Yesterday at our Mother's Day service one of the older saints in our church, a beloved woman of nearly 80, prayed over the mothers and women. She said that when hers were still "littles", God led her again and again to this verse, in Galatians:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
And then she exhorted us to live out our mothering "in thankfulness and praise".
Words I needed to hear.
The previous evening I had sat on the couch, in tears, talking with Mark. I was so weary. Burdened. Struggling with my attitude toward my children. Trying to find some fruits from my diligence with them. Tired of the whining and grumbling and disobedience. We discussed, prayed, and went to sleep.
And then God spoke- through Shirley- "Do not become weary in doing good, Stacy. At the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up." It's not as if I was ready to give up (although I did tell Mark I felt like running away from home for a few days) but I sure needed that encouragement.
So if you, like me, are a weary mama? Hear this and take heart: Don't become weary in doing good. At the proper time you will reap a harvest if you don't give up.
Do tell
Recently I noticed that all of a sudden the dirty laundry at our house has practically doubled, and I can't keep up with it on my two designated laundry days. Today I figured out why.
It's Spring! The kids are outside a LOT more than they were even a couple of weeks ago, and their clothes are filthy when they come indoors. The past couple of days I cringe when they want to go out in the mornings because my practical mind immediately goes here: "That means a whole new outfit for each child when they come in, and I know they're going to want to go back outside at least once again later today." And I can hardly tell them to stay out of the dirt.
I've been mulling this over, and I've wondered how some of you other mothers handle this? I've contemplated having a set of okay-to-get-dirty clothes by the back door and then whenever they go out, they can put those on, but that seems like an awful lot of work, too. But... are there other options? What do you do?
It's Spring! The kids are outside a LOT more than they were even a couple of weeks ago, and their clothes are filthy when they come indoors. The past couple of days I cringe when they want to go out in the mornings because my practical mind immediately goes here: "That means a whole new outfit for each child when they come in, and I know they're going to want to go back outside at least once again later today." And I can hardly tell them to stay out of the dirt.
I've been mulling this over, and I've wondered how some of you other mothers handle this? I've contemplated having a set of okay-to-get-dirty clothes by the back door and then whenever they go out, they can put those on, but that seems like an awful lot of work, too. But... are there other options? What do you do?
Stretch marks
I scar very easily. My skin is a bit olive in its tone, so if I cut myself shaving or get a scratch, I cringe a bit because I know that that particular mark is there to stay.
When I got pregnant, new marks appeared on my skin. Stretch marks. As I carried Ella, the skin over my hips stretched and expanded and I ended up with two large purplish marks on each hip.
And then Isaac came along and stretched my skin in every other place. I now have maybe a dozen on my tummy, splayed upwards like little rivers. I have them on my inner thighs and on my outer thighs. One day as my delivery date neared, I stretched out my legs and was absolutely horrified to spot tiny stretch marks forming on my calves. Yes, I did say calves. I ask you, who on earth gets stretch marks on their calves?! That would be me.
I was insecure about those marks on my body after I had Ella, but after the birth of Isaac? Oh, how I hated those stretch marks. I felt so ugly with those wavy scars all over my body.
I have the most affirming husband in the world and he could truly care less if I have stretch marks. I've always wished I could be so carefree about them. What I have done is come to a sort of begrudging acceptance of them.
This morning in the shower, I took note of them again. For the first time ever I actually looked at them with tender affection. These marks are reminders to me that this body of mine carried babies. They remind me that God answered years of prayers and saw our tears of anguish and allowed me the gift of carrying not one, but two children in my womb. The growth and expanding of my body to make room for my children left these marks, and I stood in thankfulness for them. I may never be pregnant again. And if not, I know that for the rest of my years, I can see the marks on my hips and remember that the weight of my baby girl pulled those marks into place. I can look at this tummy and see these marks splayed out and remember that my chubby boy was growing behind those marks.
And as I stood in the shower and whispered a prayer of gratitude for these visible reminders, I thought of this, too: in my relationship with God, as I grow and expand in love for Him, I hope and pray that "stretch marks" will be formed in me. They won't resemble the ones that are impressed into my skin, but as I read and study His word, as my faith deepens, as I rest in His gift of grace, as I am challenged by sometimes difficult lessons, and as I love more deeply; may all of this stretching leave a visible mark in me.
