God of the Unexpected

Wednesday July 24, 2013

Remember those days?


Or are you in the midst of them?

Toys everywhere, a bit of chaos in the air.


We don't have to be young moms to find ourselves facing the unexpected, though.

We may face different challenges, but I'm thinking we all need a dose of hope.

I'm honored to guest post today over at Heather's place.

Come on over and read about the God of the unexpected...and the hope we can find in Him.

Multifaceted Love

Thursday April 7, 2011

God is love.

It’s easy to say, but I too often speak those words with my narrow little glasses on.

Speaking of God as love is easy; it’s easily accepted by those around us. But I too often speak in that little Minnie Mouse voice. You know, the one that lacks conviction and power.

My conception of Him as love is flat and bland and cardboard until I step back and gaze at all the facets of God. Then I see His love more clearly, more powerfully.

Through the lens of His holiness, I marvel that He could love one with so little devotion.

Through the lens of His power, I stand amazed that in the midst of all He commands, He stops to listen and love me.

I look to my left and right, I gaze up and down and am stunned by His omnipresence. His love for me is magnified as see myself, a time-bound, one-dimensional creature. Yet He is everywhere, in all--yet He loves me.

His justice? Many of us fear it. It’s what keeps some from Him. But His justice mirrors love to me. With one hand He maintains the justice that makes Him God and with the other He clears a path and reaches down to me. Out of His justice, His son pays the price so this daughter might know His love.

So I gaze on Him in all His glory. His holiness, His power. His omnipresence, His justice. And the light of His love is palpable—bright, bold, vivid.

Real.


Linking up today with Emily Wierenga for Imperfect Prose.Why don't you come along?

This Is The Stuff: Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday

Tuesday April 5, 2011

The opening bars of the song were catchy, even kind of cheery. I listened to the first two lines and thought of the inane “Friday Friday” song I’ve been hearing about. My oh-so-intellectual side mentally rolled her eyes, but there was something about this song that said, “Stay tuned.” So I did.

That’s when I heard it. “In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I’m blessed.”

Whoa. Truth with a catchy beat, accompanied by a ukulele.

Take a look at some of the lyrics:

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cause I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess I forget how big I'm blessed

This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose But this is the stuff You use

There’s more. Click here to hear Francesca Battistelli sing “This Is The Stuff.”

That was my lesson for the day. And each time I hear it, I think it’s going to preach to me again.

Enjoy the beat, the truth, the takeaway.
I let my little mess make me forget how big I’m blessed.
But this is the stuff You use.

Does it speak to you?

Linking up today with Michelle at Graceful for Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday and Jen at Finding Heaven Today for Soli deo Gloria.

A Sobering Moment: Guilt to Grace

Monday April 4, 2011


I sat at the keyboard with one ear trained on the little boys in the next room. Armed with their little trays and butter tubs full of Cheerios, they had settled down to watch Reading Rainbow.

I could stand and take three steps and see both of them. I could hear the slightest noise from the next room. They were busy and happy. Surely I could take thirty minutes to get some writing done. I had a deadline, after all.

A few minutes passed with my eyes riveted to the screen, my fingers flying. Then I heard oh-so-close to my ear, “Mama.” No panic, no fear, just “Mama.”

I blinked and looked to my left and my 2 ½ year old looked at me earnestly. “Mama. Come,” he said.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“No.” He shook his head. Then he grabbed my hand from the keyboard as he repeated, “Mama. Come.”

He pulled me up, still holding my hand, walking me into the next room. He sat behind his little tray with the Cheerios and stared at the TV, still holding my hand. After a few minutes (probably once he was convinced I was going to stay), he dropped my hand and smiled at me.

That moment is seared in my memory. It was a sobering one, the perfect source for some mom guilt. What was I thinking – ignoring my boys?

It was a bit of a wake-up call. Sometimes they just need Mama – not because something’s wrong, not because they need help … just because.

What better reason to be there for them?

It’s true today, too. Sometimes I get a call – just because. No crisis, no request for funds … just because.

We’ve all dealt with mom guilt. Instead of getting caught in the guilt of the moment, wallow instead in the grace of it. The epiphany that comes can serve to make us better at our mothering, if we let it.

What about you? Can you remember a moment that turned mom guilt into grace?

One Thing My Husband Never Says

Wednesday March 30, 2011
The man who captured my heart so many years and so many boys ago has strong opinions. He doesn’t hesitate to share them. He lets you know how he feels about culture, faith, politics – so many things.

