The Prayers of a Mother

From Chaos to Calm: Day Twenty-Four

The Prayers of a Mother

Scripture Memory: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

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I want to encourage you today as a mother. There are times when we as moms feel discouragement, worry, fear, or heartache. Whether it is fear for your child when he is sick or worry that he is not safe or heartache when you see your child make unwise choices, you as a mom will face days when you need the help of your Savior to pull you through doubt, fear, and sorrow.

I love Psalm 46:1. It is one of my favorite verse. The words encourage me when I feel hopelessness and fear. I can know that God knows my pain and sorrow. That he understands the worry I feel. He is there when I need Him the most.

As a young mother with only one child, being a mom often just seemed hard! My first born, was and is a very strong willed child. Taking him to the store was often unbearable and I can remember many tears shed as I wondered what to do. And while my son no longer throws himself on the floor kicking and screaming, there are new challenges every day. I thank God that my only concerns are whether he is responsible on a daily basis and completes his chores and works hard in school. My heart goes out to the mother who faces drugs, alcohol, sex, and anger. My heart goes out to the mother whose child was born with special needs. As moms, whatever the crisis we face might be, it is real and we need to go to God in prayer.

Remember to go to God in prayer daily over your children. Pray for them on days when everything seems fine and lift them up to your Heavenly Father when things seem oh so wrong. Will listen regardless and will give you wisdom as you guide and direct your child in the ways he should go.

Don’t forget to pray for your child’s future as well. Ask God to guide your child as he grows, that he might find God’s will for his life. Ask God to help him choose the one whom God would have him spend his life with. Lift up your child and pray that he draws nearer to HIM every day.

There may be times when you feel as all hope is lost for your child. Many mothers will face unforeseeable heartache. But even for those mothers who simply want their child to be respectful or who need wisdom in dealing with temper tantrums, God is there to carry you through.

“Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. (NLT)

 

Enjoy Your Children

Day Twenty-Three

Enjoy Your Children

Scripture Memory: “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.”

Psalm 127:3, 4

 

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Being a mom is by far the most rewarding part of my life. To watch a tiny little baby grow and develop into a beautiful, kind child is a blessing! I loved being pregnant and giving birth. I loved each and every moment after, holding my little newborn babies with their soft skin, sweet smell, and tiny cry.

As they have grown I have been faced with many challenges and many more blessings. My children never cease to amaze me as a mother. Their faith is truly amazing. The worst part about being a mom is how fast babyhood passes into childhood which fast forwards into the teenage years and beyond. I wish I had more time to simply savor my children!

You have heard it said that no one on their death bed ever wished for more money, nicer cars, or fancy houses. In the end all that ever matters are those moments shared with your family. Sometimes new moms have no idea that the weeks and months will fly by and that the time lost can never be replaced.

When my son was born, I couldn’t wait for each new phase…. Rolling over, crawling, walking, etc. I waited anxiously and read all the parenting books so I knew what to expect in the weeks to come. I didn’t realize until my second child was born how fast those few years has passed by. I was determined to truly hold onto each moment and enjoy her even more. I was not as anxious for her to begin crawling and walking and growing up.

As each child came, I felt the pangs of motherhood, knowing that the years were passing far too quickly. I am constantly reminding myself I only have a short time to do all the things and teach all the things that are important to me. My son is now in college and my daughters are racing toward the finish line as well and it scares me!

Every now and again I have to pause from my busy life and take a step back. How easy it is to get busy with the day to day activities that consume us and forget to savor the time we have right now. I want to encourage you to take that step back with me and ask yourself, “Am I enjoying my child?”

I am not just talking about laughing at the silly sayings or admiring the beautiful child. I am talking about truly enjoying your children. How often do you sit down and read aloud? How often do you call your children in the kitchen to help you prepare supper or bake a cake? How often do you climb up the slide with them and wind your way down? How often do you stop what you are doing and look in their eyes when they ask you a question or show you their latest discovery?

I confess, I am not always paying attention. Far too often I have caught myself hurrying through life because I have too much to do. In recent months I made a point to cut back and

really enjoy my children while they are still children.

Today, stop what you are doing. Hug your child. Look him in the eyes. Read to him. Laugh with him. Play with him.

