Author: Linsey Driskill

Hi! I've been married more than 15 years, have triplets, and love encouraging families in following Jesus and his words: to love God and love others. I love spontaneity, simplicity, and authenticity. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram Page @BeautifulHeartedParenting and at LinseyDriskill.com.

“Don’t take yourself so seriously.” Peale

Linsey Driskill
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I think this quote and picture speak for themselves. While parenting can be intense, those silly moments when we’re not taking ourselves so seriously are memorable for our kiddos! My husband is so good at reminding me of this. One way our kids (and me!) love to let loose and have fun are having “car dance parties,” turning up the music and jamming to songs like “More than a Feeling,” “Dream on,” “Testify” and an oldie, “Be in the Light.” On Fridays, I include a silly joke in my kids’ lunch boxes to make them smile. Let’s create fun, silly moments to remember with our kids! And, for all of us parents trying to keep our heads above water, this quote makes me laugh: “Don’t be so hard on yourself. The mom in E.T. had an alien life form living in her house for days and she never even noticed.”

First Article Published. Hooray!

Linsey Driskill

I wanted to let you know that my first article has been published by Church.org! I’m very excited!!! I’m so appreciate to each one of y’all and thankful for all your support!

Here’s the link to the article: https://www.church.org/2017/09/06/god-will-go/

“Come to Me.” Jesus

Linsey Driskill
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With all the flooding, hurricanes, remembering 9/11, and all else going on, I am reminded of these words Jesus said in a loud voice: “ANYONE who is thirsty, come to ME and drink so living water can flow from within you.” However these different events have affected you, I pray that you can find encouragement and hope from the fountain of living water that never runs out. Let’s show our kids how to seek the Lord during these times, so that when they face difficulties, they will also seek His face.
If you have a couple minutes, listen to the song, “Testify,” by Needtobreathe. It reminds me of this verse and refreshes the soul. Here’s a link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDcYsyx2mCg

10 or 15 Years from Now, What do you Want to be Engrained in your Kids’ Hearts?

Linsey Driskill
Henry Cloud Quote10 or 15 years from now, what do you want to be engrained in your kids’ hearts? Do our daily choices and reactions reflect that? I have to ask myself that question often. This is training ground. We are preparing our kids for who they will be. The choices they will make. My goal and hope is that my kids would seek Jesus always and follow his greatest two commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… And, love your neighbor as yourself.” (MT 22:37, 39)
How do we encourage our children to love God and love others? Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us: These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” There it is. It’s not so much a teaching minute, or teaching hour. It’s a way of life. Balance is important as well so as not to overwhelm our kids. As Solomon says, “Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise.” (Ecc. 7:16) There’s no “right way” to teach them. It’s just a matter of making it a part of daily life. You’re the best mom or dad for your child because you’re the exact one God gave them.
Throughout our times with our kids, let’s help them notice…
God Our Forgiver when we lose our temper and ask our child for forgiveness,
God Our Amazing Creator when we notice the trees and flowers,
God Our Grace-Giver when there is a sibling fight and one has to give grace,
God Our Redeemer through sharing that Jesus gave his life for us on the cross,
God Our Greatest Hope when things don’t go their way,
God the Joy-Giver when we remind them he’s the only one who really satisfies,
God Our Comforter when they cry and we tell them God is with us even in our tears,
God the Relationship Giver by having family time,
God the Powerful when we share stories from today and the Bible of his great power,
God’s Unconditional Love when our child spills the entire bag of flour on the floor and we bite our tongue,
God Our Father by praying together,
God the Giver when we love and give to others because he first loved and gave to us.
God the All-Knowing and Our Protector by reminding them God goes before us, and
God With Us when we tell our kids that He is with us when we sit, when we rise, when we walk, when we sleep. Always.
Let’s impress Jesus’ most important commandments on our children’s hearts so their character will hopefully guide the choices they make. While we don’t have control over their choices, we can equip them the best we know how, and then trust the Lord.
The Lord has entrusted these precious children to us so they might experience His great love in our homes and learn what is so dear to His heart: Love God. Love others. Have Faith in Jesus.

“God will go before me.” Ps. 59:10

Linsey Driskill
Psalm 5910“God will go before me.” (Ps. 59:10)

That’s what I tell myself. I’m starting week two of this new chapter of life with my triplets in full-day school for the first time. The reality of my children getting bigger is hitting me like a ton of bricks. Have you experienced the time when you have to “open your hands so they can spread their wings and fly” as my best friend told me? If not yet, you will. Mine are only in first grade, but I think about moms and dads who have kids off to college and beyond.

It’s such a mix of emotions. It’s partly sad to see them become so independent from us, but it’s also beautiful to see these little people we’ve molded for so many years experience life. They’re becoming more and more of who God wants them to be (I have to keep reminding myself of this!)

Henry Cloud, a Christian author, wrote,

“Parenting is a temporary job. One day your children will have to go off on their own. After they have gone, the character you built into them will guide them.”

This is training ground for the adults they will become. The choices they will make. As we teach our children about character and loving God and others, we can also instill in their hearts that the Lord goes before them. He has a great purpose for each of them. Let’s encourage our children to figure out what that is and cheer them on along the way.

On a practical level, how do we teach our children that the Lord will go before them?

We can memorize Psalm 59:10 together, pray it with them, and discuss what it means. And if they are experiencing fear, we can share that Jesus’ disciples were also afraid. In Matthew 14:27, Jesus immediately spoke to his disciples: “Take Courage. It is I! Don’t be afraid.” Jesus says the same thing to each of our children. Do not be afraid. It is I! The Lord will go before you.settle into my own heart.

An interesting thing happens when I teach my kids these truths. The words begin to settle into my own heart. And I need them just as much as my kids.

Part of me wants to grip my hand closed and not let them go. But, then, these words echo in my heart: “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid,” and “God will go before me.”

After I walk my kids to school, and arrive back to my quiet house, I have a choice: To have faith the Lord has gone ahead of my children and me, or not. I choose to believe. It’s a daily choice I strive to make because it doesn’t always come naturally. I think that’s why Jesus spoke over and over about the importance of having faith. He knew we wouldn’t always feel it.

What is your choice? What do you choose to believe? He longs for you to have faith and believe in Him. He believes in you.

Before I know it, 3pm is here and the chatter of little voices has arrived again. Home sweet home.

So, take a deep breath, shed some tears and smile, knowing that God has already gone ahead of our children, and us. Together, let’s take courage, moms and dads. We. Can. Do. This!

I also wanted to say to all the people in and around Houston that we are thinking about and praying for you!