Way back when my knobby knees stuck straight out from my chair and my feet were years from touching the floor, I dreamed of being a mother. With my plastic stroller full of babies and one of my mom’s old purses grazing my ankles, I was living the dream. Playing mommy was the dream I never quite outgrew.
Many years later I fought hot tears in my sun-drenched kitchen and took yet another deep breath. I was frustrated beyond belief at my darling and utterly stubborn child. She had disobeyed again…in the same manner, in the same way, and with the same complete disregard for my direction– as the previous three times that hour. I was not getting through to her, and she was not at all aware of the boiling hot anger rising in my chest. I was frustrated with her to be sure, but more than anything I was just so angry at how hard this all was. My indignation at her disobedience was quickly replacing the patience in my heart with ice water. It stung more than just my eyes to be ignored again. As she turned and walked toward the steps to return to her room for nap time, I sighed deep and listened to my own heart.
“Why do I even speak kindly to them if no one even hears me until I yell?!”
My raised voice concerned me. But my furrowed brow and disgusted face scared me even more. When did I become that mom? When did I start using volume as an attention-getting tactic? I knew my anger was prompted by several things, but more than anything– I knew it was the result of my own sin. Even asking forgiveness in that moment led me to further ask how I got there, to that place of biting tones and words spat in frustration on little ears.
When I first met my friend Wendy last fall, she shared with me about her new book which dealt Biblically with this very same Mama struggle. And if I’m being completely honest, just hearing that someone else who loved Jesus and loved their kids struggled in the same way I had– was nothing short of freeing for me. Because let’s face it. We all struggle with the reality of motherhood. We all find opposition whether inside or outside of ourselves as we strive to lead our little ones rightly.
We are imperfect people leading imperfect people and sometimes it feels like spreading very cold butter on soft fresh bread– frustrating and bound to leave a few marks.
But y’all. This book: Triggers: Exchanging Parents’ Angry Reactions For Gentle Biblical Responses is the manual for the imperfect mama who wants to truly love her children with the love of Jesus. It’s conversational, devotional and yet, practical in a way I needed so badly. Triggers is written by Wendy Speake & Amber Lia, two moms with different backgrounds who bring treasured input to this discussion of how to love and lead our children well.
Divided into 31 bite-sized chapters, each dealing with a separate internal or external anger trigger, the book is so much more than a how-to. Every little bit is artfully wound through with scripture and prayer. Because if you are anything like me, you do need wisdom and guidance on the journey of motherhood, but you need that guidance to be rooted in the absolute truth of Scripture.
I highly recommend this book for the mom who feels frustrated in her mothering or just wishes she had the creative corrections to give at the proper time. Triggers releases today and you can get a copy HERE! I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes and then you can hop on over and pick yourself up a copy!
Let us not undo them in our attempts to redo them better, but let us partner with the One who made them for His glory – strong-willed, tenacious, and fierce! –Triggers, pg. 27
**Amazon links are affiliate enabled. I was gifted with an advance copy of Triggers in exchange my honest opinion.**
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