It was a tone I never wanted to hear from my ever-so-sweet 3-year old girl.

“Sister! Stop it!” With my blood about to boil and a time-out about to be given, I caught my breath and realized . . . my sweet Anna sounds just like me. And before the time-out is given, my thoughts get a little frantic:

Do I use this tone with my kids? I hope not. I KNOW I do with the dog . . . and the cat. Is it okay to talk to our pets like that? Probably not. No. Definitely not. Not if my 3-year-old thinks it’s okay to talk to her sister like that! Breathe, Sarah, just breathe.

Does this happen to you? Do you see your reflection in your kids and cringe?

I was warned this would happen. So many wonderful, wise mamas told me I would see all my little flaws in my own children. At the time, I giggled, not having even met my husband yet. But by golly they were right! The perfectionist in me naturally picks up on ALL of these flaws and some days, it just feels exhausting.

There is hope, though, and I know this to be true! Our wonderful, awesome God has reminded me over and over again of His promise:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

• He took broken relationships that I was sure would crush me and brought me to a place of wholeness in the confidence that He will never leave and will use those hurts to create beautiful relationships in the future.
• He has taken chronic illness and taught me to cherish my moments with a love and adoration for my people that I would not have developed any other way.
• He took a painfully shy girl and turned her into a passionate woman determined to equip others to live with positive influence.

God will take your broken pieces, too, and create a beautiful mosaic — a mosaic so wonderfully portrayed in those mothers we look up to who have lived lives full of love, commitment, and hard work for their families. These are the mothers whose wisdom we so admire and whose mosaics ours will sit proudly next to as we gain knowledge and wisdom through the falls and triumphs of life.

If it is true that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and we BELIEVE it is true, then we can also embrace that our God is doing a good work in us. Our reflection in our kids is meant to grow us, teach us, heal us, and help us to be more effective mothers to our growing children.

Yes, our kids are watching. Of course they will pick up on some of our flaws. God has created us to be dynamic women who can grow, who can gain wisdom from experience, and who can rest in the truth that He does good work in us even through the mundane moments of our everyday lives.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Be still, sweet mamas. Take a breath.

Like a coach giving feedback to a promising athlete, our God gives feedback to us through our kids . . . because He knows we can be even more incredible mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, and friends. Trust Him in those moments when all you want to do is crumble in a pile of self-doubt. He knows you better. He sees you complete.

Be still and trust in Him. And use His feedback for good, for growth, and to show your kids that it is okay to be imperfect and “in progress” as we grow through life.

How can you use the reflection you see
in your kids to intentionally grow yourself this month?