We don’t care who you are, this is a nonskip episode. Especially if you are a mom. We had our dear friend Abbie on the show. We are obsessed with her worldview and mission. This woman brings it today. 

We cover the topic of motherhood, specifically the culture that loves to have comradery and community over that motherhood is hard. Think mommy wine culture. Abbie is here to set the record straight and come at it from a Holy, Biblical view. 

 

Abbie’s Story

Abbie Halberstadt is a happy wife, homeschooling mama to ten, best-selling author, speaker, fitness instructor, and business owner. But more importantly, she’s a Bible-believing Christian who seeks to honor God whether she’s wiping a bottom, meeting a writing deadline, teaching a reading lesson, making lasagna, or doing a deadlift–a goal at which she fails daily, but praise God for grace! She loves to encourage women–especially mothers–that they can dig deep in God’s strength to meet the everyday challenges of a life lived with intention because hard is not the same thing as bad. She, her husband, Shaun, and their children live in the Piney Woods of East Texas. 

 

Motherhood is not martyrdom 

You are going to sacrifice, but we are called to sacrifice as believers. There is going to be some give and take. There is going to be some heartache. That is how we grow and learn. Motherhood often is an avenue for more creativity, more flexibility, and being able to cope with a variety of situations. Yes, it limits your time and requires you to be creative and resourceful but that’s not a bad thing. What greater influence and investment could we possibly have than in eternal souls? That is truly the only eternal influence that we have on other people. 

 

Motherhood is serving and glorifying God

Abbie is so much more driven to scripture and understanding other people. Much more prone to be empathetic because of the ways she has to use those skills as a mom. Her body is not her own, it is to her kids, but first and foremost to the Lord. If you homeschool, it’s being patient with your faith. It’s such an opportunity to practice self-control, to practice kindness, and even all the fruits of the spirit. Motherhood teaches you to study your children’s hearts, learn their personalities, and notice when they are struggling. 

We can acknowledge the hard but not wallow in it. Let’s not stay there. What we truly want is to be seen and to be heard. Just seeing it doesn’t change anything. 

 

The biggest lie that society tells us about motherhood

Some of the biggest voices in motherhood the problem is we are ignoring and lying by omission that negativity and true toxicity is addictive. It is pervasive and it ruins our health and steals our mental peace. This idea that you can despise motherhood but still love your children, is really scary. 

 

Wisdom on not having fun or enjoying being a mother or parent

Limit your exposure to the people who are encouraging you to stay stuck in the negativity and motherhood pull of the world. You have to take proactive steps. We have to be willing to give up not all the fun but we sometimes lose sight of the ability to use humor to encourage instead of doing it at other people’s expense. Especially our children. 

 

 

What is your favorite book you’ve read recently?

Becoming Elizabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn and Joni Earekson Tada

Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer

 

Show notes

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