Happy Mother's Day

Women were created with special graces to fulfill roles that most intimately reveal God's nature to us.  When aligned with the will of God, a mother will paint the first picture of God's perfect love for His children.

I Corinthians 13:7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

A mother has the opportunity to build up entire lives by her daily words and actions.  It’s a tremendous responsibility.  It's an incredible honor. 

Joined with our Creator in the breath-taking and awe-inspiring act of giving life, she also walks with God in shaping and molding that most precious child.

Patience, kindness and  gentleness.  These are the fruits of the spirit each mother displays as she raises her little ones.  So enamored by her children she will give them all she has to see them do well.

So is our heavenly Father's unconditional and unfailing love for each of his sons and daughters.  Next to that of God, there is no greater gift or blessing we can receive than the unconditional love of a mother.  In the knowledge and confidence of such love and support, every child is enabled to face the giants of life and achieve the greatest of accomplishments.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed.  Proverbs 31:26-28

Love. Without Condition

As I reflect on yesterday’s topic, it brings me to the greatest glimpse of God’s nature that I see in my children:  unconditional love.

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Overshadowing all of the immeasurable gifts found in our children is the gift of unconditional love.  It is unmerited grace they haven’t fathomed to reject or withhold. 

True unconditional love is so rare.  When we find it as adults we want to bury it away, hide it and we eventually suffocate it in our desperate and feeble attempts to keep it for ourselves.

But not our little ones.  They hand it out to loved ones, acquaintances and strangers.  They even offer it to the mean and bitter!

They don’t consider the possibility of rejection. 
They don’t measure or analyze the possible return on investment. 
They don’t worry that they may give too much and not have any left for themselves.  

It flows from their generous souls just as when they still abided with God in heaven where it flows in abundance.

It makes me grateful, to know that there is a God in heaven who loves me unconditionally.  To know that he hopes for me, even when I am far from getting it right, gives me strength.

This knowledge encourages me to give love out more readily.   Not because someone deserves it or has earned it, especially where my family and friends are concerned, but just because I can. 

Because I am created from the same source my children were. 

Because once upon a time, I was in his presence where it flows like milk and honey

  and I have a hope to return there once again.

Because there are day that I get back into His presence,
and I am fully aware of and consumed by his love for me.

Because I know that His love does not end, and will not run out,

I can love knowing that my source for it is limitless.

How amazing is that? 

So I encourage you, if you have been holding back, for whatever reason, experience or hurt.

Don’t. 

Take this treasure from your sweet little children and put it into practice. 
In fact, dig deep and find that glow from your own childhood.
Love like there is no end.
Love. Without condition.
It's a great gift.
The greatest actually.

Love.

Forgive

You might be thinking after these last few days that I have it all together as a mom.  Let’s set the record straight right now. I DON’T.  In fact I’m always so very grateful when an experienced Titus 2 woman offers me words of wisdom and encourage.

I make mistakes.  Lots of them.  I fail my children daily just as the prayer of contrition states, “In actions or words, in what I do or forget to do!” I lose my temper and even raise my voice, more than I care to admit. 

And when I do, my kids don’t hold it against me.  Two minutes later they have forgiven and forgotten and are gracing me with their smiles and hugs.  In forgiveness, it does not occur to my children to hold a grudge.  

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When I do give them my undivided attention for a game of tag in the park, to snuggle down and read a book, or bake cookies with them, the look in their eyes is not one of reservation or entitlement, but of complete gratefulness and joy. They don’t remind me about how I have failed them, but rejoice with me when I get it right.

My kids don’t always get it right either.  I can’t begin to tell you the number of times my children bicker in a day.  And when it becomes an all out tussle, I become referee sending them to their respective corners.  And, yes, I have even told them, no more playing with each other today!  Only to find about 10 minutes later that they have snuck their way over to each other and are tangled together reading a book and giggling beyond measure, completely content in the company of their antagonist.  Forgiven.

