The Mission of Motherhood, by Sally Clarkson
Welcome back, ladies!
We pray you’re enjoying your study of The Mission of Motherhood. Sally is sharing her thoughts on chapter two with us this week. We know you can read faster than the speed we’re traveling at! Please, though, if you finish quickly, take some time to look up the scriptures, answer the questions, and maybe even read through it once more—use a highlighter and mark it up, even. I’m a speed-reader myself … and sometimes the problem is that I gloss right over things I should be paying more attention to!
Reading Assignment: Finish (or re-read!) Chapter Two of The Mission of Motherhood
To Think About and Discuss:
Read Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
~What are some of the philosophies of man concerning family that have taken people captive today? What are the results of those deceptions?
Read Romans 8:1: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
~ What does this say about the guilt of people who have fallen below God’s standards? What is the condition for escaping the condemnation we deserve from God?
For All of Us to Talk About in the comments:
~What does it mean to you, knowing there is no condemnation for you in Christ?
Enjoy what Sally has to share with us today and be sure to add to the discussion below!
About Misty Krasawski
Loved this video, Sally. You are lovely.
Mrs. Clarkson,
this book has so inspired me… your blog has as well… I am by no means a leader, but since I’ve begun reading your books and blog I have such a deep burden for families. I’m praying for God’s direction…
I know God has so much more in store for us! I want it for my family! I want it for my friends! And just imagine the change that could take place if people, if mothers, started living this way!! Thank you so much! God has used you to bring about such change in my thinking and change in my life! And that will affect generations to come! God bless you!
Sweet Miranda, if you’re a mama, you’re a leader!
I encourage you to share what you’re learning, and wait and see what God will do. Welcome! We’re glad you’re here!
I just LOVE the mental word picture I get from your story, Sally! (btw: funny story ~ I kept mentioning your name "Sally" to a friend and she teased me and was like, "Oh, so you and Sally Clarkson are on a first name basis now, huh?"
Now, I call you MRS. Clarkson in a VERY dramatic voice when talking to that said friend. LOL.) I’m building a beautiful building, a beautiful legacy for my family as I walk in obedience to what the Lord has called me too!!!! As I reviewed Chapter 2, I was so encouraged and inspired to "keep my hand to the plow" and to keep sowing little seeds and laying blocks of that foundation. Today, I chose to take a little time to make cookies with my 4 yo who’s been a bit whinny lately…it is hard to spend that time with him, but I must!!! I must be faithful. And I can do it with God’s help!!!
For me, the philosophies of men, that I am taking captive is the "supermom" mentality out there in the sense of the the greatest, biggest, beautiful, of everything…basically, materialism in a nutshell. I’m trying each day to make a conscious choice to focus on PEOPLE…SOULS. I want to be a supermom in the sight of the Lord, in that I care about my husband, my children, and those around me with the love of the Lord and above myself. I want to do things out to show the love of Jesus to them. Not to make myself look good or for what I can get out of it, which is what I think the world’s supermom mentality can be.
I feel that the condemnation I deserve is nailed to the Cross and His blood covers my wretched self! It’s so freeing. I am, however, glad for his CONVICTION to reach higher and aim higher in my walk and service for others out of obedience to Him and because I love Him so much!
Thank you!!
Amy @ http://www.theviewfromhiddenvalley.blogspot.com
We are so glad you’re encouraged, Amy. Oh goodness, how little ones can whine, sometimes! I’ve learned, though, that when I spend time with my children, it really helps. They’re less likely to be fussy when their souls are filled! Bless you and I pray you continue to grow!
I have watched and re-watched, read and re-read the chapter and am finally getting a handle on what Sally is saying. It is what I have always believed from my upbringing but I’ve never fully understood how the traditional model in our culture originally comes from the biblical view. Hence I have felt shy to challenge others or even to share my view of a Mum’s ‘place’ being first and foremost to building the home, supporting her husband and training her children. I felt that my views were Biblical but was confused that many other mums seemed to be able to have a full-time job, have the kids involved in numerous activities, train their children anyway and so on. I felt they were the Proverbs 31 women and I was insular and the odd-ball!! I think this is one of the biggest of Satan’s traps in Australia, as I’m sure it would be in America, that we can have it all – the house, the car, the job, the talented kids, the healthy foods and the faith…………….. So, following a weekend of intense reflection
I can see that this is a message to share with other Mums. Glorify God, be a helper and companion to your spouse, together train your children in godliness and all the wonders of our saviour, subdue your sphere of life (I’m calling housework subduing now!! – "I’m subduing the house!!", use your God-given gifts of helping and nurturing however God calls you. Put God first. See life through his eyes. Enjoy all the blessings he showers on us. Use the creativity he has given us. It really is HEAPS to do – why do we try to over-burden ourselves further???
I was refreshed to read the Message version of Proverbs 31 especially these lines:
‘ She keeps an eye on everyone in her household
and keeps them busy and productive’ (time to get off that computer 16 yr old!!)
‘She senses the worth of her work"
and finally
‘She always faces tomorrow with a smile’
God bless you all x
"I’m calling housework subduing now!! – "I’m subduing the house!!" "
LOL! That’s great. I think I’ll call it subduing now too!
Re-reading and re-watching and trying to soak it all in here as well. Like you, it matches how I had always believed – but I had always been the "strange" one amongst most people. It’s nice to see it all outlined and affirmed the way Sally does.
Yes, I love that!–Let’s all subdue our houses together, shall we?
Oh, Elizabeth, that’s wisdom, I tell you! Watch and re-watch … read and re-read … it’s why we’re trying to go a bit slowly through this book. We speed/speed/speed through everything these days and miss so much. It’s difficult to see others who seem to do "just fine" while juggling a batch of plates, especially when we feel we are not handling our smaller stack of plates quite as well. We do have to remind ourselves to put first things first, listen to the Lord, and do what He has put into our hearts and hands as His direction for our lives! That’s a beautiful paraphrase of Proverbs 31. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!