My prayer partner and I were talking
this morning about how difficult it is for
mothers to get a day off. Unless we leave the house, there will always be
something required or asked of us. I immediately thought about my
Heavenly Father; He never gets a day off – never. I call on Him every day
throughout the day and He always answers, but when I get tired of my family
calling my name, I act like I don’t hear them. What if God took a day off? The thought alone is unsettling.
It’s soooo
easy to complain, but what do I have to complain about? Even when I’m tired, God
restores my energy. When I’m frustrated with everyday household chores, He helps
me to find the good in what I do. When
I’m exhausted with homework and
grades, He gives me the wisdom and
strength for positive parenting – it’s not my homework anyway! When hubby acts
like he can’t do for himself, God reminds me I’m his helpmate, not his mother -
there is a difference! When I’m
consistently asked to volunteer, God reminds me how simple it is to just say
“no.” God is my sufficiency for every
hat I wear.
Once I realize I work
specifically for Jesus and not the people around me, I won’t be so carnal minded
and desire a day off, yet desire strength, energy, and power, to do what I’ve
been entrusted to do. Instead of taking
a day off, I’m taking a day off from complaining - again! Thank you, Lord for
the ability to do what is required of me – one day at a time! I trust you to
give me everything You already know
I need – even a day off!
We Can Do This!
Secondborn has had a cookie business for almost three years
now. It wears me out physically and mentally. Friday night, he was preparing for
a business expo and had a difficult time focusing. The process of baking and packaging the
cookies started off fine, but about an hour into the mix, Secondborn said he
needed music to motivate him. Okay,
that’s fine. Minutes later he wanted a sandwich. Shortly after, he was
getting tired. Then he had a headache, and then he needed a shower to help him
wake up. I was mentally exhausted. I knew he needed a few words of
encouragement, but my words probably came across as words of chastisement.
Secondborn pays me $5 a week to help him. Trust me, I’m worth a whole lot more,
but as his mother, I’d do it for free. We
can do this! The day of the event went very well and he sold lots of
cookies. He also received a wealth of encouragement from customers and other
business owners. I was thankful because he sure didn’t get it from me. No one
sees what goes on behind the scenes, and that’s okay. I’m thankful for the
people placed in my little entrepreneur’s life to support and encourage him.
Yesterday, Secondborn mentioned he had a lot of “motivators.” I told him those
encouragers are his support group to
keep him moving forward. We all need encouragement. It’s like mental energy to
keep moving. Nothing gets done without hard work and sometimes it’s hard to
encourage yourself.
As a wife and mother, I have to encourage myself in order
to keep my family encouraged and being cranky and tired is not the way. I
must refuel and replenish myself - daily. I must renew my mind - daily. I must remember that I
can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and encourages me - through His
Word. It's a new day...a new week...I can
do this and so can you! Have an encouraging Monday! Be encouraged!
Every Breath
I didn’t want to, but I needed to. Firstborn and
Secondborn were only five and three years old when the 9/11 tragedy occurred, so
last night, our family watched one of the many 9/11 documentaries. Surreal.
Senseless. Unbelievable. Here one minute - gone the next. No one knew, the
morning of September 11th, a decade ago, that a sequence of events
would occur to change their life forever. The surviving firefighters spoke of
how precious and memorable the moment was when they first saw their families and
even saw each other after the tragedy. I wondered why it takes death or a near
death experience to truly appreciate life.
As much as I strive to live and
cherish each moment, too many irreplaceable moments are taken for granted. I
assume I will inhale again after I exhale, but it’s not promised. I assume I
will see my family again this evening, but it’s not promised. I assume tomorrow
will come, so I can call the friend that has been on my mind, but it’s not
promised. How can I not value every breath I take? How can I not take advantage
of the precious moments flying by?
Sigh…thank you, Lord. Thank you for
reminding me that my life is just a vapor – a brief wind blowing by – a gasp of
breath to exhale – a puff of air – here
one minute – gone the next. Life travels
fast. Learning to take advantage of the time we have with friends, co-workers,
neighbors, and family would be wise. Every moment we’re alive, whether we enjoy
it or not, is a moment with breath in our body. Every breath we take is a gift
of life. It’s time to enjoy this gift of life – with every breath.
Be All You Can Be
I asked Firstborn if he had any
ideas of what he wanted to do after high school and he said he didn’t know.
Hmmm…Sweetie, you’re in the eleventh
grade, you don’t have long. He then asked about the Army. I told him I only
knew about the service I served in, the Navy. Of course I favor the Navy, but in
times like these, I just want my children to have security – spiritual and
financial security.
Firstborn is only 15, so I’m not surprised he doesn’t have
his life mapped out. I pulled up the Army website to view the available careers
and also saw one of the Army commercials stating to be all you can be. I was
thinking of myself more than Firstborn as I watched the commercial. Am I being
all I can be? As a woman, wife, mother, servant of God, sister, daughter,
friend, and writer, am I giving God my best? Am I in a position to allow God to
pull everything out of me that He’s placed in me? Am I living at the optimum level I was
created for? Just as I reminded Firstborn that he didn’t have long, I don’t have
long on this wonderful planet Earth, so I
better get it together. I can’t expect Firstborn to be all he can be if I’m not
doing the same. As his mother, I should be able to boldly say, “Do as I do and as I say.” From the simplest of tasks to the most
demanding, I must be an example – I must be all I can be.
