088: Foundations for Christian Parenting with Ruth Chou Simons

Ruth Chou Simons is a wife, mama of 6 boys, artist, author, and founder of GraceLaced. Most recently (as of yesterday’s launch day!) she and her husband, Troy, are authors of the brand new family worship devotional book, “Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family“. Her wisdom for mamas in this episode are sure to be a balm to your soul!

What We Chat about in Today’s Episode:

~Ruth’s newest book, what led her and her husband to write it, and what readers can expect

~”Older mama to younger mama” advice from Ruth; the things she is so glad she did the way she did, and those things she would change if she could go back to her early days of mothering

~Traps we can fall into in motherhood

~The reality that what our children are catching from us shapes them more than what we teach them

~Some of the daily practices that have had the most impact in the Simons home when it comes to raising their children to know and love God

~And more!

Resources Mentioned

Offer for a free audiobook and 30 day trial membership from Audible: www.audibletrial.com/HomeandHearth

Lies Moms Believe (And How the Gospel Refutes Them)

Instagram Giveaway for 3 copies of “Foundations”

GraceLaced Shop

GraceLaced: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart

Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship

Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family

12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke

Inspiring Quotes from Ruth:

“Because of my story, I feel incredibly close to women who feel that they have God-given gifts that they just aren’t fully able to use yet in this season. That was my story, too. God chose to use those gifts in a different season, and I’m grateful now that I had to wait.”

“Just start somewhere. Start the conversation about the Gospel with your kids, even if the house is a mess, dinner still hasn’t been cleared away, and your kids are all rolling around on the floor. Just start where you are.”

“As a young mom, I was always on the hunt for the ‘right’ way to do something. I think often the motivation in our hearts is good - we want to be the best mom possible. There is no guilt or shame in that. But if I could go back and warn my twenty-something year old self, I would tell her that you do more to shape your children, to shape your marriage, to shape your family by what you are feeding on yourself, than on the kinds of tools you are using and implementing.”

“There are good tools out there, but at the end of the day, now 18 years in, I would say it is my relationship with my son watching me walk through my relationship with Christ and what I have fed on over the past 18 years that has done far more for my marriage and parenting.”

“Just because you are a stay-at-home mom doesn’t mean you aren’t wasting all your time on Facebook. Just because you are going on a walk with your kids doesn’t mean you are attentive - you might be on your phone talking. And what are they hearing you talk about? Are you gossiping about someone? Are you venting about how angry you are? Are you complaining about all you have to do?”

“Your are doing more to shape your children by what they are catching from you than by what you are teaching them.”

“Maybe you, mama, need to read ‘Foundations’ first. Maybe you need the Word in your own heart before you ever share it with your children.”

“Don’t operate out of guilt or fear that God is angry with you. Operate out of the good news of the gospel, that God is welcoming you.”

“Every season is different, and your kids are not going to miss out even if this season is crazy, you’re exhausted and feeling unmotivated, and your family worship time doesn’t look like you might want it to. Just start where you are.”

“Mom needs the gospel, too.”

“Don’t consider this season of your life to be a waste. You have no idea how God is using your current circumstances, your current season, the one no one else ever sees, that maybe you never put on Instagram. It all matters. It’s all a holy work, even if you aren’t out growing a big platform. God sees what you are doing, and He will reward you with joy, peace, and fulfillment when you are faithful to what He calls you to do. He will provide you with those very things - from Himself - which you are clamoring to find in others, or through a huge platform. You will find those things in Him.”

“You were made on purpose for a purpose. Lean into that. And, when the time is right, if you have a burning desire on your heart for something that may not be possible right now, you’ll know when it’s time, because you won’t have been chasing after that thing, but after the Lord instead, and He is the One Who will show you.”

Where You Can Find Ruth Online:

Websites - GraceLaced Ruth and Troy

Instagram – @ruthchousimons

Facebook - GraceLaced

Twitter - @gracelaced

Podcast - Foundations (just released last week!)

To Leave a Rating and Review on iTunes

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