We talk a lot. We like to talk. We’ve even been known to have a good argument from time to time…we’re both redheads! (My dad used to always say to me and my sister, “Sometimes you just have to clear the air, girls.”)

We talk about what we plan to do, what we’d like to do, what we dream of. And there’s one thing he has never said to me:

“Oh, you can’t do that.”

Never. Not once. It’s always, “Sure. Why not?” Or, “Go for it!”

(Just so you understand, those aren’t the response to things like, “I’m going to have the kitchen remodeled” or “I want to buy a whole new wardrobe.” I don’t generally propose those kinds of things…)

“Sure. Why not?” is what he says when I say, “I think I’m going to write a novel about…” When I asked, “Do you think I’m too old to go back for my Master’s now?” he said, “Go for it!”

Isn’t that a wonderful thing? I hope my sons have paid attention over the years. I want them to be that kind of husband.

It’s one thing not to face opposition over your dreams; many husbands do that. They don’t mind their wives pursuing their dreams, but they don’t necessarily lend their encouragement. It’s another thing entirely to have someone cheering you on, encouraging you, bolstering your dreams – holding the tree still so you can step out on that limb.

Thanking my honey for the things he’s never said, for the many times he’s cheered and encouraged and steadied the tree.

A Balanced Life -- for Mom and Kids

Wednesday October 27, 2010

"Live a balanced life – learn some and think some
and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” Robert Fulghum, author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Fulghum’s advice is one of my favorites – for moms and their children.

It’s so easy for life to become unbalanced. We give too much credence to school or sports, or we get lazy and just let life happen, and things get out of balance.

Take a look at your children. Do they:

Learn
Think
Draw, paint, dance, sing
Play and
Work?

You may be thinking, “Kids? Think?” Sure! But they need time to do that. Quiet, alone, contemplative time. Time with the television off. Encourage them to talk about what they’re thinking about. Ask open-ended questions.

And you may ask, “Work? Kids?” Of course. Kids need age-appropriate responsibility. Do yours have jobs, chores, responsibilities? They help the family and help themselves at the same time. Work with them. Fix something, plant something, rake leaves, box something up…show them the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing a task.

And what about you?
Yes, just you.

Do you take any time – by yourself – to:

Learn
Think
Draw, paint, dance, sing
Play and
Work?

Try it. Feed all the facets of your life. Balance things out. You'll be better for it.

What do you do to provide balance in your – and your children’s – life?

An Answer to Our Quandary: The Golden Balance

Wednesday October 20, 2010



I’ve pondered our quandary, and first, let me say – no, I haven’t discovered the golden balance. (But don’t stop reading yet!)

Many of us approach this the same way. But there may be a nugget or two tucked in this post that will help you. Read on.

Here’s a little summary. First, the advice I argued with.

Trim your reader from time to time.
("It's bare bones already!")

Just push away from the computer. (Don't we all do this?)

Read but don’t comment. (I can't keep my mouth shut! I really like you and I want to talk to you!)

Here’s some advice that sounded good to me.

Use the time you can count on (while Dad takes over, for instance), and supplement that with stolen moments when the family is otherwise occupied.

As a mom, I spend lots of time saying, “What can I do while they’re here, while they’re studying, while they’re playing and still be present? And what will draw my attention away from them?”

Alas, the computer draws my attention away. But I can fold laundry and match socks in the same room while they play. When they were little, I’d take a project into the bathroom where I’d sit while they played in the tub till they were wrinkled little prunes. I’d make some progress on it. All that to say, if you do what you can while they’re up and about, it’s off your plate when they’re occupied. Then you can visit, read, and comment.

One of you is so disciplined! It’s great. Faith sets a number of blogs to visit (3) at a time, and she sticks to it. Like most of us, she does more when she can, like the weekends.

Then there were some words that inspired me, touched me.

Live simply, live purposefully.

So true – we can’t just let life happen to us. (I have a whole chapter in my book about that called Intentional Parenting.) To live purposefully, you have to identify your purpose – you have to know why you’re doing what. You have to place value on your activities and your time. And the “live simply” part? It’s funny – about once a year I tell my husband that if I turn up missing, just look in Amish country. All I want to do is get away, unplug, enjoy nature, bake, and contemplate. I’m all for simplifying but, again, that requires purposeful, intentional action on my part.

Do what you can do.
Michelle has a new “no comment” policy, so I’m guessing she probably feels less obliged to go visit. That’s an intentional and purposeful decision on her part.