In your prayer journal, pray for your time with your children. Ask God to help you make the most of the time you do have. List at least five things that make each of your children special. Make a point today to compliment them on those qualities. Impart a blessing on them that will carry them through a lifetime.

“And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.”

Genesis 49:28 (NKJV)

 

Provoke Not Your Children

From Chaos to Calm: Day Twenty-Two

Provoke Not Your Children

Scripture Memory: “Fathers [Mothers], provoke not your children [to anger], lest they be discouraged.” Colossians 3:21

 

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Being a mom is rarely easy. Children seem born to test us! Patience is definitely needed on the part of mom if the household is to remain peaceful and a haven of love.

I have witnessed parents who, without good reason, yell at their children, speak harshly to them, or pick at the slightest wrong. The Bible tells us that as parents we should not provoke our children to anger. What does this mean?

Let’s say your teenage son has come inside and thoughtlessly forgotten to take off his shoes before walking through the house. You have a choice. You can immediately call him down, yell at him, and question his mental capacity. Or you can gently remind him, “Please take off your shoes.”

Or let’s say that your six year old has a bad habit about still sucking on his thumb. You can call him a “baby” and make him feel bad about it. Or you could seek out a way to enable him to stop with love and concern.

Children should never be put down, belittled, or snapped at. As your child grows from a toddler to an adolescent and beyond, he will want to feel understood. So many times parents don’t give their child the benefit of being listened to. A child that is frequently yelled at, may feel justified in being angry and disrespectful. However, a child that is treated with respect and dignity coupled with a firm, loving form of discipline will demonstrate the same love and respect toward his mom and dad.

It can be frustrating for parents when they feel that everything they have tried to teach their children is not getting through. If you have an angry child, it is likely that there is a reason. He may feel as though he can never live up to your expectations – so why try? Or, he may know that you do not stick to your resolve and if he acts badly enough you will give in to his desires.

Try approaching your child with tenderness, love, respect, and with a soft voice. Unjust harshness is not fair to either one of you. Rather than picking at every little thing you notice – try choosing your battles wisely so that only the most important issues are brought up. If it is important to you that your child wears certain styles of clothing, allow him the freedom to choose colors he likes. If you do not want your child to eat unhealthy snacks, provide healthy choices rather than complaining about his poor eating habits. Do not poke fun at your child or embarrass him in public on purpose. Sarcasm make be funny to a crowd, but it is rarely funny to the person being talked about. Uplift your child every chance you get. Really look and see the good in him instead of only the bad.

Remember that it is okay to admit to your child that you were wrong. They will learn a valuable lesson from you! If you realize later that something you said or did was unfair, as them to forgive you and make a promise to be better in the future.

In your prayer journal today, I want you to write about how you respond to your children. Be honest. If you feel you have been unfair to your child(ren) ask God to forgive you. Ask Him for wisdom when relating to your children in discipline and everyday activities.

 

 

Teach Them Diligently

From Chaos to Calm: Day Twenty-one

Teach Them Diligently

Scripture Memory: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9

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Instilling a love for God’s Words in the heart of your children is no doubt the greatest gift you will ever give them. It is not enough to go to church once or twice a week and hope that the lessons learned will follow your child through his lifetime. While this may be the case, what more precious time could be spent with your children then reading God’s Word and instructing them in His righteousness?

There are many ways that you can teach your children about God’s ways. Last time, we talked about a number of things you can do. Today, I want to focus on prayer and study.

From the time your baby is born you can sing songs of praise to him or read stories about the Bible aloud. My children have always loved sitting with me and reading favorite books. By keeping a nice supply of good Bible story books around the house you will encourage your child to pick them up on his own and learn about God’s love.

Our memory verse for this day tells us that God’s commands should be taught to our children when we wake up, when we are sitting together at home, and when we are walking along. In other words, we should be talking about God all day long!

I love to point out God’s goodness throughout the day. When I see His protection I say, “God is so good to watch over us!” My children hear these words and learn that God’s hand is on our lives.

When I see a butterfly or a pretty flower, I will tell my children, “God is so creative to have made such wonderful creatures and such beautiful flowers for us to look at.” My children hear these words and learn that God cares about the little enjoyments we share.

When someone makes a mistake, I like to remind everyone, “Isn’t it wonderful how Jesus came and died so that when we make a mistake all we have to do is ask forgiveness? He loves us so very much!” My children hear these words and they learn of Christ’s incredible love and grace!

