Take the Simplicity of Every Moment and Teach It to Your Children

As a mother, I am continually asking the Lord how I can "connect" with my children--in other words, how I can teach them and lead them to the place where they might step into a life of service and love for the Lord, how I can nurture not only their bodies and minds but also their hearts and their souls. We live in an age where everyone is so "connected"; via social media, through easy transportation, through every new and bright form of technology. And really, true communication, true connections have been greatly lost. Why? We live in a distracted and distanced society and culture. Everything is at our beck and fingertips and yet we have really lost touch with the greatest reality of all--the living God--manifested in His creation, in our hearts through faith, in the simple and quiet pursuit of knowing and following Him in spirit and in truth. We are distracted by the cares of this life and they eat away at the fabric of a consistent Christ-centered, focused mode of living.

Our connection with Him is frayed at best and at worst, lost. He is some distant Grandfather in the sky to which we turn often only when something is wrong. I see this attitude of "distance" many times in my own life--there are so many day to day distractions, so many things that "need" to be done, so many enticing forms of entertainment around us, that we often lose touch with what is really important. We think that the temporal things are so necessary when Christ would have us embrace the spiritual. Until we find our connection with Him and lay aside every weight, it will be impossible to truly connect in a sincere way with those around us. In my own life, when the connection to Him is "strong" and the distractions are laid aside, I am able to reach out to the lives that He has placed in my pathway in a deeper and more connected way. 

I have been blessed in that the Lord led me to live in the country. Here, there is not as much noise and distraction materially, yet I still feel and sense that old-Adam tug of my heart toward being distracted--mentally, spiritually, emotionally--I have to constantly remind myself of what is eternal and important--to pursue those things--and often that means laying aside other perfectly 'legitimate" things that I might otherwise do and focusing my eyes and heart on what is eternally important. 

He comes in the stillness. And one of the lessons that He has been impressing upon me lately as I've been praying is to continually "simplify" everything with my children. I write about it here as maybe it will be helpful to someone else. I know that the Lord has been using this lesson in my own heart. 

We need to be present with our children. Period. We can be stay-at-home-moms and not be present with our children. We can be distracted by a million and one things--we all know what distracts us personally and have felt the tug of conviction on our hearts. We know when we are ignoring our children even if we are there with them physically--we know when we are selfishly pursuing our own interests and pushing them into the background of our lives. It's an attitude of the heart that daily should be rooted out like a weed in a an otherwise good garden. And the deeper we allow its roots to grow, the harder it will be to pull out. We need to be vigilant about uprooting weeds of distraction and the cares of this life. 

I've been asking the Lord how to interact with my children (I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old) and this is what He has spoken to me personally--take the simplicity of every moment and teach it to your children . . . talk to them about everything around them, relate it back to the Lord--not in a way that is forced, but out of a heart connected to the Lord--as the outflow of that--

A feather on the ground, 

The robin singing before it rains, 

Ingredients going into a bowl of cookie dough,

A pie crust being rolled out

A hymn softly sung

A prayer for a hurt animal

Seeds being pressed into the ground of the garden

Paint being spread over a board

An earthworm fat and sleek being placed gently back into the soil

An anthill so determinedly built marveled at

A rainbow in the great Midwestern sky

The work of a rake exposing the beautiful green grass under the deadness of winter . . . 

The list goes on and on and on--and I think that this is why my own childhood is so vivid and bright to me---my own mother took the joy of each moment and pressed it into the hearts of her three daughters --in such a way that it has had a lasting impact upon my life. 

Everything in God's creation was sacred in some sense to my Mom, not in some strange mystical way, but a in a real, flesh and bones, joy-infused existence. She gave that joy to us--in so many ways, through the literally thousands of books that she read to us, through her constant relating everything back to the Lord, through her beautiful rich voice singing songs to the Lord as she cleaned our house, through the constant sacrifices that she made to make sure that we went to a Christian school through our younger years. 

The Lord has been bringing that lesson to my heart--to take each moment that He gives and to use it as an opportunity whenever I see it to impart some small grace to my children.  It has been a learning experience for me. 

Children, even very young ones, can be a part of so much of what we are doing--making a bed, cooking, cleaning, raking, again, the list goes on and on--and the more that we teach them when they are young, the more that they will be a help to us as they grow older and feel a part of our lives--

We are tempted many times to let children "go off" and play by themselves when we could include them into so much that we are doing--not everything of course and not all the time of course--but many times. 