And doesn’t this just warm your heart?
“Love hearing from you. You’re always under grace and if I don’t hear from you for weeks, I’ll never take it personally.”

Having heard all of that, you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to keep on doing my best, squeezing things in as I can. But I’m going to try to be a bit more intentional, purposeful about my time. I may even set a number of blogs to visit each day.

This won’t keep me from missing you on those busy days, busy weeks. And I will miss you. It’s funny – I don’t feel obliged to come see you. I want to!

So I’ll do what I can. You all are like the pen pals I had as a kid. My goal was to have one in every one of the 50 states. I felt like I had friends everywhere!

It’s all about balance. And we each have to find our own, don’t we?

What do you plan to do?

"Go ahead," Mom said.

Monday October 18, 2010

I remember it like it was yesterday.

I was about 12, and we had just come from the grocery store. I was helping Mom put the groceries away, transferring the eggs from the carton to the container in the refrigerator door.

I took one egg and held it in my hand, looked at Mom, and said, "I've always wondered what it would feel like to squish an egg in your hand."

(Odd, I know, but I had an active twelve-year-old's imagination...)

Mom looked at me and grinned. Then she said, "Go ahead."

I looked from the egg to her, surprised. "What?"

"You've always wondered? Go ahead."

That was all the prompting I needed. I proceeded to squish the egg, feeling the shell crack in my hand. The slithery contents dripped through my fingers, puddling around my bare feet.

My mom was there in a second with a rag, cleaning my feet. "Mom!" I said. "I can't believe you let me do that."

She shrugged and smiled.

I remember that every time I get an egg from the refrigerator. The day my mom said, "Go ahead." It was a small thing, but it affirmed me. It said, "Curiosity is good. Check things out. Sometimes you've just gotta know."

She let me mess up my bare feet and the kitchen floor, without batting an eyelash. It was great.

What can you say "Go ahead" to, today?

Here's My Quandary

Wednesday October 13, 2010

Yes, I have a quandary.

A dilemma, a pickle, a predicament.

This past Saturday I awoke to crisp, cool Fall weather. (Well, for Florida it was crisp and cool – and there was even a breeze.)

It was lovely. I ate my breakfast and took my coffee to the computer, where I visited many of you.

Last week was an incredibly busy week and I had time to visit nary a blog friend all week. On Saturday, my heart was lifted and my spirits dashed at the same time. As I read backwards, I realized how much I had missed during the week!

There were birthdays and epiphanies, joys and sorrows, sick kids, community-building among moms, anticipation, and just lovely prose that would have heartened my workday week. And I missed them, cramming them all into one day.

I’m praying this week will be better…that I will be around more to see you and read what you have to say.

Now I’ve decided that may have been one of the reasons last week seemed so long… because you – you make my week.

How do you find time to visit all your blog friends? Do you have a system or are yours stolen moments at the monitor? Any suggestions?

The Two-Sided Love Coin

Wednesday October 6, 2010 The longer I live, the more I realize that life isn’t as black and white as I once thought. Sure, there are some things I’ve vowed never to compromise on, but the reality of life has hit me upside the head enough times that I’ll no longer deny the coin sometimes has two sides.

Take motherhood, for example. We love it – we eat, we live, we breathe it. But sometimes it’s daunting. It’s just hard.

On one side, that two-sided coin has emblazoned

Loving Desperation.

It drives me to ask why. Why me? Why my child?

It compels me to stand at the door with my wailing son,

anxious to pass him off to Dad.

It makes me wonder if my teen and I will ever connect the way I want us to.

It questions me, sometimes even guilts me. Am I a good mother?

And when it flips to the other side, which it so often does,

thankfully, I see written there

Desperate Love.

It drives me to stay up far too late to finish just the right costume.

It says, “No matter how many times you roll your eyes at me, I still love you!”

It forces me to sit wide awake on the couch,

waiting for the familiar hum of the car in the driveway.

It compels me to rock and bounce and sway –

whatever it takes to maintain that sweet slumber in my arms.

Loving Desperation. Desperate Love.
It’s the currency of motherhood.

Cherish it. Save it. Spend it oh-so-carefully.

Have you felt it? The loving desperation...the desperate love?

Linking up today with Emily Wierenga from in the hush of the moon. Learn more about Imperfect Prose here. Why don't you come along?

Where Do You Draw the Line, Mom?

