Line up Wonder Women!

         I guess I had some romantic notion.  I mean, it is my moms’ fault.  She made mothering look so easy, so inviting.  I thought there was no job I would rather aspire to. 

         I should have realized as I waited in a long line at the women’s bathroom at six months pregnant with our first child.  I can remember wearing a red dress with a white Peter Pan color thinking I was terribly fashionable for the performance of the Broadway hit, “Porgy and Bess.”  But as I stood in line with 40 other women all vying for a moment to go potty I realized no one cared of my condition.

         The lady in front of me commented how she remembered how frequently she needed to go to the bathroom.  Then the lady in front of her and the one behind me all began to empathize with me.  You would have thought one of these compassionate mothers would have gladly escorted me to the front of the line or at least allowed me to pass them in the line.  But no.  They were content to talk about “understanding” my condition.

         This should have been the fair warning to motherhood.  Lots of “understanding,”  lots of heads nodding and wagging and empathizing but minimal help.

         But my mother?  Well, that’s another story entirely.  She made motherhood a noble, desirable, over-the-top attractive profession. However today was the real day of discovery!  I am finally sure!  I’ve had my “wonderment,” but now I know…My Mom is Wonder Woman!

      After finding this plague, I’m convinced my mom IS Wonder Woman.  If you need a 150 reasons, I can give you more.  I hope many of you think your mom is Wonder Woman.         Because I know many of you who read this blog, I will respectfully put my mom at the top of the Wonder Women list and add yours!

Happy Mother’s Day fellow Wonder Women!  May this Mother’s Day be your best!  Love you girls!

Mother's Day, God's Way

"Honor your father and mother..." ~ Ephesians 6:2

“Her children stand and bless her.  Her husband also praises her: There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!  Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”   ~ Proverbs 31:28-30

Deep in our hearts we all desire for our children to honor us.  Not only for a personal sense of a job well done, but because Scripture very plainly exhorts children to honor their parents.  Yet, many times, even in the church, we see families struggling when it comes to this area.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that our kids are constantly bombarded with messages, through the media, that make parents appear as bumbling fools.  So, how can we, as Moms, raise children that first and foremost honor the Lord and subsequently honor us?

I believe the answer to this question lies in Proverbs 31:30:  “...a woman who fears the Lord...”  As moms, we have the awesome responsibility and privilege of setting the tone in our homes.  Have you ever noticed that if you’re having a bad day, your children will have a bad day too?  When my kids were in school, this wasn’t necessarily true, but with homeschooling, I’ve found it to be an indisputable fact.  However, the opposite is true as well.  When I’ve spent time with the Lord at the beginning of the day, I find that I will be more apt to walk in the Spirit and display His fruits in my attitude and choices.  In other words, when I model a fear of the Lord through godly behavior, my children notice and it encourages them to honor the Lord in their own lives.

In fact, modeling a fear of the Lord is one of the greatest things we can do for our children.  It’s imperative for them to see us in the Word and seeking His face on a daily basis.  Carrying a Bible on Sunday and mealtime prayers just simply aren't enough.  Kids need to see a mom who’s fully dependent on the Lord for everything.    

As my children have gotten older, I’ve allowed transparency in our relationship.  If I’m struggling with something, very often, I’ll clue them in and we’ll pray through the situation together.  I can tell my kids all day long that they need to trust in the Lord, but when they witness me honoring Him in a difficult circumstance, they get it.  It’s in those lightbulb moments, that I see my kids make God honoring choices in their lives too.  And if they honor Him, they in turn honor me and my husband.    

The only way we can become a Proverbs 31 woman, who is praised by her husband and blessed by her kids, is to have the fear of the Lord in our lives.  As we honor Him in our decisions and lifestyles, our children will surely follow.  In other words, if we want our children to bless us, they first need to see us bless Him. 

