I will never’s.” And to be honest, those “never’s” have gradually become understandable exceptions.

Things like:

“I will never let my kids play outside all day in their pj’s.”

Now I smile because I am the mother next door I never thought I’d be.

I will never let my house become dirty and look like “so and so’s.”

Isn’t dirty such a relative word?

My children will never talk to me like that.

I definitely demand respect from my children, but a healthy debate with my seven-year old is sometimes fun and a welcomed challenge!

The realities of motherhood often reduce a multitude of parenting rules down to the bare essentials in areas that are more preference than standard.

So, I have decided to turn my failing list of “nevers” into a growing list of commitments I can actually keep!

A list of “I wills.”

I asked others to join me and here is what we have come up with:

I WILL give my kids the good morning hug – EVERY MORNING!!!

I WILL pray with the kids before they walk out of the door for school. Even if I’m so irritated with their behavior that I want to pull my hair out. Maybe I should say ESPECIALLY when I’m so irritated.

I WILL ALWAYS dance with my children, no matter how loud they scream, beg and plead for me to stop!!

I WILL randomly enter their classrooms whether necessary or not.

I WILL let my baby wear high waters in public…as long as they look like capris!

I WILL ALWAYS let my daughters know they are valued.

I WILL make sure the kids go to the bathroom before leaving the house, even if they say they don’t have to go.

I WILL be honest with my children. I will tell them things like, “That’s not the right top for you,” or “You really need to brush your teeth!”

I WILL ALWAYS know the names of my daughter’s 3 best friends even if it means learning them every 3 days!

I WILL continue to decide my children’s outfits based on my body temperature at the moment.

I WILL


!

Your turn! To add to this list of committments visit here! There is comfort in giving up and starting fresh with others who understand!

When Parenting Challenges Your Faith

  • 2013Nov 06

Have you ever watched your child live their faith “out loud” in the form of sacrifice, humility or kindness?

Recently, I sat in the back of a room and witnessed my 6-year-old daughter show a level of humility that would make a parent proud.  Surprisingly, the experience left me feeling unprepared for the possibility of answered prayers.

Here’s what happened…

A young man on the stage asked, “Can I have four volunteers?”

Immediately, all over the room, hands were flailing, bodies were jumping and kids were screaming, “ME! ME! ME!”

The young man on stage loosely pointed to different areas around the room and called out, “You! You! You! You!”

About 7 kids came running down the aisle, climbed the stairs, and planted their bodies within inches of the man, anticipating what was to come.  My baby girl was one of them.

The young man looked down at the kids and said, “We have too many volunteers. I need three of you to go back to your seat.”

I watched my daughter, with a smile on her face, immediately turn around and bounce back to her seat. After a little prodding, two more kids left the stage.

I should have been proud of her leadership, her decision, her attitude, and her obedience…right?

But can I be honest?

My immediate feelings were not that of a proud mother. Instead, I felt sad for her and a bit disturbed by the selfishness of the other kids. I wanted her to have something that I knew she wanted. But all I could do was watch quietly from afar as she humbly surrendered and took her seat.

Although I know that sacrifice is at the center of Christ-like living, the reality of the disappointment caused by her Godly decision left me empty. It’s one thing to teach and encourage our kids to give up their desires for the benefit of another and to be kind to those who mistreat them…but it’s an entirely different ball game to sit on the sidelines and witness it happening.

If there is one thing the parenting journey has taught me, it’s this:

"Parenting is just as much about my relationship with Christ in the right now, as it is about training my children for their future." {TWEET THIS}

It’s in the moments of watching my children suffer, sacrifice and serve that I am truly challenged.  Heartbreak, discomfort and pain are a very real part of raising Christ-like children.

Tears may roll down the sweet cheeks of our little girls.  There will be times when their good decisions will break their hearts.   But in these moments, realize that the test may very well be yours.  Will you trust God with your children or will you protect and shield them from the need to practice the Word you’ve taught them. Will you focus so much on hiding God’s word in their heart that you forget to apply it in your own?

While you are praying that God grabs ahold of your girl’s heart, don’t forget to pray that He prepares and strengthens your faith for their journey. {TWEET THIS}