Talk with your children about the lessons you have learned from God. Tell them when you learn a better way. Let your children see you pray. Let them hear you pray for them. Begin your day as a family with prayer and a short Word from God. Pray together often. Ask for special requests and petitions for the Lord. Your children have burdens just as you do that need to be lifted up to God in prayer!

Commit to having family worship in the evenings at least once a week, but every night would be even better. Use that time to sing favorite praise songs and hymns. Read Bible stories aloud and discuss the meanings found in the story. Hold hands and pray together.

Sometimes, we as moms don’t always live a life that is becoming of a Christian woman. However, if we teach our children the ways of God; if we teach our children about repentance and forgiveness; if we teach our children how to move forward day by day basking in the glorious grace of Jesus their hearts will be His.

 

 

Loving Others

From Chaos to Calm: Day Fourteen

Loving Others

Scripture Memory: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” John 13:35

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These days everyone has a “touchy feely” attitude. In other words everyone wants to feel good and not offend anyone. I admit, I have been guilty of it myself! However, I was thinking that this feeling of everything goes, anything is okay, isn’t the way we as Christian women should live our lives. Sometimes you just have to say it like it is.

Very few people do not look out for themselves. Yes, you might not like yourself at times. You may even be going through hard times and feel depressed constantly. You may have been like me – the shy child in school who was always picked on mercilessly. However, 0nce you can come to the place where you know God loves you more than anyone else ever will (I mean really know), you will be okay with yourself! I can remember a time in my life where I was so depressed I even contemplated suicide. It was a horrendous time in my life. I had to learn to forgive myself and accept God’s forgiveness. When I realized that, it was as though the weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders!

The Bible says that we are to die to our selves. We are to not be self serving and self centered. We are instead to serve others. I certainly don’t intend this to offend anyone, but I do believe that having a “woe is me” attitude is self serving. I have been there! When you feel miserable, when you are unhappy or depressed you have an out – a reason why you can’t commit to better things.

It is possible to have a inner joy and peace even in the midst of crisis and turmoil. “Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” Psalm 146:5 (RSV) “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18

I am not saying you should never be sad, angry, or unhappy. What I am saying is that even in the middle of tragedy or pain we should rejoice in our Savior. We should be filled with a peace and a joy that is only found through Jesus Christ. If you feel no different than the rest of the world when bad things happen – you need to work on your personal relationship with Christ!

I believe the key to loving our selves is loving others. When you love others – when you serve others – your own heart will open up to receive more of the love of Christ. You will begin to see a transformation in your own spirit and your own outlook on life. Christ came not to be served but to serve others. We are to follow in His footsteps!

Be joyful! Serve your family and your neighbors joyfully. You will feel better about your own self worth!

 

The Heart of Her Husband

From Chaos to Calm: Day Twelve

The Heart of Her Husband

Scripture Memory: “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” Proverbs 31:11

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Trust

Trust is a powerful influence in our marriages. When we commit our lives to one man, we have made a commitment to be trustworthy. The most obvious form of trust in a marriage involves the bounds of monogamy. We trust that our spouse will remain faithful physically as well as emotionally to us.

This means that as wives, we will not allow ourselves to become involved with other men in any manner which would bring harm to our marriage relationship. The easiest way to not have an emotional or even physical affair is to never be alone with another man. Never confide your problems in another man. If you become emotionally dependant on someone other than your husband and God you are setting yourself up to be led astray. Remember that your husband is the head of you, just as Christ is the head of the church.

If you do become involved with a man other than your husband you will cause him pain, dishonor, hurt, and he will no longer trust you. You will risk losing your husband as well as your children and everything you hold dear. It is much better to simply “play it safe” and stay away from danger!

While adultery is one of the most painful forms of breaking trust there are many other ways we can cause our husbands to not trust us.

 

Are you dependable?

Can your husband know that if he needs to bring a co-worker home that the house will be reasonably neat? We will be looking at this in depth in a few days, but for now simply think about it. If your husband goes to work each day, can he trust that you will take care of your duties to the best of your ability?

If your husband asks you to make a phone call, do you forget? Do you think ahead and make plans to iron his shirts before they are needed?

