Graceful Parenting and True Hospitality: Lessons from a Mother’s Heart

Things My Mother Taught Me

I love to reflect on these verses to keep my attitude in check.

Proverbs 11:22

A woman who is beautiful but lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

Proverbs 18:4

The words of a [discreet and wise] man's mouth are like deep waters [plenteous and difficult to fathom], and the fountain of skillful and godly wisdom is like a gushing stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

Sunday Brunch! What’s the Goal of True Hospitality?

Hospitality, in one translation of 1 Corinthians 13:4, says love is not “anxious to impress” (J.B. Phillips). We can walk into many churches, be impressed yet not feel safe or welcome. Those who seek to impress do so for themselves; those who seek to make welcome do so for the good of others.

I believe hospitality is a stepping stone to deeper ministry. But it comes from the heart of embracing and welcoming others. It’s not for show. It’s open arms. Welcome to our family. Welcome to our home. Life is to be lived family-style!

We can stay open to learning and growing in grace when it comes to our children and grandchildren. There are tremendous tools now to show us a better way! One recommended book is Loving Your Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk.

What can we do with all of our parenting mistakes of the past? Ask for forgiveness—and then forgive yourself. How I feel about myself must be derived from how God feels about me/us.

As a woman with a ‘mother’s heart,’ I recognize that Jesus died for the sin of the world—not just the sin of those who are now ‘doing right.’ In the end, a true mother’s heart lives with honor and instills honor into all to whom she has exposure. When we are surrounded by people of honor and integrity, no task is impossible.

Here are some key, brief parenting qualities to embrace in your walk of grace-filled parenting. Of course, consistency is foundational. Better yet, my best advice would be “what NOT to do!” But we always appeal for agreement if both parents are involved. Let’s live a life of affirmation and encouragement with our inheritance—our children.

We can help instill in our children now a healthy respect for living with boundaries—with our time, energy, finances, and especially relationships. We accept the truth that we grown-ups have value based on Christ’s performance.

When I say what not to do, I mean to lose a religious-minded, law-mentality versus an empowering, grace-and-mercy-filled way of living. Are we receiving New Covenant grace for our sins and holding our children hostage in the Old Covenant without a Savior? Are we keeping our children captive to performance?

“We are all forgiven in Christ—parents and children included.”

A good friend, Sherry Green, wrote:“ Above all, graceful parenting in the truest sense is you receiving God's grace and passing it on. Tell your children the Gospel."

God loves them unconditionally. Nothing they can do can change His commitment of love for them. We are all forgiven in Christ—parents and children included. Jesus paid for our sins upon the cross. Tell them, “Jesus did this for all mommies and daddies and their children.” We have peace with God now by having faith in our risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

You will be surprised at the outcome of sharing the Gospel with your children consistently. Their lives—and yours—will show the difference!

This is God’s plan for graceful parenting: “Bring the children unto me,” Jesus said, “and forbid them not.” “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. ”You may ask, what is “the nurture and admonition of the Lord?” What would Jesus tell your children if He tucked them into bed at night? That’s right… the Good News.

Are we conveying to our children how to be and stay thankful? Remember, thanksgiving is the language of faith, which pleases God.

Are you enjoying what you have? Unthankful people are never happy. Sadly, most unhappy people believe they will be thankful when they are happy. But just the opposite is true.

They will become happy when they become thankful for what they presently have.

The Bible says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits.”—Psalm 68:19

That means that every day, I have something for which to be thankful if I am only aware of it.

Do you intentionally express what you are thankful for? Make it a lifestyle!

Are you expressing your appreciation to those around you?

Purpose to enjoy life… this is not a rehearsal!