It doesn’t matter how
old we are, God is never finished
with us. There is always another opportunity, another endeavor, and another
chance – there is always a next in
life! Today is a new day, let’s be all we can be – one day at a time!
Devotion
A while ago, Firstborn made me a CD with Earth, Wind, and Fire songs and yesterday, I played my favorite song, Devotion, over, and over, and over. I decided to look up the lyrics, so I could sing the correct words instead of only singing one word - devotion. The words are beautiful. I then looked up the word devotion. Devotion: 1. profound dedication; consecration. 2. earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc. 3. an assignment or appropriation to any purpose, cause. 4. Ecclesiastical, religious observance or worship; a form of prayer or worship for special use.
I began to think of my devotion – devotion to my husband, my sons, my talents, my church, my parents, my ministry, my temple, my life. My devotion and service in each of these areas are empty without giving God the devotion He desires from me. Doing what I do can become religious rituals without a true devotion to God – the One who has placed these people and things in my care. After my umpteenth time playing the song, Secondborn asked me if the group was a gospel group. Below are the words to the song, Devotion.
"Thru devotion, blessed are the children. Praise the teacher that brings true love to many. Your devotion opens all life’s treasures and deliverance from the fruits of evil. So our mission, to bring a melody, ringin’ voices sing sweet harmony. For you here’s a song, to make your day brighter. One that will last, you long through troubled days. Giving your heart the light to brighten all of the dark that falls in your way. You need devotion. Bless the children. Deliverance from the fruits of evil. In everyone’s life, there’s a need to be happy. Let the sun shine a smile your way. Open your heart, feel a touch of devotion. Maybe this song will help uplift your day, make a better way. You need devotion, bless the children…"
May your Monday be full of devotion – to God.
I began to think of my devotion – devotion to my husband, my sons, my talents, my church, my parents, my ministry, my temple, my life. My devotion and service in each of these areas are empty without giving God the devotion He desires from me. Doing what I do can become religious rituals without a true devotion to God – the One who has placed these people and things in my care. After my umpteenth time playing the song, Secondborn asked me if the group was a gospel group. Below are the words to the song, Devotion.
"Thru devotion, blessed are the children. Praise the teacher that brings true love to many. Your devotion opens all life’s treasures and deliverance from the fruits of evil. So our mission, to bring a melody, ringin’ voices sing sweet harmony. For you here’s a song, to make your day brighter. One that will last, you long through troubled days. Giving your heart the light to brighten all of the dark that falls in your way. You need devotion. Bless the children. Deliverance from the fruits of evil. In everyone’s life, there’s a need to be happy. Let the sun shine a smile your way. Open your heart, feel a touch of devotion. Maybe this song will help uplift your day, make a better way. You need devotion, bless the children…"
May your Monday be full of devotion – to God.
McDonald's Breakfast
Last night, Firstborn mentioned he wanted McDonalds for
breakfast on his first day of school. I cook a hot breakfast every morning, but
I listened to him talk about McDonald’s hash browns and some other grease-filled
menu item. Firstborn knows his Mama is against fast food breakfast, so I
wondered why he was going against the grain. He knows breakfast is the most
important meal of the day, so why McDonalds when you can have Mama’s hot
breakfast? Instead of rocking the boat the night before school started, I asked
him if he had money and we figured out what time we needed to leave the house to
prevent being late for school. I even visited the McDonald’s website to read the
nutrition facts of some of their breakfast items. I know; I’m a little anal
about this. J
Distractions
Last night, while hubby and I sat in the living room
talking, the boys were nearby listening, yet focused on their gadgets. Firstborn
was texting and Secondborn was on the computer. I didn’t place emphasis on what they were
doing, but I noticed how focused they were. If they can diligently focus on
what they enjoy doing, they can use
that same ability to focus on their school work – if they want to. The new
school year has already started for many, but the bells will ring next week for
us. I will remember the deep concentration the boys had on their gadgets when
it’s time to focus on homework. The inability to focus definitely won’t be the
problem, but distractions will be.
A distraction is anything that captures our attention from the task at hand. Whether the distraction is around us or in our own mind, we all deal with them. Exercise, work, cleaning, studying, spending time with God, or even having to change a diaper invites distractions - the Spirit of Distraction comes in many forms. This school year, I will have a different approach with the boys when dealing with their lack of desire to focus on their school work. I know they can do it – if they want to! I’ll have to help them recognize their distractions and explain how distractions work against them – against us. Distractions damage - distractions destroy – distractions disturb - distractions detour us from what God has called us to do.
Regardless of our age or what we’re doing, focusing is significant to success. As a wife and mother with so many of my own tasks and countless distractions, I must be an example to my children and fight the annoying Spirit of Distraction. I must focus, follow through, and finish what I’m called to do. I can do it – if I want to.
A distraction is anything that captures our attention from the task at hand. Whether the distraction is around us or in our own mind, we all deal with them. Exercise, work, cleaning, studying, spending time with God, or even having to change a diaper invites distractions - the Spirit of Distraction comes in many forms. This school year, I will have a different approach with the boys when dealing with their lack of desire to focus on their school work. I know they can do it – if they want to! I’ll have to help them recognize their distractions and explain how distractions work against them – against us. Distractions damage - distractions destroy – distractions disturb - distractions detour us from what God has called us to do.
Regardless of our age or what we’re doing, focusing is significant to success. As a wife and mother with so many of my own tasks and countless distractions, I must be an example to my children and fight the annoying Spirit of Distraction. I must focus, follow through, and finish what I’m called to do. I can do it – if I want to.
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