BROADCASTS.com

Published: Aug. 4, 2014, 5:30 a.m.

b'

We just kept running into each other everywhere. . .the zoo, the arboretum, Michaels, the grocery store. Finally we decided God wanted us to be friends and we set up our first playdate at the park. That was 6 years ago.

\\n

Since we continue to be\\xa0admittedly\\xa0bad at the \\u201cplanned meetings\\u201d, we are thankful for the times our paths cross around town and at church.

\\n

I\\u2019ve written before about Kris Habashy, labeling her my \\u201cbump into grace\\u201d friend.

\\n

She not only brings grace into my life, she shares Truth. She is not afraid to ask me the hard questions and offer me wisdom in the midst of this mothering journey.

\\n

Today I get to share Kris with y\\u2019all. In fact we chatted so long (typical) I\\u2019m going to split our conversation into two separate podcasts.

\\n

This episode we focused on: the struggle of allowing our children\\u2019s behavior to define our value; the \\u201chard\\u201d nature of motherhood; the benefit of making sure everyone\\u2019s needs are met; and the steps to training manners.

\\n

To me the summary of all those topics is . . .obedience, training, serving are all hard, but once we expect them to be and push through the challenges, we experience the good\\u2013the blessings that come with perseverance.\\xa0

\\n

More specifically we chatted about:

\\n

• Her homeschool experience & what prepared her most.
• How Kris handles the struggle of tying her value to her kids\\u2019 behavior and academic performance.
• Seeing your value as a child of the King, responding to that Truth with love, apprehension & honor doing what God says is the best design for me.

\\n

\\xa0\\u201cLife works better when we obey.\\u201d

\\n

• Having\\xa0great relationships relies on your relationship with God.
• James 1:19-25\\u2013the irony of the perfect \\u201claw of liberty\\u201d.
• How to handle when children behave badly. . .especially when we respond badly to their behavior.
• The hard choices, actions, & inconvenience required of motherhood.

\\n

\\u201cYou will do something hard every single day of your life. What are you going to do when things get hard? Lower standards, get out of it, complain. . .\\u201d

\\n

• How making sure\\xa0everyone\\u2019s needs are met helps you handle the hard things better.
• Kris\\u2019 AMAZING Friday night ritual for rest (and sanity).
• How she trained her kids in responding to others, interrupting an adult conversation, and appropriate behavior at playdates.

\\n

\\u201cReally big consequences to small things go a long way.\\u201d

\\n Did you expect motherhood to be hard? What has been the hardest part for you?'