When I got pregnant, new marks appeared on my skin. Stretch marks. As I carried Ella, the skin over my hips stretched and expanded and I ended up with two large purplish marks on each hip.
And then Isaac came along and stretched my skin in every other place. I now have maybe a dozen on my tummy, splayed upwards like little rivers. I have them on my inner thighs and on my outer thighs. One day as my delivery date neared, I stretched out my legs and was absolutely horrified to spot tiny stretch marks forming on my calves. Yes, I did say calves. I ask you, who on earth gets stretch marks on their calves?! That would be me.
I was insecure about those marks on my body after I had Ella, but after the birth of Isaac? Oh, how I hated those stretch marks. I felt so ugly with those wavy scars all over my body.
I have the most affirming husband in the world and he could truly care less if I have stretch marks. I've always wished I could be so carefree about them. What I have done is come to a sort of begrudging acceptance of them.
This morning in the shower, I took note of them again. For the first time ever I actually looked at them with tender affection. These marks are reminders to me that this body of mine carried babies. They remind me that God answered years of prayers and saw our tears of anguish and allowed me the gift of carrying not one, but two children in my womb. The growth and expanding of my body to make room for my children left these marks, and I stood in thankfulness for them. I may never be pregnant again. And if not, I know that for the rest of my years, I can see the marks on my hips and remember that the weight of my baby girl pulled those marks into place. I can look at this tummy and see these marks splayed out and remember that my chubby boy was growing behind those marks.
And as I stood in the shower and whispered a prayer of gratitude for these visible reminders, I thought of this, too: in my relationship with God, as I grow and expand in love for Him, I hope and pray that "stretch marks" will be formed in me. They won't resemble the ones that are impressed into my skin, but as I read and study His word, as my faith deepens, as I rest in His gift of grace, as I am challenged by sometimes difficult lessons, and as I love more deeply; may all of this stretching leave a visible mark in me.
On the table...
...for Ella's day to cook:
Grilled Cheese-Tomato Soup
Pizza Snacks
Pretty Posy Cookies
(Not pictured: sliced bananas, pineapple, and strawberries)
Ella invited Grandpa and Grandma to join us for the meal, so that was a highlight. We were scrambling a bit at the end to have it all ready by the time they came, so I only ended up with a couple of photos.
Those cookies were a bit of work...
...but were very pretty and Ella's favorite thing to make
Lesson mommy learned: Only let Ella choose one or two recipes each time, not three!
Lesson Ella learned: When you're the cook, you don't get to drop everything and go outside to play.
Grilled Cheese-Tomato Soup
Pizza Snacks
Pretty Posy Cookies
(Not pictured: sliced bananas, pineapple, and strawberries)
Ella invited Grandpa and Grandma to join us for the meal, so that was a highlight. We were scrambling a bit at the end to have it all ready by the time they came, so I only ended up with a couple of photos.
Those cookies were a bit of work...
...but were very pretty and Ella's favorite thing to make
Lesson mommy learned: Only let Ella choose one or two recipes each time, not three!
Lesson Ella learned: When you're the cook, you don't get to drop everything and go outside to play.
Treasure!
It has been a busy week around here. We've had a lot of evening commitments-- which is unusual for us; we are generally home in the evenings. Mark's day off was on Wednesday of this week, which throws our routine a bit, too. We spent that day working outside on the chicken's yard. It is now netted and chicken-wired and supposedly safe from predators. Now if they would just go out. Yesterday was a sunny day so I opened up their door in the morning and they all just stood around looking bewildered. Not once yesterday did they meander outside. ???
The bigger news at our house this week: (but a little history, first)...
A couple weeks ago we were at the bank and the teller handed the kids some coloring pages for a coloring contest. They had no idea what one was; but happily colored their pages and turned them in. Ella received a call from the bank Monday morning telling her that she had won; could she come and pick up her prize? I asked Ella that day, "What do you think the prize might be?" She figured it was lollipops or stickers (which is what we usually get at the bank when we go). We swung by the bank that afternoon, and Mark took Ella in to pick up her prize while I waited in the van with the boys. They were inside for so long I was getting worried, wondering if they'd made a mistake and called the wrong child.