This connects our children with us through day to day life--try it--I find that when I pursue this that my children are less "distracted" and more focused--I am better able to connect with them and to nurture their sensitivity toward spiritual things. The task often takes "longer" to complete, but I feel a great sense of joy when I am not rushing through completing everything on my "to-do" list and involving them. We are both enriched--I in slowing down, and they in being a part of what I am doing. 

We have been taught some great lie that children are a burden--it often niggles at our hearts--if they weren't "in the way we would be able to pursue the important things in life. 

Maybe what we think is important really--isn't. 

Children are a blessing from the Lord--near and dear and close and real flesh and blood--not just to be shuffled off to someone else--not just to be let loose to bring themselves up, not to be showpieces or badges of honor that elevate our own pride, but tiny spiritual beings--

Nurtured, loved cherished, taught--to the best of our ability--by the grace of God--and for the good of our own hearts. 

Teach them simply--and simply teach them--Involve them, include them, connect with them, love them . . . 

Let the little children come. 

You might find me on these link-ups:


Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Messy Marriage,  Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, SHINE Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday, Heart Encouragement Thursday , Sitting Among Friends Blog Party, Fabulous Warm Heart Party, Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday Linkup, Writer Wednesday, Tea and Word

Wholehearted Motherhood: Raising a Generation With An Undivided Heart Book Spotlight

Thank you to everyone who entered the Cozy Winter Giveaway! There was such a wonderful response ~~the name randomly chosen was:

Alana

Congratulations! You will be notified by e-mail so that I may send off the Giveaway prize to you. :-)

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I love Sarah's writing. Hers is one of the blogs that I return to over and over and find encouragement, wisdom, and gentle admonition toward being a more Christ-focused Mom. And so I was delighted when I learned that Sarah had written a book speaking to the hearts and minds of mothers. And Sarah's heart speaks through this book. She is deeply committed as a mother of her two children but most importantly to honoring the Lord and setting him forth as the Treasure that is worth surrendering lesser things for.  This book expresses the joy of surrender--in our mothering and in pursuing His high calling upon our hearts and lives. I'll share one quote that I especially loved (among many) from the book.  Sarah says, "It is not that motherhood is a better job than say, being a teacher or being a surgeon. I've heard women call motherhood the 'highest' calling on a woman's life. I disagree. The highest call on women is their service to the Lord. But He calls some women to the high calling of motherhood and requires of us high standards." Sarah's wisdom and candidness are refreshing and encouraging. This is a quick, focused, thought-provoking read and a breath of fresh air for the mother whose desire is to honor the Lord first and foremost in her life with her children and family. I strongly recommend this book for Moms who desire to draw nearer to the Savior in their child-raising and who crave a devoted, committed pathway in mothering. 

Sarah's e-book may be purchased HERE on Amazon:

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Description of Sarah's book, from Amazon:

What is wholehearted motherhood? Basically (without giving the it all away), wholehearted motherhood is embracing the life of service, femininity, and joy that God requires a mother. It means accepting, submitting, and taking on the life of Christ - through His strength and power. And it means a life that looks very different from our world today.

God laid this vision on Sarah's many years ago as a young teenager from a broken home and the product of third-wave feminism. In writing this book, Sarah had to touch on parts of her life that really hurt - from the sin of others and the sin she lived. 

But God.

Not only is this book about godly motherhood, it is also part of God's redemption story in Sarah's life. These words wouldn't exist if the pages of her life hadn't been written. And she is so thankful.








You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Rich Faith Rising, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday, Heart Encouragement Thursday , Sitting Among Friends Blog Party, Fabulous Warm Heart Party, Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday Linkup, Writer Wednesday

Getting My Body Back

A very vivid memory from my childhood often comes back to me . . .  my Mom in the kitchen, busy with something, and me wrapping my little girl arms around her soft waist--the love that I felt for my Mom and the certain knowing that she was there for me, that she loved me and constantly gave all of herself to raise me and my sisters. 

Wrapping my arms around that waist that had given--had been stretched and used and worn from giving life to us, to me--her beautiful motherly body that was not tight and firm and toned. 

Something that has had a great effect upon me in my own life has been the way in which my Mom gave everything towards raising her children and walking transparently before the Lord. 

Her devotion to Him came first--I remember her always with her Bible in the morning having her quiet time and seeking the Lord throughout her day, even though it was busy with children. 