On this Mother’s Day, we can be thankful for this passage in Proverbs, because it reminds us that as we reverence the Lord, He transforms us into the virtuous women that our families need.  To me, that's good news! 

1. Take time this Mother’s Day to individually tell each one of your children why you are so thankful the Lord gave them to you.
2. Make time to tell your husband why you thank the Lord for him and how much he means to your family. 

Mom and Meme!

As Mother’s Day approaches it becomes increasingly emotional to watch the advertisements on the television.  Many seem to conjure up all kinds of nostalgic memories of little ones being spoiled and pampered by selfish women who give with pleasure until it hurts.  I’m left feeling weepy and just want to pick up the phone and call to say, “Thank you!” to my mom.

         I am blessed to have not only such a wonderful mom but also an amazing mother-in-law (“Meme.”)  As Sunday approaches and I consider this past year, both Mom and Meme have awed me in the same area.  The area is the way Mom continues to love and serve my Dad and my Meme has loved and served my father-in-law (“Bop.”)

         You may be rolling your eyes with the, “yeah, yeah, yeah, big deal…” However it has been extra sweet this year in particularly.  I have shared in my posts in the past the advice I had received, “The best gift a mom can give to their children is to love their dad!” 

         After a combined total of 105 years,

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these four people have chosen to stick together!  In the past year, both my Mom and Meme have cared for very sick husbands. They have walked with their men through some very very dark physical days.  They have made tough decisions and had to be strong (physically and mentally) as they have cared for them.

         If you are reading this, it’s most probably because you are a mom.  Everyday God uses your hands and feet and mouth, your mind and heart to do the impossible.  I salute you.  I find myself jaw dropped as I hear about and watch young moms and old in action.  Most of what you do will never be noticed or acknowledged.  Yet we keep pressing on out of love.  Love for our children, our homes, our husbands and for the Lord

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As I flip through magazines this season and read articles of how wonderful mothers are, I can’t help but be grateful for the two moms the Lord has placed in my life.  I thank them, I applaud them for continuing to love and persever.  It means more to me with each year how vividly I see my Mom love my Dad and Meme love Bop.

Girls, its worth the effort! Love your spouse!  Let your children see your love for their Daddies.  May this be your best Mother’s Day ever!

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love others as you love yourself."  Luke 10: 27

         

Mom is the Gift!

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          I keep finding myself meditating on 
John 1: 16.  From the New International Version,  “From the fullness of His Grace we have received one blessing after another.” NAS says “…One gracious blessing after another.”

            In light of another Hallmark victory, called Mother’s Day, I am reminded how God has blessed me over and over with the privilege of being a mom.  It is His Grace to have opened up one “blessing” (or child) after another.

            However, my focus on Mother’s Day isn’t me as a mom, rather it is on my Mom.  I am ever so very blessed to have been raised by such a wonderful woman.  I am flooded with memories of her love and care for me and my brothers.

            Mom always kept things fun.  To this day, she reminds me not to take life so seriously and laugh often.  I remember riding through the neighborhood in our big station wagon. (Do you remember the ones with the “wood sides?”) Once, while riding we weren’t sure we were looking at a statue or a dog on the side of the road.  Mom’s response was to roll down the window and bark.  (We still aren’t sure who was more surprised with her barking, the dog or the kids in the car!)

Mom would always find someone else for our family to help.  Whether is was a Christmas holiday spree, a meal or a ride for someone in need, she was the first to offer her help. 

Mom loves unconditionally.  She doesn’t keep a record of our wrongs.  She has always believed that we learned from our wrongs and it would never happen again.  Mom sees the best in everyone.

My Mom is a gift of God’s grace.  I daily see how His grace is poured out through my mom’s kindnesses and love.  Mom is my gift for Mother’s Day!

Although Hallmark doesn’t always have the exact wording or pictures I would choose for my mom, God’s Word is perfect for this holiday from The Message: 

“We all live off His generous bounty gift of gift after gift.”