I can't count the number of times I go to God with these same antagonizing complaints.  I’m sure I have ranted or raved,  accused and shouted, and yet when I go to Him next, he doesn’t turn me away, but welcomes me with open arms, out of complete gratefulness and joy that I am seeking His company.  Forgiven.

I know that I have sinned daily.  I have ignored, denied and insulted him regularly.  Yet when I seek Him I never question that I am forgiven.  

Believe

One of the greater lessons I learn about God through my children is faithfulness.  In belief, they haven’t learned to be critical and skeptical.  The most humbling and generous gift my children give me is their belief in me. 

In a time in which life moves fast, media and social outlets are at an all time high, and everyone seems to be seeking fame, we tend to compare ourselves to others, and wonder why are talents  and lives don’t seem to measure up to the next persons.   Insecurity, seeking definition and validation through careers, church groups, friendships, and positions can be disheartening and disappointing. 

But my children hold the greatest vision for my life.  They truly believe I can do everything.  I AM supermom.  They believe that I hold all knowledge, they believe I make a difference each day when I go out to work, and they believe that I can make everything alright.  To them I am THE chef, nurse, teacher, doctor, inventor, counselor, playmate, artist, banker, CEO, referee, judge. 

Their belief comes from knowing the God who never fails.  For where else would they acquire such confidence in the one who cares for them?  What reasoning?!  They trust God.  And because they trust him, their reasoning says that if he cares for them, and he left them in my care, then I must be capable. 

What a tall order! Yet my children’s belief makes me stand taller and strive to meet those expectations. What’s more, God believes the same things for me.  Sometimes I think he sent them, all three, because I needed to be reminded of his plans and purposes for my life.  

God is confident in me.  When he gave me these little ones, it was because He believed I was the best candidate for the job.   I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13 tells me this truth. 

He has a plan for my life, to prosper and bless everything I place my hand to with determination and prayer.  Just as he had to repeatedly tell his people through his prophets in the Old Testament “remember”,  He has sent me three little enlightened souls to remind me who I am in His eyes.

Treasure

I started this week talking about the glow our children exude.  Like anything that glows, I know that my children are treasures.   In my children there are a series of gifts from God to me.  Babies are God’s most tender, tiny offerings to us.  Designed to break down the walls of our hearts, leaving us open to receive Him.  Until I became a mom, I like to say that I was a tough cookie.  I was practical, rational, not prone to emotional decision making, public displays of affection, and I can’t say I was very empathetic.  

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Having a baby changed everything.  Maybe it’s the tsunami of hormones that release a rushing tide of emotions, but suddenly how I saw the world, and any hallmark commercial, resulted in a surge of feeling and the complete demolition of any protective wall I had built up around my heart.  These gifts of life from God’s personal treasure room have time after time made me slow down, hold my breath, come to tears and even drop everything.  They have breathed life into this mother’s heart. 

As difficult, exhausting and all-consuming as it can be to parent little ones, the rewards are far greater if you pause a moment to appreciate the beautiful godly characteristics a child displays daily.    Raising a child is an investment.  You can appreciate all the treasures stored up in a child, that unique creation of God, if you take the time to savor and appreciate each stage, and season and moment of your child’s life. 

Galatians tells me, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”   There are certainly times when I forget that I am caring for little treasures.  Honestly, I can get busy with career, daily struggles, and other commitments, and in my exhaustion have moments when one more cry of “mommy!” can seem like an inconvenience.   There are days when their incessant squabbling, needs and repeated requests can seem like a burden.

I’m human.  My flesh is weak and tired.  And in those moments I have succumbed to wrong thinking.  Because in my heart and mind I know that there is no greater joy, there will be no better time spent than in those precious moments with my children.  I will achieve nothing greater than to see them grown, confident, happy and in full communion with God.  And I will reap no greater rewards or accolades than their confidence, respect and love.

Like each passage in the Bible, the treasures stored up in our children are precious clues to the nature of the God we long to know.  Its pages illuminate His face to us in the truths they reveal to us.  These truths come to life every day in the words and actions of my children.   Truly no words written can explain God’s nature as powerfully as the experiences lived each day with children.