I needn't have feared.
I saw Ella first, running towards the van as fast as her legs could carry her, clutching her winning coloring page and smiling widely. Then I saw Mark, carrying the prize. Upon sight of the prize I burst out laughing.
Here they are, waiting for daddy to open it.
(Oh, I KNOW it's a pinata, and we're supposed to give the kids bats or sticks and let them beat it open. We've done that before (Amy, remember?) and it ended up that the daddies had to work to get it open in the end, anyway. And since our children are young enough to not remember what a pinata is, we took advantage of that and just cut it open.)
They had no idea what was inside, but were pleasantly surprised.
Well, except for Isaias. He didn't appreciate the glasses so much.
The bigger news at our house this week: (but a little history, first)...
A couple weeks ago we were at the bank and the teller handed the kids some coloring pages for a coloring contest. They had no idea what one was; but happily colored their pages and turned them in. Ella received a call from the bank Monday morning telling her that she had won; could she come and pick up her prize? I asked Ella that day, "What do you think the prize might be?" She figured it was lollipops or stickers (which is what we usually get at the bank when we go). We swung by the bank that afternoon, and Mark took Ella in to pick up her prize while I waited in the van with the boys. They were inside for so long I was getting worried, wondering if they'd made a mistake and called the wrong child.
I needn't have feared.
I saw Ella first, running towards the van as fast as her legs could carry her, clutching her winning coloring page and smiling widely. Then I saw Mark, carrying the prize. Upon sight of the prize I burst out laughing.
Here they are, waiting for daddy to open it.
(Oh, I KNOW it's a pinata, and we're supposed to give the kids bats or sticks and let them beat it open. We've done that before (Amy, remember?) and it ended up that the daddies had to work to get it open in the end, anyway. And since our children are young enough to not remember what a pinata is, we took advantage of that and just cut it open.)
They had no idea what was inside, but were pleasantly surprised.
Well, except for Isaias. He didn't appreciate the glasses so much.
Four things to ponder
Psalm 78 is one of my favorite Psalms. The margin of my Bible next to this Psalm is filled with a big star and a prayer. Here is a portion of this passage:
These verses say we are to teach our children the following things:
1. The praiseworthy deeds of the Lord
2. The power of God
3. The wonders He has done
4. The statutes and law of God
As I look at the above list, I am challenged to be more purposeful in my interactions with my children. Am I daily telling them of God's praiseworthy deeds? Am I telling them what God has done in my life? Am I teaching them of His power? Am I sharing the wonders He has done throughout history? Am I teaching them His law?
The privilege of having my children home with me all day gives me many opportunities for teaching these things. I am encouraged to speak aloud the things I am praising God for in my own life; the prayers He's answered, the deeds He has done. And to point out to them the deeds He has done in their lives. I am encouraged to speak of His might and power. My children love to talk about how strong and mighty God is; that He is more powerful than anything or anyone else. I am challenged to speak of and read about His wonders, over and over and over again. And of His law; how God wants us to live.
This is so my heart. And my fervant prayer? "then they will put their trust in God and will not forget his deeds but will keep his commands."
O my people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old--
what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.
(verses 1-7)
These verses say we are to teach our children the following things:
1. The praiseworthy deeds of the Lord
2. The power of God
3. The wonders He has done
4. The statutes and law of God
As I look at the above list, I am challenged to be more purposeful in my interactions with my children. Am I daily telling them of God's praiseworthy deeds? Am I telling them what God has done in my life? Am I teaching them of His power? Am I sharing the wonders He has done throughout history? Am I teaching them His law?
The privilege of having my children home with me all day gives me many opportunities for teaching these things. I am encouraged to speak aloud the things I am praising God for in my own life; the prayers He's answered, the deeds He has done. And to point out to them the deeds He has done in their lives. I am encouraged to speak of His might and power. My children love to talk about how strong and mighty God is; that He is more powerful than anything or anyone else. I am challenged to speak of and read about His wonders, over and over and over again. And of His law; how God wants us to live.
This is so my heart. And my fervant prayer? "then they will put their trust in God and will not forget his deeds but will keep his commands."
