One thing I have struggled with, and I know many other moms struggle with in raising children, is being consistent when it comes to discipline.  When it comes to effective discipline and teaching our children right from wrong, I really believe it boils down to consistency.

Consistency is one of those things that can fall by the wayside on a busy day, when the phone is ringing off the hook, you have a million chores to do around the house, your workload (if you work from home or you homeschool) is heavy, or you’re facing outside pressures and responsibilities.  All of these things can take precedence over our consistent mothering of our children, if we let them.

Imagine this scenario: You finally have a few minutes, since the kids are playing with blocks, and they may even be watching Sesame Street or Dora or whatever other cartoon character interests them for that moment.  You finally have a few minutes just to sit down quick, check your email, and maybe even write up that post quick; after all, it was due this morning.  You’re just getting into your post, and the words are coming out as fast as you can type them….but all of a sudden, you hear screaming and tantrums in the next room.  Oh, not again; what is it this time?    You really don’t want to get up and deal with this right now.  You have to get this typed; you may be so tired as a mommy, and you just want to let them work it out for themselves; but this time, there’s no working it out for themselves.  As most other times, it’s going to need Mommy’s intervention.   Do you go and remain consistent, steadfast in your resolve to raise these children in the best way that you know how?  Or do you sit there and hope for the best?

I have to say that sometimes, I’m guilty of the latter.  I just don’t want to deal with the issue (whether he did this, or she did that….), and there have been times where I am truly guilty of hoping for the best.  Is that consistency?  Oh no…far from it.

You see, consistency as a parent is going to take fortitude, strength, courage, a go get ‘em attitude, and much endurance.  It’s going to take you remembering the reason you decided to stay home with your children in the first place….the reasons you wanted to be there for them, as a mother and as a pillar in their lives.  It’s going to take prayer and obedience (ourselves) to the principles that God has layed out for us in His Word.  Consistency is probably one of the hardest things in a parent’s life….but it’s so necessary, in order for our children to learn.  It’s a key ingredient to raising children up in a Godly, loving way.

So, Mamas, next time you’re tempted to sit there and hope for the best, just remember this one verse….and don’t think, for a minute, that this verse doesn’t apply to your situation.  It most certainly does.:)  Just like any Olympic athlete who wants to win the race, we have to stay consistent throughout, at times surging ahead when the going gets tough.  We’re running a race as mommies, a long, hard, vigorous race that will wear us out, but in a good way.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God- Hebrews 12:1,2