Monday May 17, 2010

Here’s where I draw the line. If you're school age...

I don’t check pants pockets. If you don't want something washed, don't leave it there! If you send pens through the wash, we'll work together to get the ink out of the clothes -- the first time. Then you'll know how to do it if it ever happens again.

I will not wash dirty, sweaty athletic clothes. If you're big enough to play the game and make those clothes smell like that, you're big enough to wash them! Of course, I'll show you how it's done.

Are your clothes on the floor? Pick them up yourself. I’ll call you into the room, point them out, and watch you pick them up and deposit them where they need to be.

Pack your own backpack in the morning – or better yet, the night before. Put in everything you need -- pens, pencils, gym clothes -- so there's not a mad dash back into the house from the car.

I will not hold a conversation through the bathroom door. Yes or no, but not a prolonged conversation. Save it for later.

I draw these lines because I love you! I want you to learn to take responsibility for yourself and to value me and other members of the family.

P.S. When you start early, it's so much easier later!

What about you? Where do you draw the line? Feel free to share what works for you and your family -- we'd love to hear!

A Gift from Mom

Wednesday May 5, 2010

What’s the best gift your mom ever gave you?

It might be a prized family heirloom, the doll she grew up loving, or her mother’s china.

It could be a strong sense of self-confidence, a great sense of humor, or an appreciation for rainy days.

My best gift? My mom modeled balance -- she still does. She knows when to be soft and when to hold the line; when to be concerned and when to leave it to faith; when to hold on and when to let go; when to laugh and when to shed a tear. Hers is a balanced life, and she has left me a clear portrait. I'm so thankful for that gift.

Celebrate your mom today.
Share with us your memory of Mom’s best gift to you.

All for Mom,

What's Outnumbering You Today?

Tuesday April 27, 2010

What is outnumbering you today?

What makes you feel overwhelmed today -- most days?

I'd love to hear! I want my blog to be a place of inspiration and encouragement, so let me know what encouragement you need.

Those of you who follow may have noticed that I haven't posted in a few days, and I haven't been able to visit and comment, either.

The home computer has been struck with an especially nasty virus. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy!!

We hope to get it all back to normal in the next couple of days, but I wanted to let you know I'm still here. You may have noticed my newsletter didn't go out yesterday either -- again, because of my poor sickly computer.

As I've said before, we can't do this mothering thing alone -- we moms need each other! So let me know what you need help and encouragement with.

Mom meltdowns occur all along the way on this journey. A mom is always a mom -- whether her boy is a senior in high school or her daughter is a babe in arms. My newsletter, which goes out each Monday, deals specifically with topics many moms feel outnumbered by. You may have read Outnumbered by Self-Doubt, a reprint of my newsletter, but I've tackled other topics like:

Outnumbered by...my kids
Outnumbered by...the holidays
Outnumbered by...stuff, stuff, everywhere
Outnumbered by...the past
Outnumbered by...my worries

So, leave a comment and let me know what's outnumbering you today.

Wherever you find yourself in this mothering journey, I'm praying for, writing for, and thinking of you today, moms!

Outnumbered by...self-doubt

Thursday March 25, 2010

The following is from my newsletter that goes out each Monday morning. I thought it might strike a chord with a mother or two out there in blogland.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm even doing a good job. There's so much going on - I do lots of things but none of them well.

Am I a good role model for my daughter - and am I an example for my son of what a woman should be?

Things are changing, and I just don't know if I'm up to it. Can I be flexible and supportive in the middle of this - and can I provide the stability my family needs when things are shifting?

I think I'm doing an okay job as a mom right now, but I've kind of lost sight of whatever else I was or plan to be. I'm lost in my mom-identity, and I kind of miss who I was...I'm not even sure who I am.

My kids are making some unwise decisions. Did I do a bad job as a mom?

When we begin to doubt ourselves, one of the first things we do is exaggerate.

Consider the Israelites who accompanied Joshua and Caleb on that expedition into the Promised Land (Numbers 13). The inhabitants of the land are first described as powerful and strong. The longer they talk, the smaller the expedition party gets, and the larger the enemy grows. They end by exclaiming, "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them" (Numbers 13:33).

We pay too much attention to the problem or imperfection, and it grows bigger before our eyes.

Next we suffer from uncertainty, so we spend our time examining and re-examining our every move. Some have called this "analysis paralysis." We do nothing because of the uncertainty that comes from self-doubt. We simply make ourselves even more miserable.

