Books > Power of a Positive Mom > Excerpts

Introduction

You Can Do It!

Making a Positive Difference

"The wise woman builds her house..."

-- Proverbs 14:1

Every child needs a positive push in life. An enthusiastic word, a loving smile or a prayer of support may be just the encouragement a young person needs to send him or her off in the right direction.

That's where mothers come in. As moms, we have the opportunity every day to boost our children onward and upward. Ours is a highly influential job. Through our affirmative support and loving care, we are in a unique position to help our children reach for their dreams and achieve their God-given potential.

Unfortunately, in the day to day struggles of motherhood, our good intentions toward our kids can seem to fly out the window. We may start off the day with a fresh outlook and high expectations, but midway through the second temper tantrum of the morning (theirs, not ours), we somehow lose our handle on the uplifting encouragement we intended to share. How can we be positive when we often feel like the greatest portion of our day is spent correcting, scolding, and trying to avert minor disasters? It doesn't help that we're distracted from our efforts to be affirming by the daily chores of running errands, doing laundry, and putting dinner on the table.

I truly believe that most of us start out as positive mothers when that little newborn baby is first laid in our arms. It is easy to look down at that bundle of precious potential and fill our minds with hopes and dreams of what he or she will one day become (through our guidance and influence, of course). But in the aftermath of those blissful moments we begin to deal with the business of everyday life and child rearing, and we discover that it is more challenging to be a positive parent than we ever dreamed.

This book is written to help every mother rediscover and recapture that spirit of affirmation and encouragement -- that sense of great expectation and purpose and possibility we all felt in the beginning -- even in the midst of the everyday struggles of raising kids. You can do it! These are four powerful words. Our children need to hear them quite often. But today I want to say them to you.

Yes, you can do it! With God's help and with his Holy Spirit living inside you, you can be, as the writer of Proverbs says, "the wise woman [who] builds her house" (Proverbs 14:1). The seven principles I offer in this book are meant to help you recognize the amazing power that God has put in the hands of positive mothers -- and to inspire you to become the positive mom you want and need to be. Each chapter is filled with quotes, Scripture, and real-life examples designed to encourage you and spur you on.

At the close of each chapter is a section called "Power Point" with a suggestion for further Bible study, a model prayer, and an activity to reinforce the principles you've just learned. After all, God's power is not in the reading; it's in the doing! These Power Point sections lend themselves well to group study with fellow mothers. In fact, studying this book and completing the Power Point steps with other mothers is a great way to find mutual encouragement and support as you seek to become a more positive mom.

I don't know about you, but I was blessed to have been raised by a positive mom and dad. My mother passed away several years ago, but her discipline and godly character were powerful examples in my life. She was a kind woman with a servant's heart who prayed continually for her family and friends. For his part, my dad always taught his kids to look at the positive and not dwell on the negative. Even today he is an encourager -- always wearing a smile on his face and ready to speak a good word. I learned a great deal from my parents' positive influence, and part of my desire in writing this book is to pass on to you some of the wisdom they taught me.

Maybe you had positive parents too. Maybe not. Either way, you and I both have the ultimate positive parent: God, our Heavenly Father. The principles in this book are powerful and true, not because I had great parents, or because I'm an extraordinary mother myself (although I try my best). Rather, they are supremely powerful and absolutely true because they come from God's Word.

I've spoken about these principles in women's meetings for several years, and I've always enjoyed hearing feedback from women who say, "'The Power of a Positive Mom' has made me a better mother." Interestingly enough, I found myself saying these same words as I searched the Scriptures further and did more research to write this book.

I grew to have a deeper prayer life while writing Chapter 6 and studying the faith-filled prayers of George Mueller. I became more positive and thankful as I considered the importance of "an attitude of gratitude" while writing Chapter 10. I added several time-honored traditions to our family celebrations after working on Chapter 16. Throughout the writing of the entire book I learned to encourage my children in more effective ways through my words, actions, and example.

I'm just a fellow journeyman (or should I say journeymom) in this adventure of motherhood. The principles in this book have made a strong impact on my parenting abilities, and I believe they will do the same for you. I've written in a "mother friendly" style, short and to the point, because I realize most moms have only small snippets of spare time to take in a chapter or two. So while the kids are napping or playing happily at your feet, take a moment to relish and reflect on the words of refreshment in the pages that follow. You will find the boost of encouragement you need to make it through the rest of the day.

We live in a rapidly changing world. The values that our mothers and fathers grew up with are no longer being taught in the public arena. We find negative influences and declining moral values every where we look, from television to movies to magazines. Our kids desperately need the positive influence of mothers who love them, who love God, and who know how to tap into the power that only he gives.

The seven principles in this book will help you become not only a positive influence in your home, but also in you community -- and possibly in the society at large. As you draw upon the ideas presented in these pages, remember that you can make a positive difference in your world one child at a time. There has never been a more critical time for children to experience the power of a positive mom!