Being a mom Archives - Page 4 of 13

Motherhood Is Universal

She clutched a cranky toddler at her hip while her husband lugged a stroller up three bus steps. “Come on, buddy, find a seat!” She urged an unruly older brother, maybe four or five years old. Through her thick southern accent, I heard the unmistakable sound of tired. Make that tired-yet-trying-to-muster-patience. After all, we were in Disney World. It’s the happiest place on Earth. I chuckled under my breath as my husband hauled our own double stroller onto the bus. Our six-year-old climbed into a seat, so I wilted beside her and lifted our three-year-old onto my lap. She stuck …

Why Mom Can’t Afford Not to Pray

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 Our carefree family cruised towards disaster like the unsuspecting Titanic on its fateful night. Ten carefree eyes were unable to see the impending trials swirling under the ice-cold water rushing towards us. Then, all at once our family collided with the jagged edge of suffering. Broken pieces of marriage, serious illness and a loss of a precious life were left in its agonizing wake. Yet, deep within each icy wave the Lord tangibly sustained our exhausted household. Faithful …

What God Wants for Moms in Ministry

Are you a mom in ministry? Moms in ministry come in all forms, from leading your child’s Sunday School class, baking brownies for the Easter Carnival, to volunteering for Vacation Bible School, a mom in ministry is a woman who gives back to her children, church, and community. While all this volunteering sounds so noble and just, it’s also really hard work. Because on top of your “good deeds” in ministry, you still have to juggle all the other needs of your family like finding the baseball jersey in the pile of dirty laundry for the All-Star game this evening …

Empowering Kids to Make Wise Decisions

As my kids grow bigger, I’m learning to let them make their own choices. Even when I disagree. Like last Saturday, for example, at the grocery store. “Mom, can we get a watermelon? Please? Please? I love watermelon!” My seven-year-old spied a crate of enormous melons in the center of the produce aisle. She clasped her hands in front of her chest and pleaded. “Sure, we can get a watermelon,” I nodded. “If you promise me you’re going to eat it.” “I will, I will! Can I pick one?” “Uhhhh . . . okay.” Now, you need to understand—I’m really …

Let It Go!

Oh how that song from Frozen both inspires and challenges me. You know the song, chances are your kids sing it just about every day, as a matter of fact, some of you are probably singing to it right now in your heads. I actually adore the song, but truth be told it also strikes a very tender nerve for me when I first heard it. You see, my One Word 365 for 2014 (you can find out more here) is “Release”. I prayed over this word and knew that only God would pick this word for me because …

the bittersweetness of graduation

May was a whirlwind, her days busy with graduation parties, end of the year programs, and final exams. For seniors, it was the month of goodbyes to school, teachers, and friends. It’s hard to believe the last day of school has already come and gone, that this year has hugged its’ last hug and given its’ final gifts. Moms of kindergartners all the way to moms of seniors still can’t wrap their minds around how fast time goes or wrap arms around their children tight enough to make everything slow down. For moms, graduation was a bittersweet victory. In her book Bittersweet, Shauna Niequist …

Being A Fully Present Woman

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and you are interacting and yet not fully present? You catch yourself nodding and even saying something in response every now and then. It’s generally more like an ‘uh huh’ instead of a real response. You are smiling and pretending to be engaged, but the whole time you are actually somewhere else. We’ve all done it, we make the grocery list, text our kids, husband or friends, maybe even check in on Facebook…all the while in the presence of someone right in front of us. It might be the kids, our …

mourning your maternity leave {how to go back to work after baby}

I zip him up in his footed pajamas, the one that has the little smiling dinosaurs all on it. The house is quiet, not yet filled with our girls’ bedtime stories told by my husband. I hold my baby close to my chest in the silence of the dusk, soaking in his infancy. This was the moment I had been yearning for since I said goodbye to him nearly eight hours earlier. No one can really prepare a mother for the day she goes back to work. For weeks, the day had been stuffed in the back of my mind. …

Avoiding Disappointment on Mother’s Day by Sheila Gregoire

It’s our special day! The day when we get fussed over. When someone else makes us breakfast and brings it to us on a tray (even if the cereal has gone soggy and the toast has grown cold). Someone else is worrying about what we’ll eat for lunch and dinner. Someone else will do the dishes. We’ll get a lovely card from our husband telling us “You’re still the one who stops my heart.” We’ll get lovely handmade cards from the kids. And we’ll get some special presents to open–something that is meant just to pamper us, to say, “we …

You Don’t Have to Be An Irritable, Crabby or Snappy Wife

Whatever is true about my husband, whatever is noble about my husband, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable about him—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think only of these things. Philippians 4:8 (Tara Version:) Eight little bare feet scrambled in excitement with newfound energy to meet their dad dressed in suit and tie. “I’m home,” his low voice sang as I heard each child clamor for his attention. Steaming mad I hunkered down in the next room, arms crossed and jaw fixed. My mind erupted all the negative thoughts from the long day, “He is …

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