Oh, just the idea of pushing out an adult instead of a baby makes one shudder! I just picture a poor mama pushing and almost splitting in two! What a mental picture. Yet, as parents that's exactly what we're doing with our teens. We are in labor all over again! At first we're excited and look forward to each movement, kick, hic-up. Then as the teen year progress and we find ourselves in the late 2nd early 3rd trimester we realize how hard it really is. We're huffing and puffing more. We find ouselves having more trouble sleeping at night and needing more naps during the day. We find it uncomfortable and not quite what we exprcted. As we progress even further we find ourselves wondering if we've done all the right things or prepared them well enough. The thing is...just like with child birth, whether we feel ready or not that birth day is coming.
Thankfully we are not giving birth physically, but the emotional birthing process can be exhausting. I'm learning to breath:) Learing to remind myself and my teens that we are going toward the same goal and that we are on the same team. With child birth we have to work with the contractions not against them. It is often difficult to tell the difference between the braxton hicks contractions as they prepare our bodies for the future. What our teens go through and the challenges and even the challenging of authority are like those pre-labor contractions that help prepare us for the real thing. They help our children take ownership of what they really believe so when they emerge from the womb of our home they will be ready to cry out to our Lord and to seek Him for nourishment:) That knowledge doesn't make the contractions any less uncomfortable but it does help us to know they have a real purpose. May the Lord be glorified in our efforts:) Know that the birth into adulthood is coming and let us ebrace the time we have left to influence our children in such significant ways:)
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Praying for Friends
When my children were little I'd ask them to pray for all sorts of things. If I lost my keys, which was very often, we would all pray together and rejoice and give the glory to the Lord when they were found. There have been so many of those moments over the years. Finding shoes, praying for a home for a lost puppy, praying there would be enough food in those early extrememly financially tight days:) And through those prayers they were able to see the Lord work in many mysterious ways.
Those "car key" moments really were instrumental in preparing my daughters to pray for very serious situations that have arisen(the boys are still finding car keys...or hiding them...). It is such a blessing to be able to share my heart or share the burden someone else is bearing and see their willingness to be co-laborers in Christ. Those "little" prayers have been slowly preparing them to truly intercede on behalf of those who are experiencing sorrow or loss. They help stand in the gap for those who are opressed. Though some of the requests are troubling I find them faithfully praying through the night for the suffering. What an honor to behold this amazing growth in their lives.
I look forward also to how these bigger situations will prepare them for the future. Maybe this will strengthen them for their years as wives and mothers praying for protection over their families and strength for their husbands. Perhaps they will do better than I have and have a stronger foundation which will motivate them to seek Christ immediately when trouble arises and to glorify His name when there is no trouble in sight. Perhaps they will retain some of that "car key" faith as they enter adulthood and face new challenges and attacks from the enemy of man's soul. Perhaps they will have the courage to be soldiers for Christ because they had their first experiences in faith finding lost shoes.
No moment is lost when teaching our children. It may not seem important but it is truly like building a house. From the outside the framing and drywall, windows and roof may seem most important and what's holding it all together. Yet none of it could stand, at least not for long, if not for a secure foundation. And may the Lord grant me the strength to keep building into the lives of my children until all my "little houses" are complete:)
Those "car key" moments really were instrumental in preparing my daughters to pray for very serious situations that have arisen(the boys are still finding car keys...or hiding them...). It is such a blessing to be able to share my heart or share the burden someone else is bearing and see their willingness to be co-laborers in Christ. Those "little" prayers have been slowly preparing them to truly intercede on behalf of those who are experiencing sorrow or loss. They help stand in the gap for those who are opressed. Though some of the requests are troubling I find them faithfully praying through the night for the suffering. What an honor to behold this amazing growth in their lives.
I look forward also to how these bigger situations will prepare them for the future. Maybe this will strengthen them for their years as wives and mothers praying for protection over their families and strength for their husbands. Perhaps they will do better than I have and have a stronger foundation which will motivate them to seek Christ immediately when trouble arises and to glorify His name when there is no trouble in sight. Perhaps they will retain some of that "car key" faith as they enter adulthood and face new challenges and attacks from the enemy of man's soul. Perhaps they will have the courage to be soldiers for Christ because they had their first experiences in faith finding lost shoes.
No moment is lost when teaching our children. It may not seem important but it is truly like building a house. From the outside the framing and drywall, windows and roof may seem most important and what's holding it all together. Yet none of it could stand, at least not for long, if not for a secure foundation. And may the Lord grant me the strength to keep building into the lives of my children until all my "little houses" are complete:)
Monday, March 15, 2010
Three Musketeers
Last night we got a puppy. Yes, we have another puppy. 7 children 12 chickens, 3 dogs (one is only borrowed), 1 cat and a ferret! Still waiting for the partridge ina pear tree:) Oreo is 1/2 lab 1/2 border collie. She's a very sweet dog and knows how to hold her own, which is important with an insecure dominant male lhasa apso/cocker spaniel mix.
