It's That Time of Week Again!
STEP 1 - A single word is presented.
STEP 2 - 300 seconds of thoughts are put to paper.
STEP 3 - A quick spell check and preview.
STEP 4 - The publish button is hit.
STEP 5 - I make a cup of tea, sit back and put my feet up, and join an online chat with others who are focused on that same word. {And yes, YOU'RE invited to join the fun!}
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Today's word is BEYOND ...
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| They're NOT Going to Say Cheese! - May 2011 |
The seemingly futile potty training and the mountains of clothes that needed to be sorted. The endless wiping of little noses that run like faucets and the changing of diapers that magically refill as soon as you put the wipes away. Walking the floors back and forth at o'dark thirty and feedings that seem like they'll go on forever.
I talk to the young mamas in my world. And with bleary eyes, they are trying, hoping, praying that they'll get through the day. The hour. Maybe even the minute.
And I want to tell them to look beyond today. If that's at all possible. To try to see beyond the toys strewn from here to there and the tantrums and the hanging on to your skirt and the repeated calling of your name. To see your calling in this season as a beautiful gift. The Creator of that child has chosen you to be his or her mama. And your ultimate goal, if you can grasp hold of it, is to raise that little one to be a man or woman of integrity. Of character. Of godliness. It's about instilling values, and shaping souls, and modeling Jesus' love and grace, so that someday, all the good things you pour into that precious life will become their identity, who they are in the depths of their souls.
Keep your eye on the goal, that prize, dear mamas. Look to who you, and He, want this little one to be when they head out the door into adulthood. And please don't get weary in well doing, because in the end, it will have been worth it all.
As a mom of young adults -- I totally ditto this!! Beautiful and truthful words you share. Blessings for your weekend.
ReplyDeleteMaybe part of our call in this season is to simply offer hope.
ReplyDeleteYES, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT, MOM!
Thanks for kicking off today's conversation, Alene!
That is such a sweet post Linda! I only have one child and I can remember sleepless nights -- wondering how much strength I had. Great advice for the Mom's out there!
ReplyDeleteMany blessings to you!
Beth
There were days {and nights} where we truly thought we weren't going to make it.
ReplyDeleteBut we did!
And you will, too, mamas wherever you are!
Thanks, Beth. We offer hope together!
Beautifully said... My kiddos are a little older but oh how I remember those days. It would have been nice to hear "look beyond today". Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the memories fade but they don't quite leave, do they ... maybe their purpose is to make us more empathetic and compassionate!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by today, Dana!
Great advice Linda. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDelete;-}
ReplyDeleteBeautiful encouragement, Linda. We have to look beyond our circumstance and see the bigger picture.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to see that big pictures when you're hoping just to make it through the next hour, isn't it ...
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by, Eileen!
The exploration continues...
ReplyDeleteI hopped over to your blog.. and I so....understand the endless picking up toys and the mama calling. raising them up to be men and women after God's own heart is the challenge. But thankfully we aren't alone in this, when we have no where else to call to other than our own Father in heaven!
We've gotta cling onto that truth - we are not alone. He is with us. No matter what season we're in.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that gentle reminder, Manju!
Nice! And as a momma who is BEYOND that stage (my boys are 6, 10 and 12) I can say YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! My advice to those mommas is summed up in one word: GRACE. Give grace to your children (that doesn't mean no consequences) and understand that you are still going to be reminding them at 12 to say thank you, pick up their toys and be nice to your brother. I believe it was Sally Clarkson who recently said that it takes years for mature and gain Godly character so be patient with your little ones. It is also giving grace to yourself as a weary momma.
ReplyDeleteAND I am LOVING my Google Reader! I am keeping up on everything! Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteMaybe if we can extend grace to ourselves, if we stop beating ourselves up all the time or comparing ourselves to super-mom down the street {or over at the next blog!} ... well maybe then we can extend that priceless gift of grace to our kids!
ReplyDeleteAlways good to hear from you, Ingrid ... so glad that the reader is working for you! Me, too!
Young moms need this encouragement because when they are in the middle of it. They need to be reminded daily of the importance of what they do. Because it is hard in a way that no other stage of life is.
ReplyDeleteOur culture doesn't give moms the status, esteem, or value that is rightfully theirs. I love that we can do the Titus 2:4 thing here!
ReplyDeleteThanks for weighing in, Laura.
Great post.
ReplyDelete;-}
ReplyDeleteI need to remember this over and over in the months to come as my baby girl is born. Thank you for sharing and stopping by today! :-)
ReplyDeleteAlways fun to see your name, Brenda! Be sure to share the good news when she arrives!
ReplyDeleteBlessings as you prepare ...