WHAT TO DO

How do we break free from the self-doubt that magnifies problems and paralyzes us, makes us question our ability and our impact?

We can't just "fix" our self-image - take a pill and make it better.

We can't talk ourselves into thinking we're doing a great job.

We need something - Someone - greater.

We need to change our focus.

The proper self-image isn't centered on you and what you think of yourself and your abilities.

The proper self-image comes from scripture, where you can see yourself in Christ.

We need to see ourselves as God see us - as good and beloved because of His grace, not because of our nature and not because of anything we've done.

A proper self-image doesn't deny our imperfections, but it's based on Christ's victory over sin and His covering for us.

In my eyes, I've made many mistakes. When I turn to Him, I begin to live in His presence. I stop concentrating on my own ability and worth, and I focus on the worth and abilities of Christ.

The problem is not that we think too little of ourselves; it's that we think too little of Him.

Self-doubt turns into self-centeredness when we gaze at our own reflections; instead, we must turn to the One who made us.

George MacDonald wrote, "I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God's thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking."

Made by Him - dear, precious, and grand.

LOOK UP AND LOOK AROUND

Our first task is to change our focus.

Instead of concentrating on ourselves, we truly need to look up - toward His presence, His worth, His greatness. We need to think less of ourselves and more of Him.

And what happens when we do? Psalm 61:3-5 tells us: "For you have been my refuge, a a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name."

He gives us the heritage of those who fear him.

Now look around. And you don't have to look far away to find some little ones who need to be reminded of their worth in Christ. How can we help our kids?

Don't over-emphasize looks, athletics, popularity or earthly achievements with your children. When you do, you're communicating acceptance based on works. Parents who use those as measuring sticks end up with either proud, busy kids or frustrated ones who just can't meet the bar.

Look a little further. Do you see a mom who struggles with self-doubt? Give her a hand. Help her to focus not on her shortcomings, but on the One who sees her as dear and precious.

THE BOTTOM LINE

So, get rid of the self-doubt.

Take your eyes off yourself and put them on Him.

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good." (Psalm 52:8,9)

Look at Him. Focus on Him. Trust in Him.

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing ot the Lord, for he has been good to me." (Psalm 13:5,6)

One thing bears repearing: In my eyes, I've made many mistakes. When I turn to Him, I begin to live in His presence. I stop concentrating on my own ability and worth, and I focus on the worth and abilities of Christ.

And that's where real hope is.

Each week my newsletter addresses an issue that moms find themselves outnumbered by. Subscribe and get inspiration and encouragement in your inbox each Monday morning.

Take Care of Yourself, Mom!

March 1, 2010

Momism (n) - a "mom saying" passed from one mother to another, often truer than one realizes at the time.

Have you heard this Momism?

“If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

It’s pretty true. Our frame of mind tends to spill over onto the rest of the household.

It’s time to indulge yourself. Find one little way to make yourself happy this week, Mom. Just a small thing.

Vow to take five minutes with a cup of tea.
Ask your husband to cover for a half hour so you can take a soak in the tub.
Read just a bit of that favorite book right before you nod off.
Get your hair trimmed.
Buy a new tube of lipstick.
Take a short walk – by yourself.

Remember, if Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.

So, do everyone a favor and take care of yourself.

Can a Mom Rejoice?

February 15, 2010

Can a mom rejoice?

Just take a look around. It’s more than a little hard to rejoice today. Sadness and suffering splayed across the media, joblessness and despair abound.

And our children – we worry for them. We all host our own share of motherly angst.

Are we doing this right?
Are we scarring them for life?
Will they make it through elementary school?
Will he remember I let him cry in his crib alone last night?
Will she find good friends?
Will his interest in sports crowd out academics?
Will he be such a nerd he won’t have any friends?

You name it – mothers worry about it.
So much so that worry crowds out joy.

I decided a while ago, I’m not going there.
There's so much I can’t change or control that time spent worrying about it does absolutely NO good.

Besides, there’s One who loves my children even more than I do, and He has it all in his hands.

That’s not to say I don’t wonder and question my mothering decisions. And yes, it’s good to talk things over with friends and mom-mentors and get input from those who have been there.

The key is in balance.

A quote by G.K. Chesterton set me to thinking about this subject:

A person is fully human, Chesterton says, “when joy is the fundamental thing in him, and grief the superficial. Melancholy should be an innocent interlude, a tender and fugitive frame of mind; praise should be the permanent pulsation of the soul. Pessimism is at best an emotional half-holiday; joy is the uproarious labor by which all things live.”