I am so blessed to have these animals for a number of reasons. First I think of the blessing of animals as sweet creatures God chose to create and call "good". He even made the covenant between Noah AND THE ANIMALS (Genesis 9:11-13)! Though they were not made in His image, as we were, they are still precious to Him and so should be precious to us and cared for by us as a service to Him (even if we don't choose to have a million in our own home:).
Secondly, the animals we have are either compaions or somehow productive members of our family. The chickens produce eggs for our family to eat and, I must say, they are quite entertaining. They're good at helping with insect control and contributing to the compost pile (they can become a bit canabalistic too,but that's another story). The dogs are a pleasure to have as playmates and protectors. We always know when someone is coming. Now, all they'll do is lick the intruder to death, but the intruder doesn't know that:)They have big barks and that's all that matters.
Finally, it is a wonderful experience for the children to have someone to be responsible for, someone who won't argue with them, someone who loves them no matter what, somone who is SO excited when they walk through the door. My children are learning the value of caring for others. They see the benefit of "growing" their own food. Of course everything is a little crazy with all the feet and paws and claws running arond on our property, but I think all that chaos provides some great memories and keeps me young:)
I am so blessed to have these animals for a number of reasons. First I think of the blessing of animals as sweet creatures God chose to create and call "good". He even made the covenant between Noah AND THE ANIMALS (Genesis 9:11-13)! Though they were not made in His image, as we were, they are still precious to Him and so should be precious to us and cared for by us as a service to Him (even if we don't choose to have a million in our own home:).
Secondly, the animals we have are either compaions or somehow productive members of our family. The chickens produce eggs for our family to eat and, I must say, they are quite entertaining. They're good at helping with insect control and contributing to the compost pile (they can become a bit canabalistic too,but that's another story). The dogs are a pleasure to have as playmates and protectors. We always know when someone is coming. Now, all they'll do is lick the intruder to death, but the intruder doesn't know that:)They have big barks and that's all that matters.
Finally, it is a wonderful experience for the children to have someone to be responsible for, someone who won't argue with them, someone who loves them no matter what, somone who is SO excited when they walk through the door. My children are learning the value of caring for others. They see the benefit of "growing" their own food. Of course everything is a little crazy with all the feet and paws and claws running arond on our property, but I think all that chaos provides some great memories and keeps me young:)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
No Weeds in the Garden
The parable Jesus tells of the weeds in Matthew 13 is a real picture of what I want for my home and how to combat the pests in our "garden". In the parable the farmer sowed good seeds but in the night the enemy sowed weeds among those good seeds. As the good seeds grew so did the weeds. As our children grow so do the Godless influences surrounding them. Unless we live in the absolute middle of nowhere our children are going to come into contact with weeds. We can't lock them away and forbid outside contact, but we CAN nurture them and train them and prepare them for the harvest that is coming. Christ owns all the land these little ones are grown on, and as His undergardeners we have been given the sacred task of tending each and every plant He has given us and seeking Him for whatever is needed to make them thrive.
I've been blessed with 6 stalks of grain, so far, with the possibility of a 7th on the horizon:) I'm finding each plant has different needs. Some plants have had their roots mingle with the roots of the weeds and require stakes to hold them up. Some of my plants grow slowly with weeds seeming to block out the Son which is so important for their growth. Taking the time to get to know our crop and what its specific requirements are helps us to become more successful as the undergardeners of our children's hearts. Our children (and grandchildren and great grandchildren) are the grain offering we are providing for the Lord at His altar. It can be so dicouraging and even terrifying to see those weeds growing up next to our precious stalks. There are so many what if's that plague us and sometimes distract us from managing the task at hand. If we can focus as parents and plow our own field instead of becoming overwhelmed with all the rocks that need to be cleared, or the weeds that spring up, or the hail storms that may come seeking to destroy our crop, we will be successful in the task we've been given even if we are struggling to the very moment of the harvest. If we can remember that Christ is the owner of all the property we farm then we can trust that He is prepared for any foul weather, He knows just when to harvest and He knows how to manage the weeds at that harvest. He never grows weary of us asking for help and instruction. He is never angry if we seek Him in the middle of the night...He'll bring the flashlight and direct us on how to repair a stalk when it has been damaged. He comforts us when we believe the crop is beyond salvaging and shows us how to carfully tend the soil to regenerate the plants. He has compassion on us when we are in despair and certain we made a mistake and should have taken up basket weaving instead of farming:) He is SO good to us.
May you find joy in tending the piece of earth the Lord has entrusted to you and may you find hope in Him.
