In response to the first post in this series, Bless Your Marriage: Love Your Mom-in-Law, a reader asked how she could honor a mother-in-law who mocked her faith.
The best way to respond to this question is to share the testimony of a daughter-in-law who experienced this problem.
She wishes to remain anonymous for the sake of her improving relationship with her mil, but I think you’ll appreciate her insights:
She wishes to remain anonymous for the sake of her improving relationship with her mil, but I think you’ll appreciate her insights:
“My mother-in-law disagreed with many of our Christian values. But the worst part is that she told our grade school and adolescent children what she thought about our values behind our back."
"I got to the point where I couldn’t think about her without bitterness. I knew I needed God’s help. As I prayed, God showed me several things that helped."
"First, I realized I was expecting her to behave like a Christian when she wasn't one. Second, I reminded myself that not all Christians agreed with our choices either. Third, I realized I was often self-righteous with my in-laws. Fourth, I realized my children would meet many people in life who disagreed with our values. I could use these situations to teach them how to respectfully speak up for the truth and honor their grandparents at the same time."
"As I applied these principles to our relationship, not everything changed, but things are much better. My mother-in-law has even begun asking about my faith.”
Homework this week: Whether your mil mocks your values or not, take time to answer these three questions and read the linked Scripture verses.
1. Are you willing to respect your mother-in-law even when you disagree with her?
1 Peter 3:9
2. Are you willing to express your values humbly?
2. Are you willing to express your values humbly?
Colossians 4:6
3. Do you believe God can use your circumstances for good?
3. Do you believe God can use your circumstances for good?
Romans 8:28
In God's strength we can do what is right.
Philippians 4:13
Other posts in this series:
In God's strength we can do what is right.
Philippians 4:13
Other posts in this series:
Part 3: Mother-in-Laws Who Interfere
Part 5: Disinterested In-Laws
Part 6: What Ruth & Naomi Teach Us
Part 7: Six Things I Did Wrong
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I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. You can find out where to purchase it and download 2 free Bible studies with purchase HERE.
Thank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, Colleen. I have learned so much from the principles I will be sharing in these MIL posts, and I want to pass them along to others because I know how much they impact our relationship with God.
DeleteThese words are so good. This post reminds me so much of Naomi and Ruth. I studied Ruth earlier this year and really realized how much I need to honor and respect my MIL.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the encouragement. I will be talking about Naomi and Ruth in an upcoming post. Bless you, Gail
Deletethankfully my mother in law shares in my faith but there are so many issues in parenting where she disagrees. i even feel like she delights in my failures in those areas. thanks for writing this post. i really needed to hear this.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for you, Kristenly, and all the ladies reading this series. The principles made such a difference in my life and I'm praying they will help others as well. Bless you, Gail
DeleteI am a grandchild of a situation like this. My grandmother (father's mother) and mother never got along and I heard many horrible things about my parents while my grandparents (when they agreed to) babysat me and my siblings. It really does make a relationship with the grandparent hard. I remember always wondering that if she felt that way about my parents and what they believed, then she really felt that way about me too (child-like thinking). I never was close with her or my grandpa and always felt like I needed to stick up for my family and my parents, which are weighty things to have on a child's shoulders. Hopefully both adults can agree not to do this to the kids in the family, because they do see what goes on and it does effect them.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right...these tensions affect every relationship in a family and they are so important to the Lord.
DeleteThank you! Just thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo glad it was helpful. Bless you, Gail
DeleteThis is great! I have been so blessed to have two GREAT mils. It is a wonderful reminder that we need to look at things from the other person's perspective.
ReplyDeleteYou are blessed, but I bet you're also a person who tries to see things from your mil's perspective...makes such a difference.
DeleteWhat a great topic to cover! We continually have trouble with my MIL, and I have mostly "given-up". I appreciate the encouragement, and will make a point about praying how I can make a positive difference.
ReplyDeleteSo blessed to hear your openness and commitment to pray about this. I know God has blessings in store for you!
DeleteGod blessed me with a wonderful, Mother-in-love. She has been a quirky and fabulous mentor, mama and friend. But, I know not all have this type of relationship. Thank you for posting how to come to terms with this subject through God's eyes and God's help.
ReplyDeletePearl, you may not realize that you've probably been gracious in your attitudes and perspectives toward your mil. I really do think that dils make or break the relationship in 90% of the cases.Thanks for sharing.
DeleteWhat a great site. So cool that you could let God teach you something productive through a difficult relationship.
ReplyDeleteLiz
Like the woman in this example, my relationship really changed when I changed my perspective...and yes, I'm so glad that God could redeem the relationship despite my mistakes.
DeleteThanks for this post! I don't have any issues with my mother in law, but it is still really helpful to hear about how you settled disagreement with your mil. :) Lauren, lholmes79.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lauren. I definitely will be concentrating on this woman's second point (self-righteousness) in my upcoming MIL posts because that's where I know I did my most damage with my MIL. So glad you have a good relationship with you MIL...it's a blessing.
DeleteThank you so much for this post-I will be following for more. Your point of not discussing these values in front of children is something I needed to hear.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to invite you to link up with me if you are ever interested...I now host Faithfully Parenting Fridays on my site!
http://www.lovingourjourney.com/faithfully-parenting/
Blessings,
Michy
I do have to add...that I'd been praying this week about finding some help in this type of topic...and God has met my prayers. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou comments are really encouraging, Michy, and I feel especially blessed when God speaks through something I've written. Thanks!
DeleteSo psyched you linked up today! I had a great real life discussion last night about this post. Got my first bible email this am--first thing I opened--THANK YOU! I'm excited as this was the best post I've read this week and I can't wait for fellow linkers to come by!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Michy
Thanks for this! I have a similar problem, but my daughter is still young, I would like for things to be different as she gets older and the insights were VERY helpful!
ReplyDeleteNeeded to read this, only it's my parents, not my in-laws
ReplyDeleteGood reminder. Sometimes I think culture pushes us so much to not get along with the mother in law, but they can be such a source of support. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLindsey @ GrowingKidsMinistry.com
I think you're so right, Lindsey. It's the norm to think of MILs as automatic enemies. But I'm so glad I began to see mine for the friend that she is.
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