So, ask yourself:

Is joy fundamental in your life?
And is grief only superficial?

Make melancholy and angst only interludes – fugitive frames of mind.
Make praise your soul’s permanent pulsation.

I don’t want to live in an “emotional half-holiday,” but in joy.
I know it may not be easy; as Chesterton writes, it will be a labor – but an uproarious labor that signifies life.

Joy – that’s the life for me!

A Life of Serendipity

Did you know the word serendipity came from a fairy tale? It’s a word we don’t use often, but if you think about it, moms actually experience serendipity every day.

Serendipity first appeared in print in the English language in 1754, coined by a man named Horace Walpole in a letter to a friend.

Walpole, after reading a fairy tale named “The Three Princes of Serendip,” came up with the word serendipity. Serendip (the Persian name for Sri Lanka) is the setting of this fairy tale in which the trio of princes make a number of discoveries through a combination of what Walpole called “accidents and sagacity (wisdom).”

In the fairy tale, the princes stumble upon discoveries and use their wisdom to piece together clues, arriving at an educated conclusion. Walpole called this “accidental sagacity.”

Today, serendipity is often used to represent a “happy accident” – a discovery stumbled upon much like a pot of gold. For a writer’s take on serendipity, see my post here. But a mom’s take on serendipity?

I’ve decided a mom’s life is full of serendipity.

We set off down the path of laundry, boo-boos, discarded toys, mismatched socks and sometimes we begin to grumble. Then, all of a sudden, we get tripped up by a little pot of gold.

That’s serendipity.

What’s a mom’s pot of gold?

The sweet comment. The chubby arms ‘round your neck. The shy, “Thanks, Mom” from your boy. The little eyes that look with such love that you feel like Mother of the Year.

Oh, what a blessing!

Amid all those dirty socks and diapers, don’t overlook the serendipitous moment.

Laura

Just a Few Thoughts to Start the Week

January 10, 2010

As I worked on my weekly newsletter, a couple of things kept rumbling through my mind. One was a poem (courtesy of Muthering Heights):

"I'd rather be a mother than anyone on earth
Bringing up a child or two of unpretentious birth...
I'd rather tuck a little child all safe and sound in bed
than twine a chain of diamonds about my [carefree] head.
I'd rather wash a smudgy face with round, bright, baby eyes
Than paint the pageantry of fame or walk among the wise."

~Meredith Gray

I've written before that ours is the noblest profession -- mothering.
I'd rather, just as the poem says.
Even when it's hard and I'm tired and sleep-deprived and I've lost it again, I'd rather.

Why? Nothing good comes easily.

And more than that, we have grace available for the taking.

Consider Kathleen Norris's words from Acedia and Me:

"For grace to be grace, it must give us things we didn’t know we needed and take us to places where we didn’t want to go. As we stumble through the crazily altered landscape of our lives, we find that God is enjoying our attention as never before."

As mothers, we're often taken to places we don't want to go and daily we stumble through the crazily altered landscape of our lives...but we learn to rely on grace.

And that's a wonderful thing.

Just for Mom

Mom Goals for 2010
January 3, 2010

Are you looking forward in 2010?
Anticipating great things?

If you focus your efforts, there’s no telling what you can achieve.

Since this page is Just for Mom, let’s talk about you. You can set family goals, marriage goals, and goals for your children, but what do you look forward to for…YOU?

I know, it’s hard to think of only yourself when you’ve been conditioned to think of everyone else 24/7. Yes, moms have great responsibility not only for others, but for themselves.

So, take care of your family in 2010, but don’t neglect you.

Consider some aspect of your personal life or your spiritual life you’d like to work on in the coming year.

Your personal life could include anything from weight loss to attitude.
Your spiritual life concerns the vertical relationship between you and God.

I read a great idea for setting personal goals here. Take a look and get inspired.

You’ll find even more suggestions in my first newsletter issue for 2010, so subscribe today!

And as you set your own goals, don’t be shy. Don’t hesitate because you fear you’ll fall short. Our own shortcomings serve as blessings when they lead us to the Saviour. No matter what your achieve, you’ll learn in the process; you’ll be further ahead than you were yesterday.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Want to share your goals? Leave a comment!

You may not want to share your goals because, after all, they’re personal! If that’s the case, just leave a quick comment of encouragement and let us all know that you are looking forward!