The Motherhood Training Manual

Faith & Belief, inspiration, marriage, Marriage | Husband | The Laundry Moms, Marriage Trouble, Parenting, Persistence, Rhonda Stoppe

by Rhonda Stoppe

Do you remember before you had kids? Think way back to a life free of carpools, homework, and wiping boogers and bums all day.

Do you recall the kind of mother you wanted to be–the mom you meant to be?

Before I was a mom, I remember standing in the grocery store check-out watching someone else’s kid scream until…

…their mom gave in and bought them a candy bar. I laugh now at how sure I was that I would never allow my child to behave in such a manner.

Motherhood is certainly a humbling experience, isn’t it? The mom we intended to be gets lost somewhere in the sleepless nights, two-year-old tantrums, and demands of life.

As a young mother, I was desperate to find someone, anyone, to teach me to be the mom I wanted to be. I cried out, “I NEED HELP, LORD!”

Maybe you can identify with my struggle?

I found my parenting overshadowed with fear of doing it wrong. I gradually developed a sort of reactionary mode-my kids acted and I reacted. Rather than following a clear path toward shaping their lives, the fear of what I did not want my kids to be ended up becoming my standard. I was merely putting out fires rather than kindling the flames of their character.

I lacked fortitude for this new adventure of motherhood. I needed to become a kind, courageous, and confident mother if I was ever going to raise kind, courageous, confident children. To be a godly mother required strength. Where would I find the direction I so desperately longed for?*

Motherhood is one of the most important jobs of all time and it doesn’t come with a training manual…or does it?

Psalm 119:105 says Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I had memorized this verse when I was a young girl, but never did it become so real to me as when I was raising my kids–especially when they were teenagers!

But how does God’s Word lead you as a mom? We don’t simply open our Bibles, close our eyes, and pick out a Scripture for guidance, as if we were playing in a cosmic game show. No–in order to know God’s will you have to be transformed through Scripture by daily renewing your mind in truth (Romans 12:2).

Jesus’ prayer was that His followers would be sanctified–set apart–by the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17).

Through Bible study and prayer God changed me into a mom who was no longer overwhelmed by the job of parenting. Over time I became the kind, confident, and courageous mom I had hoped to be. (Not perfectly mind you, but with each day I spent in the Word, God’s Spirit changed me into the mother He wanted me to be.)

In the same way, God can transform you to become the mom He meant for you to be as well. His Word will direct your decision making and give you His perspective about what is important in life.

As you are set apart by Truth, the miraculous result will be God’s wisdom for doing one of the most important, God-ordained jobs in all of history – Raising the next generation for God’s glory!

~Rhonda

Rhonda Stoppe is dedicated to help women LIVE LIFE WITH NO REGRETS.

Rhonda is the author of 6 books including: Moms Raising Sons to Be Men , and Real Life Romance Her newest book is The Marriage Mentor, is co-authored with her Pastor-husband, Steve Stoppe. (Harvest House Publishers) With over 30 years experience of helping women build a life with no regrets as a pastor’s wife, mentor, speaker, author, mom & grandmother. She’s appeared frequently on Focus on the Family co-host of The No Regrets Hour, and other popular Christian Radio broadcasts. Rhonda helps women to:

Break free from regrets that hold them back
Grow in wholehearted devotion to Christ
Find victory over people-pleasing
Have the marriage others only dream about
Build a godly legacy to become more influential than they ever dreamed possible

Rhonda is passionate to share the gospel and teach women the sound doctrine of scripture. Rhonda and Steve have been married 38 years and live out their own real-life romance on their ranch in Northern California. To invite Rhonda to Speak at your women’s event, or to book the Stoppe’s No Regrets Marriage Conference please visit: www.NoRegretsWoman View: Promo Video & marriage videos

Bonus: Watch this fun video of Steve & Rhonda sharing their own love story.

Connect with Rhonda: FaceBook: Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman Instagram: @RhondaStoppe Twitter: @RhondaStoppe Newsletter: NoRegretsWoman.com