A Mother Like Him

<p><strong>What does it mean to be a mother like Him?</strong></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>"Be merciful, just as your father is merciful." Luke 6:36</em></p><p> </p><p> Although Jesus was never a parent or obviously, a mother, He modeled mercy for us in the way He lived. The question "WWJD?" or "What would Jesus do?' is an old catchphrase in our society, but in reality, it is a question we should be asking ourselves in every area of our lives. If Jesus had been a parent, what kind of parent would He have been?</p><p> </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;When taken to heart and applied,</strong></p><p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mercy can have a profound impact on our children.</strong></p><p> </p><p> In life, we are taught to watch out for ourselves and stay away from hurtful people, especially repeat offenders. The truth is, though, our own children can wound us and yet, we don't walk away. As parents, we are invested for the long haul in both good times and bad. Even so, patience and forgiveness can be tough, and continuing to move toward our children who need so much from us can be an emotional roller coaster ride. Thankfully, we have mercy in the form of Jesus to show us the way.</p><p> </p><p> In her own mothering journey, author Mary Anna-Louise Gothi, a clinical psychotherapist, was continuously confronted with passages that displayed Jesus's mercy toward imperfect people. She intentionally sought, especially when it was a difficult choice, to have His heart toward her children-a heart of mercy that transformed not only her parenting results, but her relationships with each of her children as well: the reward.</p><p> </p><p> Join Mary as she shares vibrant and familiar stories of parenting, some her own, some taken from the lives of parents from around the world whom she's counseled and coached towards merciful mothering. Through real and raw accounts of hardship, heartache, and subsequent transformation achieved only by way of mercy, Mary enables us to...</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Choose Forgiveness when it is underserved</em></p><p><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Give the benefit of the doubt in difficult circumstances</em></p><p><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Believe the best about our Children</em></p><p><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Focus on the good in them so we can truly celebrate life with them.</em></p><p> </p><p> Complete with a chapter about healing your own childhood wounds and a chapter directed toward dads, this book will give practical encouragement and instruction, empowering both moms and dads to raise their children with the merciful heart of Jesus.</p><p> </p><p> </p>