And something that had a profound effect upon me was that my Mom's focus was not on her outward appearance, but on her inward relationship to the Lord. This didn't mean that she didn't dress attractively or wear makeup or exercise--my Mom maintained a neat and feminine appearance and exercised when she could. But her focus day in and day out was in giving herself in raising my sisters and I to know and to love the Lord. The other things were secondary and she would quickly forfeit them if it was a choice between her children or her appearance, even to the point of not buying herself new clothing for lengths of time so that she could afford to send us to a Christian school. 

My Mom's focus was on the spiritual and this played into every area of her life. I watched that kind of example growing up. 

I have a personality that craves order and discipline. It's the way that the Lord made me and He has used that for good in my life. But at times, if I am not watchful, it can become a distraction from that deeper more intimate walk with the Lord that my heart truly craves. 

For this reason, I have been very careful in the past with what I ate and making sure that I exercised regularly. I love to walk and so this was an almost daily part of my life, especially before I had children. I consumed broccoli religiously and ate in an otherwise extremely healthy way. 

And then I had children . . . and as anyone who has had children knows, the body goes through extreme changes, both physically and emotionally. 

Both of my births were difficult. I experienced extreme tearing during my first birth and faced a long healing process. My second birth which I chose to do naturally without pain medication took a toll on my body (looking back on that experience I would have chosen to do things differently now, but that is another blog post!) My son was born face down--in posterior position (in the Lord's mercy I delivered him without having a C-section) but my body was physically "broken." Again, I faced a long healing process and couldn't get my body back to normal.

And so, with a "broken" body, I faced caring for two little ones, 18 months apart. 

I struggled. And I just couldn't seem to get my body back into that same pattern of order and discipline that I had maintained before having babies. 

I was nursing, I was weak to the point where I struggled to pick myself up from the floor when I was sitting down with my children. 

And I felt frustrated at times--honestly--frustrated that I just couldn't get my body back--just couldn't fit into my jeans that I wore before I had children. Frustrated that I just couldn't seem to get it under control.

I, me, my body. 

Until the Lord spoke to me, quietly at first, and then with increasing strength--

My work was to focus on the two tiny souls He had given me--to raise to nurture, to love, to enjoy--to train up in His ways.

My work, as He spoke to me strongly one night, was to feed His sheep, and for me, this is to teach my two precious little ones, Deborah and Elisha, to know and to love Him. 

My focus in some ways needed to shift. 

And what I am not saying is that one shouldn't live a disciplined life, exercise, eat healthily, and take care of one's physical body. Our Pastor illustrated this beautifully in a recent sermon--he said that when we place the Lord first, when He is all in all to us, everything else falls into its proper order and place--in other words, through seeking His kingdom first, everything else will be added . . . when we place Him first, everything else falls into place. 

This way of living brings freedom . . . 

The Lord, and it is difficult to describe this completely, but a transformation took place in my heart at one point, replaced my natural motherly care and general love for my children (which I believe that every mother has) with a deep, strong, spiritual love for them. I cannot describe this, but He did. And it has been like a beautiful flower growing in my heart--I love them spiritually and I want them to know Him. 

This has cost me my body. 

The natural part of mothering in childbirth has cost me my body--my body will never look the same again--and it doesn't have to--who are we to hold on to this physical body in a way that rebels against any change to it? 

Are stretch marks and scars really the enemy? Do we need to stress and fuss and fume and desperately grasp at trying everything possible--every trick, gimmick, and exercise technique to get our body back? Again, I am not at all saying that it is wrong to exercise after we have children (I still enjoy walking, only now I do it with my children!)--what I am trying to say is that when getting our body back becomes the focus, we have lost something of spiritual significance--the willingness to give even if it means that we can't maintain the "perfect" body. The focus is "off" when we cling to the notion that we need to be a certain weight or a certain size in order to be content instead of resting in the Lord and concentrating on His present will for our lives. Perhaps the real enemy is holding onto something that we need to be willing to let go of. 

Our body is given in order to give it back--because it always comes down to surrender--whether or not we are willing to give something lesser for the greater--just as Jesus did. 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. II Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

To give back spiritually --we give our body spiritually when we sacrifice what we could have had in order to give to another--a "perfect" body for the stretches and scars of motherhood, our time, our passions, our lives--for the life of another--for the lives of little ones, for the Lord's sake. 

There is a character  in one of my sister's novels, The House of Mercy who would have been physically handsome except for the fact that his face bears a garish scar. He is one of my favorite characters, even more than the hero in that novel. A deeply sensitive man, he marries a woman who became pregnant out of wedlock and takes her child as his own. He is a beautiful example of Christ-like love and his face and very life bear deep sorrows, wounds and scars. 

