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Filling Our Footprints
Posted By MaryBeth
Isaiah 48:17, “This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” (NIV)
I can remember as a little girl, following my mother down the beach, trying to jump in her footprints as I followed behind her. I struggled so hard to make my little legs stretch far enough to match her stride. I wanted to walk the way she walked, and grow to be a woman just like her. I did not want to step foot outside of the path she was creating for me.
As I think back to that time, I can see so clearly now that picture of what motherhood really is—a journey we are on, with our kids following right along behind us. We might not be sure of the way, we may wander in the wrong direction, and we may stumble as we go along. And all the while, our children, like little ducklings, are there following in our footsteps. We are their model for how to make their own way in this world. What a sobering thought!
Sometimes I don’t feel qualified to be anyone’s model. I don’t want them to look to me as an example because, let’s face it, I am not worthy! My only hope is in knowing the One who is worthy. (I Chronicles 16:25) As I direct my steps towards Him, I can rest in knowing that no matter where I fall short, at least I am headed in the right direction. Where I am leading them, they can safely follow.
My children must walk in my footsteps just as I once walked in my mom’s. This is the way God designed it. He told the children of Israel to teach their own. He told them what to say and when to say it. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” (NASB)
I think of the Bible verses my mom taught me, the songs she sang to me, and the countless Bible stories she read to me. I think of the times she took me to church and counseled me about right and wrong choices. She taught me to hold all things up to God’s standard. She laid a foundation that has lasted all my life and is even now filtering into the lives of my children. Her efforts have multiplied and were well worth the time it took her. (Psalm 22:30-31)
Don’t let the thought of your children looking to you as an example make you fearful. God knows you, He knows your kids, and He sees your heart. In Hi sovereignty, He chose you as the mother of these children for such a time as this. He sees you when you look to Him for answers and He hears the cries of your heart. Lord, you say, I don’t know how to be a good example, so I will trust You to make me into one. Those first small steps towards Him are all He requires.
The best part about this parenting journey is that we are not on that path alone. We have Jesus and the Holy Spirit to offer us the comfort our souls need. (II Corinthians 1:3-4) Even more, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. He will lead us when we don’t know the way. He will take us by the hand when we feel we can’t go on. With His abiding presence, we do not have to be afraid of the future or of our own inadequacies.
My daughters both love to imitate me. The other day, my six year old came downstairs and, upon seeing what I had on, promptly went back upstairs to put on clothes that matched mine. I can see in the way she watches me, talks like me and even dresses like me that I am making a huge impact in her life, whether I intend to or not. I do not take this role lightly and do my best to be a good model for her. For this reason, I must cling to God with all I have and allow Him to fill my gaps and give me wisdom. I am just so thankful I don’t have to walk this path alone.
Sep 15th, 2006
How true! I did that too. Except I tried to walk in my daddy’s foot prints. In winter. The snowbanks were deep and as my little feet would step into his footprints - COLD ICY SNOW would fall into my boots.
God bless you! Thank you for sharing…
Thanks for that encouragement Marybeth.
My son insists on being like his us - it is cute and scary!
What a very necessary reminder!!!
MaryBeth, Good capture of how our lives are made up of small exchanges, with lots of unexpected realities entering our lives, we always have choices as Moms in responding. As every young parent discovers, the crucible of parenthood isn’t rescuing children from burning houses; it’s the 3 am feeding, the scary dream at 5yr and the bad hair days of middle school. We remember Jesus for his Calvary sacrifice, do you think his truest moments were the many small instances when he turned aside to care for specific people? God stands before us in “the least of these”.
I love this. I even passed this on to my sister to read. Great Great words of wisdom.
I especially love “Don’t let the thought of your children looking to you as an example make you fearful. God knows you, He knows your kids, and He sees your heart. In His sovereignty, He chose you as the mother of these children for such a time as this.”
Yes, Yes, Yes….
What a wonderful image — jumping from footprint to footprint.
Thank you for such an important reminder. My little girl is only 16 months and it is amazing how toddlers already love to imitate. She loves to carry her dolls around and push them in the doll stroller.
I am often amazed that God has entrusted me with two beautiful little girls who will try to mimic what I do. It is an awesome responsibility and I am glad He goes before me. I am also greatly humbled when He uses them as a mirror to show me exactly who I am and where I need to change in certain areas of life. I don’t know who is learning more . . . me or them. :0) Then, I find myself totally inspired by my little girl’s intense desire to be feminine. She just loves to wear skirts, parade her outfits before her Daddy, and wear aprons whenever she cooks. She’s a little lady. She doesn’t have a care in the world (well, not totally true I guess but not cares like mine). As an adult, it is sometimes easier to leave the good clothes for good days because my little ones might soil it. :0) Enough rambling here . . . this just made me think of quite a few things that have already been on my heart in recent days. :0)
Marybeth,
I am a local homeschooler in NC and I always love your column in the greenhouse report—so glad to find your writings online now!
Have a blessed day.
One thing I learned very early in my motherhood journey…children do not come with instruction manuals. And we’re not born knowing how to be moms. I never doubted for one moment that some major outside help was happening. Even when I was at my least confident that I had a clue what I was doing, I knew God was guiding me. Thank goodness!
I have two daughters. They’re grown young women now. They are each wonderful in their own way. And they still want to be just like me. And I have no idea why. But it makes me feel like somewhere along the way, with a whole lot of help from God, I accidentally got it right.