Can he trust that your moods will remain relatively even most of the time and that he knows what to expect when he comes home? Or must he wonder what is in store for his arrival?

Do you make sure that basic items in your home are stocked for use? Do you run out of toothpaste or toilet paper unexpectedly? Do you have on hand his favorite drink or snacks if this is what pleases him?

Are you unorganized and lose papers, bills, or other documents on a regular basis? Do you fight to find socks or lose his favorite shorts in the pile?

Are you a thoughtful mother?

A husband knows his wife loves him by how well she treats his children. If you are always at your wits end, frustrated, yelling, crying, or just plain too busy to pay attention to the children what message is your husband receiving?

- Do you insure that your children are clean and well groomed?

- Do you speak softly and lovingly to your children when they need correction or do you punish them out of anger?

- Do you feed your children well, or are you sloppy with their nourishment?

- Do you train your children in the Lord’s way, or do you find it to be too hard?

 

Do you spend money unwisely?

So many women are guilty of spending money on wasteful items that bring little enjoyment, little value, and little worth to their homes.

Can your husband trust you to look for ways to save money on groceries? Can he trust you to do your best to see that food is not wasted due to not preparing it before it spoils or due to not using up what is left over?

Can your husband trust you not to spend too much money on food items that are weak and provide little to no nutrients for your family?

Can your husband trust you not to spend money lavishly on clothes, household items, or entertainment simply because you love to spend money? Or do you find yourself inventing ways to use up the money you have?

Can your husband trust you not to run him into debt?

 

As wives we should endeavor to be trustworthy in running our households – whether that means shopping for new clothes and groceries, caring for the little ones, or caring for our husbands needs.

Today, I simply want you to make a note of a few things you know you have been lacking on your part that might cause your husband not to trust you completely. We will be talking more about making lists and how list making can help you later in the challenge.

For today, make a list of things you need to remember – husband’s dry cleaning, children’s doctor’s appointments, groceries, etc. Keep it in a handy place, such as the kitchen counter or up on the refrigerator. Go back to it as often as possible to insure that you will not forget the little things that can mean so much.

Pray for a dependable spirit. Ask God to make you a trustworthy mate for your husband and for the will power to be reliable.

 

It was a bright and sunny day…

We had a very nice church service with a baby dedication and wonderful fellowship. The weather was perfect. Not too hot, just right. Hannah and Laura found two ring neck snakes (one baby, one adult). All four of the girls were wearing new, pretty dresses. We left church about 4:00 and set off on our 2 1/2 hour drive home.

As we were driving through Jenkins, Kentucky, Hannah says, “Can we stop and get a lily pad?” The pond there in Jenkins is full of thousands of lily pads right now. Hannah really wanted a lily pad. So daddy parked the car and I got out with the four girls and walked down to the bank.

I looked out at the lily pads which were not right against the bank and said, “Hannah, I don’t think we can get one. We can’t reach them.”

Hannah says, “I can do it!” and proceeds to try to climb down to the edge of the water to lean and stretch.

I said, “Hannah, you’re wearing your new dress and it’s going to get wet.” (The dress is a long one.)

Sarah pipes up (bravely) and says, “Oh, I’ll do it.”

Sarah bent down and leaned. She still couldn’t reach the lily pads so I grabbed her hand to keep her steady…

Sarah: “I can’t reach.”

Me: (grabbing her hand) “I’ve got you.”

Sarah: “A little bit more foreward.”

Me: “What?”

Sarah: “I said, lean me a little more forward.”

Me: (leaning forward)

Me: (thinking) I’m going to lose my balance. I should have Emily grab my other hand.

Me: (gasp, losing my balance!) (over compensating and falling backwards)

Sarah: (losing grip of my hand) (splash! head first into the pond in her brand new dress!) GAAAASSSPPP!

Me, Emily, Hannah, and Laura: (staring at Sarah in the pond, our mouths hanging open!!)

Okay, so in my defense, it happened really fast and it could have happened to anyone!! Really!