Sometimes scars, imperfections, can be things of great beauty--can actually draw rather than repel. 

Jesus was scarred--He bore the scars of the nail prints in His hands--nail prints of love and evidence of a body broken. Broken for us. His body was used for our benefit. We follow His example when we give our bodies for the sake of our children, or even for the sake of spiritual children, such as missionaries whose bodies have been broken down by years of fasting and toil and ministry. It is worth it. 

I remember hugging my Mom's waist, her selfless, Christ-like giving and I remember that ancient truth that burns in the heart when we embrace it--we receive when we give. We possess when we let go. He who seeks to save his life will lose it but he who loses his life for My sake will truly possess it. 

And this is how I have gotten my body back. 



You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Sharing His Beauty Blog Linkup, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday, Heart Encouragement Thursday , Sitting Among Friends Blog Party

When Children Slow You Down

I've written about a gift that the Lord has given me over the past year--the gift of quietness. 

Another gift has come to me--a lesson--the lesson of slowing down. 

Before I had my babies, I loved to exercise--I walked and walked briskly through the New England neighborhood by the sea where I lived. I was consistent as a good clock--walking almost every day for years for a specified amount of time most days of the week even through snow and rain. When I didn't walk outside, I used my trusty treadmill--a hand-me-down from my great uncle. It was gloriously loud, but it served its purpose and kept me walking.  

Then, when my babies came, everything began to slow down for me. Even my walking. Oh, I still walked, but I adapted a more gentle pace to accommodate my children. 

One time, a neighbor (who also walked for exercise) passed by me with my carriage and commented quickly, "You used to walk so fast!" 

It was true. 

But the Lord was beginning to teach me a lesson, slowly at first, then with more intensity as the years have been passing. 

The lesson of slowing down. 

I have a personality that wants to get things done, cross things off a list; I love order and rhythm. 

The Lord is teaching my heart a new rhythm--the way that He wants me to walk with my children. 

And I have sensed Him admonishing me over and over again--slow down. 

Life is not a list of things that need to get done, (even though it is important to be organized and orderly)-- 

Life is a moment by moment opportunity to live the Gospel --

For me, the primary way that I do that right now is in raising my children--

Not to be bright or outgoing or witty or popular, but to know Jesus deeply, to be willing to suffer persecution for His sake, to count the cost in following Him whatever that will mean for them. 

And every moment is an opportunity--no matter how tired or weary or overwhelmed I may be-

Every moment. 

Their souls are precious.

And I need to take time to look at their tiny faces and to love their teachable hearts and do all that I can in the strength that God provides to love them and to nurture them and to lead them to the Lamb of Truth.

Children are not an "add-on," or a number, or a burden--

They are an unfathomable blessing--each one an opportunity--a soul to brighten the face of Heaven and to bring glory to God.

Children are a Treasure from the Lord, a precious gift.

Slow down, look into their faces, talk to them, relate everything to the Savior, plant truth and grace in their hearts . . . and it will grow. 

That is more important than the things that we think are so important. 

When we cook, when we clean, when we sing, when we read, when we play, when we pray--slow down--the joy that comes is indescribable--

And much more gratifying than merely crossing tasks off a list.

Does this mean that I may never walk "fast" again? Of course not--

And lists and order and organization are all blessings from His hand. 

The lesson for me was in slowing down to meet the needs of my little ones, to meet their needs first before my own, and sometimes that means laying aside my "list" or my plan or what I think needs to be accomplished. 

To love them. To spend time with them. To touch their tiny faces and to take their tiny hands--

To walk slowly with them--to let the others things go, for a moment, for a season--

He let the little children come . . . He was not too busy, too rushed--He who had the pressing needs of so many continually before Him. 

He let them come; may we, also--

For of such is the kingdom of Heaven.    

You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Sharing His Beauty Blog Linkup, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday

Stay on the Nest

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” 

--Winston Churchill

Darkness came more quickly tonight. A steady spring rain falling, the outside dusk closing in early.

A Robin built her nest, on eye level, in the big crabapple tree; I could see her little head and her steady black eyes watching us as my daughter and I peered at her through the rain-watered glass. 

The rain coming down, washing over her, she sat on her nest. 

She stayed on her nest, through the damp drizzle, and the unseasonably chilly weather.

