The Ministry of Motherhood Quotes

“Perfection is not a standard he requires of me as a mother, for his grace extends to me as well as to my children. My heartfelt trust in him will be the fuel that energizes my days as I see him draw my children through this gift that will serve them their whole lives.”
― Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

“—A MOTHER’S PRAYER— Father of Encouragement Thank you for taking the time to show love to your disciples by affirming and encouraging them. Help us remember that our well-aimed words will carry life to the hearts of our children. Teach us to extol their positive characteristics whenever we can and to resist the temptation to use words only for correction. Give us lips that speak grace and that show the heart of your love through the things we say. Amen”
― Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

“The ministry of motherhood with my children, especially, can sometimes seem extremely nonstrategic. Settling fusses between immature boys who are fighting over whose turn it is on the computer does not seem like a vital form of ministry, and yet it is in such everyday situations that our children learn vital relational skills. Comforting wailing babies, tending to sick children, cleaning up messes, prevailing upon teenagers to do assigned chores—all standard mothering tasks—can seem depressingly mundane. Yet when I study the ministry of Christ, I see that he responded in compassion to whatever need was presented to him, not just those needs that seemed “worthy” or important.”
― Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

“Passing on the gift of inspiration to our children is partly a matter of vision, which helps them understand that God wants to use them in this world to spread his kingdom. But vision alone is not enough. The vision defines the purposes of God, but compassion defines the heart of the vision. When we understand that God’s love reaches into the dark and depraved corners of people’s lives to bring healing and eternal life, then we will see people not for what they are but for who they are—people Christ loves and who need his redemption.”
― Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

“Giving our children the gift of inspiration—helping them understand their spiritual purpose, which is to glorify God and to make him known—is one of the most crucial tasks of Christian parenting.”
― Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

“Imparting this great purpose to our children will appeal to the design of God written into their hearts. They are made to respond to God’s call in their lives. We give them the gift of inspiration when we help them heed that call.”
― Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

“Our children need the same kind of gentle graciousness from us if they are to learn to share their vulnerability, to confess their own sin, and to be free to love. If they fear our strong condemnation and possible rejection, they will hide their sin, perhaps even deceive themselves about the nature of it. They will definitely not avail themselves of our mature direction in their lives.”
― Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children

“Jesus’ example of servant leadership sets him apart from so many historical religious leaders. He was not a God who lorded it over his followers and demanded they follow him or coerced their obedience through authoritarianism and fear. Instead, he called them to the excellence of holiness and yet lovingly served them in order to win their hearts and show them the means of reaching others’ hearts as well.”
― Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children