June 2008 Pearls of Encouragement for Christian Working
Moms
Welcome
Prayer Partners
Blog/Online Bible Study
CWM Coaching Tips
Article – Honoring Fathers
Welcome
I survived!!! I shared with you if I
could make it till May 30th I would be fine. My children
are out of school and things have finally calmed down
some. We have been to the pool a couple of times.
Are you excited when the school year ends or a little
sad? I know for some of our readers school is still
in session. Enjoy doing something silly and fun with
your children. Welcome and hugs to all our CWMs from
all over the globe. May God be glorified through all
you do.
One of my favorite songs right now is
In Christ Alone. I can rarely sing that song without
crying. If you like hearing old hymns sung to new
melodies then you will like Avalon’s CD of favorite
hymns. In Christ Alone is on that CD as well. To find
our more click
here.
Prayer Partners
Several of you responded to wanting
a prayer partner and were matched. I have another
CWM who would like a prayer partner. Prayer partners
“meet” through email and share one another’s
burdens. They agree to pray for one another. If you
would like a prayer partner, send me an email to Kimberly@kimberlychastain.com
and put prayer partner in the subject heading. Thanks
in advance.
Blog/Online Bible Study
The CWM blog is at http://christianworkingmoms.blogspot.com.
I know a lot of you visit, but don’t post. Please
come and share your thoughts and concerns. I recently
posted a question about what you like to do during
the summer break. Share your fun ideas with all of
us. The CWM Bible study can be found at http://cwmbiblestudy.blogspot.com.
Coaching Tips
CWM Coaching Tips are tips that you
can receive daily to help you in your walk with God.
We look in-depth at one verse a week and memorize
it as well. Learn how to deepen your walk with God
on a daily basis. To find out more go to: http://www.kimberlychastain.com/cwmtips.htm.
Article – Honoring Fathers
In June we celebrate fathers on Father’s
Day. Even though we are a community of Moms we can’t
forget the Dads. Some of you have Dads in the home
and some do not. All of us have Dads whether they
are still on this earth or not. So, this month I want
us to focus on Dads. One of the reasons I’m
doing this is I think for the most part Dads are ignored
more than Moms. Dads in the media are often portrayed
as ignorant or bumbling buffoons. You rarely see a
Dad portrayed in an honorable way. Also, when women
get together they have a habit of putting down their
husbands and their husbands as fathers.
Christian men and non-Christian Dads
as well need encouragement.
God has high expectations for fathers and how they
are to lead their children. So, what can we do to
encourage the Dads in our lives?
1. If your father is still living write
him a letter and thank him for all
the things he has done for you. Even if you had a
difficult relationship with your father you can probably
think of one thing to thank him for and let him know.
When I worked as a camp counselor while in college
I wrote my Dad a letter and thanked him for what he
had done in my life. When my father died and I was
going through his things I found my letter in a jewelry
chest. He had kept that letter for over 20 years.
2. Look for opportunities to catch your
children’s father doing
“Dad” things with your children and praise
him. Most Moms
don’t wrestle with kids on the floor, but Dads
do. Let your
children’s Dad know that you appreciate those
things.
3. Sing praises about your children’s
father in front of other
people. Let him hear you say things he does well.
4. Pray for your children’s father
and that he would be the man
God would have him be.
5. Don’t try to compete with your
children’s father to gain the
affection or approval of your children. Your children
need
to learn from both parents.
6. Do not criticize a Dad in front of your children
or others.
If you need to discuss something do it out of the
child’s
hearing.
7. Do your best as a Christian woman
to not join in the male
bashing sessions with other women. We are to uplift
one another and not tear down.
8. Teach your children to respect their
father even if that is
hard. Do your best not to speak ill of him even if
that
is all you can think of. Children need to make their
own
decision about a relationship with their father not
have
the mother make it for them.
9. If you are in a situation where your
children’s father is
absent try to surround yourself with Godly families
where
your children can get a male influence. Maybe a retired
Godly man who will take your children under his wing.
10. Remember most of us get our views
of God by how our
earthly father related to us. Encourage men around
you to
reflect God and his glory in their relationships with
children.
In closing, fathers are very important
in our children’s lives. We need
to encourage that relationship and not do anything
to tear it down. If that relationship is not an option
then search out Godly men to love your children. The
church is a body of believers that meets one another’s
needs. So, encourage a Dad today by giving him a good
work and a thank you.
Final Thoughts
I learned a long time ago that Dads
do things different from Moms and that is okay. There
is more than one way to do things. So, loosen up a
little and let Dads do things their way.
Till next time,
Kimberly M. Chastain