Q & A: Structuring the Day for a Toddler

Q: Melissa, Thanks so much for your reply. I haven’t tried a more structured routine because I fear I cannot keep being consistent with it. He does spend a lot of time alone during the day as I tend my 1 yr old(nursing, changing, (etc.) I have never considered him being alone causing his independence, but I can see where it would. I do not feel an adequate mother because at times I do raise my voice(yell) and get irritated when I am interrupted. I feel pulled in a million directions and often resent the time I have to spend with all the responsibilities I have.  Any advice on a good routine for a 3 1/2 yr old, with a still nursing on occasion 1 yr old? Thanks!!!

A: Dear Mom, Toddlers can be very trying or very rewarding. I remember when my son who is just about to turn 19 was  3 1/2 years old and I had a newborn baby girl. At the time I was very young and despite my best efforts I just didn’t know how to handle him. I have learned a lot since then! It’s too bad that sometimes our firstborn children don’t get the best of us.

A lot of things can affect the behavior of your toddler. A calm child is more likely to come from a calm home and vice versa. Keep in mind here, that there are exceptions to the rule! But generally this is the case.

Your three year old knows that when you sit down to nurse the baby that you are distracted. He also knows when you are distracted with other tasks whether it is changing a diaper, cooking a meal, cleaning the house, or reading a book. Three year olds naturally want to take advantage of the situation! Not only that, but three year olds want your attention, so if he is occupying himself for large portions of the day he is going to be harder to handle.

I know how easy it is to want to “escape” from reality by sitting down with a book, computer, television, etc. – ignoring the little tyke as he pulls all of the books off the shelf or gets into the refrigerator. You just want peace and quiet!

I also know how easy it is to feel like a three year old is a needy little monster who is sucking the life out of you. So, when you are trying to get your TO DO LIST accomplished, interruptions are not pleasant. You just want to get your stuff done and get on with your life!

Let me tell you though – I have been there and now that my 18 going on 19 year old is practically grown, I really wish I had taken more time to sit on the floor with him and listened to him talk to me, play with me, interact with me. In other words I wish I had spent more time being “present.” I was there, but my mind was elsewhere.

Thankfully, by the time he was school age I had a wake up call because I realized how fast my children were growing up and I have spent the last dozen years or more “being present.”

Jesus has given us the honor of being a mom. Our first and foremost ministry is not to our friends, it’s not to our church, it’s not to ourselves – it is to our family – our husbands and children. This time passes by soooo quickly! I know it seems like forever when all you feel is frustration and sorrow. But this will pass and you will wonder where the years went!!

It’s okay to take a time out from time to time and read a book or soak in the tub. And it is okay to insist that the house be kept neat and tidy. It  is even good for your kids to know that responsibilities are important. But don’t forget that being there for your kids, paying attention to what they are doing – even when you’d rather be somewhere else – is in the end going to make everyone happier. Including yourself.

I often hear (and witness) moms who complain about their toddlers creating havoc in the home everyday. The child makes huge messes, throws temper tantrums, insists on having his way all the time. But my question is always this – what is Mom doing when little Timmy is making that huge mess?

If you are in the kitchen cooking supper and little Timmy is in the living room pulling all of the tape out of the VCR tapes – the problem does not lie with the child, it lies with the mom. She has allowed her little mischievous child to be alone for 30 minutes while she prepares the meal (which is a worthy endeavor). Rather than allowing him unsupervised access to the living room (or any other part of the house) put up a gate and insist he stay in the kitchen with you while you cook. Then, give him activities to keep him busy.For instance:

• give him a drawer of pots or toy dishes he can play with
• feed him grapes or carrot stick while he waits for supper
• pull out a special coloring book reserved just for that same time each day
• let him tear up lettuce for the salad, stir the cornbread batter, or shake the “Shake and Bake”

If your toddler helps himself to the fridge every time you sit down to nurse the baby (or whatever), instead of letting him have free reign of the house, put up a gate and give him a box of blocks or other toy to play with. One of my favorite ideas is to make Activity Bags for your toddler. Get them out only when you nurse the baby or at the same time each day when you need to get a chore done.

So, my point is, toddlers are going to get into stuff, if for no other reason than to test your parenting skills! Don’t leave them unattended! The other issue with leaving your child alone to occupy himself is the fact that is causes your child to feel insecure and unsure of himself. He realizes that the boundaries are too wide and what he really wants is structure and solid boundaries to keep him safe. Having reasonable rules and limits to what is acceptable behavior gives children a feeling of being loved and cared for.