I've been blessed with 6 stalks of grain, so far, with the possibility of a 7th on the horizon:) I'm finding each plant has different needs. Some plants have had their roots mingle with the roots of the weeds and require stakes to hold them up. Some of my plants grow slowly with weeds seeming to block out the Son which is so important for their growth. Taking the time to get to know our crop and what its specific requirements are helps us to become more successful as the undergardeners of our children's hearts. Our children (and grandchildren and great grandchildren) are the grain offering we are providing for the Lord at His altar. It can be so dicouraging and even terrifying to see those weeds growing up next to our precious stalks. There are so many what if's that plague us and sometimes distract us from managing the task at hand. If we can focus as parents and plow our own field instead of becoming overwhelmed with all the rocks that need to be cleared, or the weeds that spring up, or the hail storms that may come seeking to destroy our crop, we will be successful in the task we've been given even if we are struggling to the very moment of the harvest. If we can remember that Christ is the owner of all the property we farm then we can trust that He is prepared for any foul weather, He knows just when to harvest and He knows how to manage the weeds at that harvest. He never grows weary of us asking for help and instruction. He is never angry if we seek Him in the middle of the night...He'll bring the flashlight and direct us on how to repair a stalk when it has been damaged. He comforts us when we believe the crop is beyond salvaging and shows us how to carfully tend the soil to regenerate the plants. He has compassion on us when we are in despair and certain we made a mistake and should have taken up basket weaving instead of farming:) He is SO good to us.
May you find joy in tending the piece of earth the Lord has entrusted to you and may you find hope in Him.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Motherhood is Next to Godliness
I just received the best most humbling compliment from my nearly adopted son. He came up to me and told me I was the best Mommy in the world, then paused and said I was the second best. I was curious about who he considered the best. I figured it was probably his biological mom because he's so proud of her for getting and staying clean even though that wonderful transformation happened after it was too late to get him back. There were a few other wonderful mother's I could think of who he might choose as best. Moms who aren't as loud as me, as bossy as me, as chubby as me... Moms who go on lots of field trips, are smarter, funnier, just plain cooler than me. So I asked him, "who is the best mommy?" He looked up and me and smiled, "the Theotokos." He placed me second to the mother of our Lord! How unworthy was I of such a standing in his eyes! She was the first to say "yes" to Jesus and I have said "no" to Him so many times. She cradled Him in her arms and followed Him to the cross in sorrow and humility. I've run from that same cross when small things seem hard to bear. But she was prepared from childhood to be the mother of our Lord. She said yes in so many ways before she even knew what/whom she was saying yes to. She truly was one full of grace as the angel Gabriel told her (Luke 1:28). She really was and is blessed among women as Elizabeth proclaimed (Luke 1:42). All generations should call her blessed as she attests herself and the Holy Scriptures record for our instruction (Luke 1:48).
In a way I've been prepared from my infancy for the joy, sorrow and chaos of raising many children, including children not born from my body. My childhood was fill with watching my family show hospitality to the poor and needy. Caring for the broken and downhearted. All of those lessons taught to me by demonstration slowly prepared me to be able to want and truly love the children our Lord has brought to our home. When a child innocently compares you to someone who is Holy it is very sobering. It really makes one think of all the mistakes made. The times I've owed an apology but was too proud or lazy to seek the child out and ask for forgiveness. The times I jumped too quickly to a conclusion or exasperated my children. The times I've set a bad example or proved what a hypocrite I am...it is enough to make one fall deep into despair. But if we can crawl through that tunnel of despair and step out on the other side there are treasures there as well. If one can't be perfect then those treasures on the other side prepare us for success in the future. Gems like humility, long suffering, perseverance, edification, joy, love...these all fill our treasure troves to the brim so we can had these gems to our children. Of course sometimes we find that we hand out plastic instead of pearls. When we find ourselves there, through prayer and repentance, we can replace the imitation with the real thing producing in our children treasures our grandchildren can then inherit.
Let the treasure hunting begin:)
In a way I've been prepared from my infancy for the joy, sorrow and chaos of raising many children, including children not born from my body. My childhood was fill with watching my family show hospitality to the poor and needy. Caring for the broken and downhearted. All of those lessons taught to me by demonstration slowly prepared me to be able to want and truly love the children our Lord has brought to our home. When a child innocently compares you to someone who is Holy it is very sobering. It really makes one think of all the mistakes made. The times I've owed an apology but was too proud or lazy to seek the child out and ask for forgiveness. The times I jumped too quickly to a conclusion or exasperated my children. The times I've set a bad example or proved what a hypocrite I am...it is enough to make one fall deep into despair. But if we can crawl through that tunnel of despair and step out on the other side there are treasures there as well. If one can't be perfect then those treasures on the other side prepare us for success in the future. Gems like humility, long suffering, perseverance, edification, joy, love...these all fill our treasure troves to the brim so we can had these gems to our children. Of course sometimes we find that we hand out plastic instead of pearls. When we find ourselves there, through prayer and repentance, we can replace the imitation with the real thing producing in our children treasures our grandchildren can then inherit.
