[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":85},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Ftough-and-tender-moms":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Ftough-and-tender-moms-surround":75},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":13,"columnName":57,"date":58,"description":19,"extension":59,"image":60,"meta":61,"minRead":62,"navigation":63,"path":64,"postType":65,"publication":66,"publicationUrl":60,"seo":67,"stem":68,"topics":69,"__hash__":74},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Ftough-and-tender-moms.md","Tough and Tender Moms . . . by Michelle Webster",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9,10,11,12],"Psalms","Joel","Isaiah","Hebrews",{"type":14,"value":15,"toc":53},"minimark",[16,20,23,26,29,32,35,38,41,44,47],[17,18,19],"p",{},"My most vivid childhood memory took place on a very ordinary day. It was a cold morning, and I remember waking up from a sound sleep to my mother's soothing voice. I still recall her gentle touch while she stroked my back and coaxed me out of bed. I would be late for preschool if I didn't get up soon, but my mother was calm. Her tender hands helped me dress into my favorite striped shirt while she spoke quietly to me. When I think of gentleness, I think of that moment.",[17,21,22],{},"I have another vivid memory. My mother listened with disappointment in her eyes while I confessed that I had lied to her. Her voice was firm as she told me the consequences I would face. Lying was unacceptable. The lesson was imprinted on my memory that day.",[17,24,25],{},"Now that I am the mother of two girls, I feel tenderness toward my children that words cannot express. One of my favorite moments of the day is just before I lay the girls down to sleep. Abbie, my oldest, asks me to \"pet her head\" while I sing to her. Kayla, my youngest, curls up contentedly in my arms while I stroke her soft cheeks and rock her.",[17,27,28],{},"When necessary I also show firmness toward my girls. One Sunday morning I was attempting to get to church on time and my three-year-old seemed to be doing everything in her power to keep us from leaving the house. I thought I was being gentle as I scooted her toward the door. Abbie was very offended that I had \"pushed\" her, so I tried to explain that I had not pushed her, but prodded her. The next time we were running late Abbie said, \"Mommy, please don't prod me.\"",[17,30,31],{},"Gentleness and firmness. Comfort and correction. Tenderness and toughness. These seemingly contradictory characteristics are what mothers are made of. But are they really contradictory? I don't think so. In fact, God himself possesses these character traits in perfect balance.",[17,33,34],{},"We see his tenderness toward his children throughout the Bible. Psalm 91:4 says, \"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge . . .\" Like a mother bird sheltering her baby birds from harm, God is there to care for us. He is \"gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love . . .\" (Joel 2:13).",[17,36,37],{},"God's strength and correction are also evident throughout his Word. He warns, \"Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!\" (Isaiah 1:16, 17). God takes sin seriously. He even allows his children to suffer in order to grow. Hebrews 12:7 states, \"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.\"",[17,39,40],{},"The Lord is the perfect parent. How grateful I am for a mother who followed him and emulated his loving, guiding hand! And how challenged I am to convey these characteristics of God to my own children.",[17,42,43],{},"Today, I held my precious baby in my arms and rocked her, preparing her for sleep. I laid Kayla down in her crib and winced as she cried, knowing if I picked her up again she would not learn to fall asleep on her own. I listened outside the door while her crying quieted to a whimper and then to a sound sleep. I thought of the many times when God has held me gently in his arms. I also remembered the many times he has let me struggle so I could learn a new lesson and grow stronger.",[17,45,46],{},"I am thankful for God's tenderness and strength. I am thankful for a mother who showed his love to me. And I am thankful to be a mother made in his image, loved and challenged by him.",[17,48,49],{},[50,51,52],"em",{},"Note: Michelle Webster is Dave Faust’s daughter.",{"title":54,"searchDepth":55,"depth":55,"links":56},"",2,[],"First Look","2006-05-14","md",null,{},4,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Ftough-and-tender-moms","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":19},"articles\u002Ftough-and-tender-moms",[70,71,72,73],"Intergenerational Ministry","Biblical Theology","Perseverance in Suffering","Church Leadership","Hbb4M8hw1eDAYWuu2oFVEHG72i5uX-Hi3R4uDaZmWi8",[76,81],{"title":77,"path":78,"stem":79,"description":80,"children":-1},"Too Tired to Serve?","\u002Farticles\u002Ftoo-tired-to-serve","articles\u002Ftoo-tired-to-serve","“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach . . .” (Mark 3:14).",{"title":82,"path":83,"stem":84,"description":82,"children":-1},"Tough Faith Rewarded","\u002Farticles\u002Ftough-faith-rewarded","articles\u002Ftough-faith-rewarded",1790466189393]