Oh, and another note – a lot of moms don’t wake up before their children. Instead, little Timmy has to come and wake mommy up and ask for something to eat. Don’t be that kind of mom.

Here is a good routine for a mom with a toddler and infant:

6:00 am – Wake up. Have devotions and prayer time – if baby is away, nurse her during this time. Prepare Breakfast.

7:00 am – Wake up toddler. Make beds. Get dressed. Eat Breakfast. Morning Worship – sing some fun songs, have a Bible story, and pray.

8:00 am – Chore Time for Mom – Tidy kitchen & sweep, tidy bathrooms & wipe down sinks, start load of laundry,10 minute de-clutter. During this time you can do one of two things with the little ones – put the gate up and let them play with toys. Or let them watch PBS. I know television as a baby sitter [sigh]. It works.

9:00 am -  Play time.

10:30 am – Snack time.

11:30 am – Pick up toys. Prepare lunch.

12:00 pm – Eat lunch. Tidy Kitchen.

1:00 pm – Playtime with Mommy.

2:00 pm - Nap/ Quiet time. Afternoon chores for Mommy – fold & put away clothes, mop floors, tidy house, etc.

4:00 pm – Play Outside time in good weather. Or Play Inside during bad weather, in which case at 4:45 have children pick up toys. Don’t just tell your toddler to clean up his toys. Work beside him. Also, having toys well organized makes this much easier. Teach your child from an early age to only get one toy out at a time. HUGE timesaver!

5:00 pm – Prepare supper.

6:00 pm – Eat supper.

7:00 pm – Family Worship.

7:30 pm – Bath time. Story time.

8:00 pm – Bed time for kids. Let me say that bedtimes can be really difficult. I still remember the frustration of putting my first three children to bed – the crying, the spankings – it was horrible. I wised up with my fourth and fifth kids. I laid down and snuggled with them. Those memories are precious to me – the conversations we had! The hugs and kisses! The sweet, happy bedtimes! I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

9:00 pm – Tidy kitchen. Prepare for tomorrow.

Once you do a routine everyday, your child will begin to know what to expect and when. Eating at about the same time is really helpful and can prevent a lot of temper tantrums caused by low blood sugar (hunger)! Patience in dealing with your children is really key – a calm mommy is more likely to have a calm baby/ child. If you always respond with a tense/ angry voice why should you expect any different from your child?

Don’t not try to get into a good solid routine just because you afraid of failing. Never forget that tomorrow is a new day! God can give you the strength to be the best mom possible for your children. It isn’t easy. Raising kids just isn’t. But it is worth every bit of effort!

The Heart of Her Husband: Day 13

“The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.” Proverbs 31:11

With Valentine’s Day approaching in just a few days… I thought it would be fun to focus on different aspects of the marriage relationship or rather, how you and I can be better wives! Proverbs 31 tells us that the heart of the virtuous woman’s husband could safely trust in her. Does your husband trust you or does his hear lie in fear of what is coming?

You can read the rest of this series here.

You love your husband when you love your kids.

Are you tired and anxious, annoyed and irritated on a regular basis with your kids? Do you find yourself being short or yelling at them… all day long? Do you long for time away from your family?

I want to encourage you to take a step and back and think about your children. Really think about them. Not as little monsters who came into this world to ruin your life, but as precious gifts from God.

Nothing will teach us more about patience than motherhood. God has a plan for you and for each of your children. It is up to you and only you whether this season of motherhood brings you joy and peace and patience.

Delight in your children. Spend time with them – just being with them, talking to them, getting to know them. If you are bothered every time your child interrupts your activities or wants your attention, the irritation does not come from God but from the one who seeks to destroy. Stop what you are doing and really pay attention to your children – before it is too late! They grow up so fast and the moments you have right now will be gone forever ten minutes from now.

It’s okay to have quiet time or “me time” every now and then, but during this season of your life, God has given you the awesome responsibility of raising your children for His kingdom. The best way you can do that is to show your children by your example what it means to live for Him and then spend quality time every day training them, teaching them His ways.

Finally, show your children what a wonderful father they have. Instead of rolling your eyes when he makes a request or snapping back at him when he asks a question, love him and teach your children to love him. Make daddy the hero of your home. Don’t waste this time that God has given you. Life is too short to not enjoy the blessings around us.