Let the treasure hunting begin:)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Scuffing our Knees
How come children never need you until you're on the phone or happen to escape to the bathroom? They say they want to be independent but actually want to be fully dependent. When there is work to be done they disappear and get distracted but when you find a little moment to take a sip of tea they all need you all at the same time with something that just can't wait and requires your full attention. The yelling, the joyful kind or...not so joyful, melt downs, chaos, high action, bottomless pit appetites (like locusts!), miscommunication, laughter, rage, auditory/sensory processing issues, impulse control issues...you'd think I'd be curled up in some dark closet in the fetal position.
Yet in all this chaos is where I find Christ. Yes, God is a God of peace, but peace is not just quiet serene surroundings, it is the inner peace. That peace that just couldn't exist outside of Christ. All of those busy moments, the opportunities to train (and fail...and repent...and try again), to direct, intervene, give me the great and sacred opportunity to cry out to the Lord for direction. The chaos is my reminder of my need for Christ, the need to scuff my knees of the behalf of my children.
Baby's crying, gotta go:) Apparently it's time to pray:)
Yet in all this chaos is where I find Christ. Yes, God is a God of peace, but peace is not just quiet serene surroundings, it is the inner peace. That peace that just couldn't exist outside of Christ. All of those busy moments, the opportunities to train (and fail...and repent...and try again), to direct, intervene, give me the great and sacred opportunity to cry out to the Lord for direction. The chaos is my reminder of my need for Christ, the need to scuff my knees of the behalf of my children.
Baby's crying, gotta go:) Apparently it's time to pray:)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Crazy Boys
I think this blog might become my personal little space where I can curl up in the fetal position and contemplate what being the mother of boys is really all about. Having three girls did not prepare me for these little...beings. I want to say creatures, but that wouldn't be the Christian homeschooling thing to do.
I once saw a shirt that said "I'm a mom, what's your super power?" Being a mom is an incredibly wonderful thing, but being a mom of boys, now that puts the capital M in mom! Not that I think I've achieved that M, but I'm trying. I'm amazed at the shenanigans they come up with! They think, eat, drink and crave water, mud, sand....DESTRUCTION! If you can build it they can break it. If you can clean it they can destroy it. They are like messy little locusts that can clear out a fridge in no time flat only they do leave evidence behind. The carcasses of bananas and string cheese packages give them away every time.
Talking to women who have parented boys is interesting. You don't get the same encouraging words as you do with girls. When I ask for advice they all get a faraway look on their faces. Their voices sound distant. Their heads twitch just a little as they remember the days on the battle field. Then they smile at me and shake their heads and start telling me stories of their frightening experiences with their sons instead of the anecdotes I seek. They tell me of "lots" of boys who seemed completely insane as little tykes but grew up to be wonderful responsible manly men of God. Then they sigh because they can only explain the positive outcome on the power of prayer; they too spent hours in the fetal position thinking today might be a nice day for Jesus to come back.
Normally I try to leave a little insight at the end of my posts, but this time I'm just sitting here in awe of boys. Who can know the minds of boys?! A friend encouraged me today by saying Mary, the mother of Jesus, is compassionate towards us because she too had a son she didn't understand:) (Of course her son never tried to shave the cat, but whose complaining:) )
I once saw a shirt that said "I'm a mom, what's your super power?" Being a mom is an incredibly wonderful thing, but being a mom of boys, now that puts the capital M in mom! Not that I think I've achieved that M, but I'm trying. I'm amazed at the shenanigans they come up with! They think, eat, drink and crave water, mud, sand....DESTRUCTION! If you can build it they can break it. If you can clean it they can destroy it. They are like messy little locusts that can clear out a fridge in no time flat only they do leave evidence behind. The carcasses of bananas and string cheese packages give them away every time.
Talking to women who have parented boys is interesting. You don't get the same encouraging words as you do with girls. When I ask for advice they all get a faraway look on their faces. Their voices sound distant. Their heads twitch just a little as they remember the days on the battle field. Then they smile at me and shake their heads and start telling me stories of their frightening experiences with their sons instead of the anecdotes I seek. They tell me of "lots" of boys who seemed completely insane as little tykes but grew up to be wonderful responsible manly men of God. Then they sigh because they can only explain the positive outcome on the power of prayer; they too spent hours in the fetal position thinking today might be a nice day for Jesus to come back.
Normally I try to leave a little insight at the end of my posts, but this time I'm just sitting here in awe of boys. Who can know the minds of boys?! A friend encouraged me today by saying Mary, the mother of Jesus, is compassionate towards us because she too had a son she didn't understand:) (Of course her son never tried to shave the cat, but whose complaining:) )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)