Chris Wieberdink

Homepage: The Wieberdink Christian Family Pages

Chris's Thoughts on Gentle Mothering

Gentle mothering to me means what Paul referred to in 1 Thess. "we came to you in gentleness, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children." And so many other verses that refer to the love and intense satisfaction and attachment that come from nursing and parenting in a gentle and loving way. It means striving to not scream at my children, but approach them with respect and love and teach them.

Gentle mothering is so important because we as parents are our children's first view of what God is like. If we refuse to meet their needs or have other things we set as more important than them, how will they feel about God, their Heavenly Father? Will they see Him as someone who, like their earthly parents, can not be trusted to meet their needs? Or will they know that if their earthly parents meet their needs in a loving way, how much more so the God that created them?

Why do you feel that God wants you to parent this way?
See above. Also, this is how God parents us. Meeting our needs day and night. Always there to listen. Sometimes He says "no." Sometimes he disciplines or punishes, but always He loves us, forgiving us and taking us in His loving, protective arms.

Chris's Testimony

I think I was first "saved" in 5th grade. In my religion class (I went to a Christian school) I suddenly had the epiphany that all this sin and Bible stuff had to do with ME! I fell away and backslid in my teenage years. I met my godly husband my second year of college. When I began homeschooling 1.5 years ago, I suddenly was surrounded with a whole new peer group, who showed me that my Christian walk had been shallow and not real. I started to read my Bible more and discovered many wonderful truths there that led me to a closer walk with Jesus and a joy at having Him in my life. I know I am saved because God tells us that "whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I believe! I believe and I love Him and I try so hard to please Him in everything I do! While I am not saved in any part by my works, faith without works is dead. I do good works to please my God and my Savior and to show my eternal devotion to Him.