A little late in getting out article on MOTHERS ARE AMAZING: Time to Reflect Part 2. Thanks for your patience. We just finished a major conference in June. A conference we created and have had every other year since 2003. This year 2018 we had 45 organizations and 20 nations with 90 Young Leaders to attend, who gathered for a week. This years theme being about “Leadership and Prayer”. Prayer as a defining attribute of Leading, leading from a posture of prayer. What might that look like?
We are most blessed, parents: Two of our four children engaged in the conference (third picture below). Our son, was one of the speakers and Shawna, our daughter is on the Leadership team who helped to Admin. the conference.
“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. (Proverbs 31:28-29)
MOTHERS ARE AMAZING! Not only my mom which I wrote about in Part 1, this past May but I sit in amazement watching two of our daughters, out of 4 children , as mother’s now . I don’t seem to grow weary of being amazed as they love well on our 4 grandchildren. Such sacrifice over and over where they tirelessly give to their children without question. Just because! In a world like ours today, this is not always a given.
Viewing motherhood from their perspective, both being different and unique in each of their own ways, I tend to forget that I was where they are, once upon a time, too (Picture below taken somewhere around 1995). Motherhood has to be one of the hardest jobs anyone can embark on, but, of course, not without its many joys and blessings. It takes courage and perseverance.
There is nothing like knowing these children are ours yet we hold such responsibility in our hands and hearts. How can you love someone so much; yet, at times be so frustrated with them, all at the same time? We think, also how could anyone love them like their mommy does?
Motherhood is an assignment where one doesn’t get much credit for a job well done. Mothers don’t always see the fruit of their labor until years later, and for some they are still waiting.
I look at my daughters and think, “how do they do it?” Then I remember again and ask, “how did I do it?” “What drives my girls to love and do for their children like they do with little sleep and not much thankfulness?”
I believe it is their love for their children but most of all a gift from God, who has put this in them. Psalms 27: 4 says “Children are a inheritance from the Lord”.
They are stewarding well the gift(s) God has given them. Such sacrificial love for another only comes from the grace God gives us.
My girls, day after day, over and over get up to take care of their families. How amazing! Proverbs 31 speaks of another woman like this too.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:30-31)
There are all kinds of moms out there. At times we don’t always do it well. But God has given us this assignment. How well are we stewarding this gift? We cannot do it without HIM at the center. He loves our children more than we do.
I am thankful for all my children and thankful God has allowed me the opportunity to mother them. It is humbling to see them all grown up now. Only by God’s grace.
Jim (my husband) and I often say:
One, we still have lots of loving to give so if our children don’t mind we are going to adopt others to love as well, along the way. We love pouring into the Next Generation of commodos for God’s purposes, as Psalms 78:6 and 7 tells us, “The next generation might know them ( God’s Word) , the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” (www.nextgenleader.net) Collaborating with others so many may hear who have not heard.
God has used our children to disciple us as well, for this next assignment. And they seem to still love us inspite ourselves.
Secondly: Seems like we want to be grandparents to every kid we meet now, now that we are grandparents.
Can anyone relate? Children are so precious to God and Mothers are amazing. Who can you continue to pour into and be a “Mother of the Faith” to?
Mom’s are amazing, they seem to always be there for us. Truly a gift from God. Again reminding me of God, who is always there even when our moms are not. One day I will be gone but hopefully the memories and stories I leave behind will go on forever in the mind and heart of our children, HIS STORY. May they too, continue to put their hope in God and not forget the works of God and keep His commandments. Keep passing this onto their children and their children beyond that and so on…. “May their children arise up and call them blessed”(Proverbs 31:30), because Mothers Are Amazing!
Kelli and Shawna, you are one of my favorite hero’s. HAPPY BELATED MOTHERS DAY! You are amazing!
PERSONAL REFLECTION: What stood out to you about this story? Reflect on Proverb 31:28-31, Psalms 27:4, and Psalm 78: 6, and 7, how do these verses touch you? How are you stewarding the relationships God has given you, starting with your immediate families? What ways have your children discipled you? Make sure you relay some of those special moments with them. If you are grandparents how has this shaped your world as you look back? Would love to hear some of your thoughts below, from this article.
From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey,
”Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
Please Reply in a gracious manner