She stayed on her nest, keeping her soft-blue eggs warm, her body heat protecting them against the chill air and keeping them from succumbing to the cold weather. 

That sweet mother Robin stayed on her nest. 

The Lord has been speaking to me; the lesson of the Mother Robin touched my heart again in the direction that He's been leading and teaching me. 

Stay on your nest.

Sometimes, many times, mothering isn't easy. 

Many times there is no gratification, no instant reward. Sometimes our kids are just plain ornery and we wonder, "What happened?" 

Sometimes the Holy Spirit may be convicting us about something that He wants us to do differently in our parenting, exchanging the "good," for His "best." 

Don' be discouraged; trust in His wisdom and stay on your nest. 

Keep persevering; keep seeking the Spirit of God in your parenting. Keep trusting, praying, chiseling, hammering, working, pleading with God for their souls; stay on your nest.

Through the good times, through the bad, through the cold and the rain, stay on your nest. 

There are so many temptations, distractions, so many opportunities to "take the easy way out," to plop our children in front of a computer or a TV, to  continually (not occasionally for a respite)  "escape" into a store or a playgroup, to distract ourselves from the hard work of monotonous day-in and day-out grueling work of parenting.

There is even the temptation to "escape" emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, when mothering becomes, "hard." We tune things out -- We ignore difficult parenting situations that we need to address. We tune out our children's voices; we ignore problems rather than praying about them and dealing with them. 

But we must be faithful in the "little things" of mothering -- another lesson that the Lord keeps teaching me. 

"He who is faithful in what is least, will also be faithful in much . . . " (Luke 16:10). 

Be faithful in the things that no one sees, no one notices -- read the extra book, pick up the clutter, use every opportunity to talk to your children about the Lord, to relate everything back to Him.

Be faithful in the drudgery, in the tedious, in the unpleasant and difficult.

Be faithful, because Someone does see; and He will be your Reward. 

And He will reward you -- a tree doesn't bear fruit immediately, but the fruit will come. 

The Robin's eggs will hatch -- life will come forth -- the fruit of the robin's steadfast perseverance. 

The fruit will come. 

Be patient. Be faithful. Be diligent . Be persevering . . . the fruit will come.

We have all failed. So many times. How many times have I wept, have I ached over the times that I have failed? But the important thing, the vital thing is to run to our Heavenly Father, to repent, to seek His mercies afresh, and to get up, to get back on our nest.

Because in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

Never give up. 

And stay on the nest.  

You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Theology Thursdays, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Every Day Jesus, Count My Blessings, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday, RaRaLinkup

My Ungodly Struggle to Get My Family Ready for Church (And How it Became A Godly Struggle)

Warmth pulsing through my body, I struggled to put on some makeup before church. 

Suddenly, the back door opened, right near the bathroom where I was standing haggardly in front of the mirror.

My brother-in-law had opened it, and the wild crisp wind bit through my woolen sweater.

And I was sweating; the air felt so wonderful. I thought longingly of the icy winter chill and half-seriously contemplated running outside and jumping into one of those great snowbanks heaped in our backyard. 

So. hot. And my layered turtleneck beneath the thick wool of my sweater was beginning to overwhelm me. 

Why did I think that it would be a good idea to wear high-heels again (even if they were perennial Misses "I Love Comfort " brand?) when I had to carry an 8-month old on my hip whilst balancing a diaper bag, a handbag, and a two-year-old in the other hand? 

I was already tottering.

And the smoke was beginning to rise from my unrighteous nostrils.

Elisha, tucked into his little car behind me, began to make shrieking noises -- apparently, I was taking a little too long putting on the makeup. 

I could hear little Debbie puttering about in the kitchen -- oh dear -- running around the kitchen and the chaos was beginning to close in around me on this fine Sunday morning -- day of rest, day of peace and tranquility and holiness and oh wait--

"Debbie, be gentle to Mr. P. !" (my sister's half-crippled pug.)

"I am being gentle, Mommy," she answers, as I see Mr. P. nervously scoot to the other side of the room. 

"Can I have some orange juice, please?"

"We don't have orange juice, Debbie-" (interject Elisha's shrieking) "Mommy has to buy some at the store tomorrow."

Oh, why did I wear a woolen sweater???

My husband comes down the stairs, three different ties hanging over his arm. 

"Which one should I wear with the outfit you picked out for me?

(Elisha shrieking)

Debbie running around the kitchen table, pausing to happily remove the shoes I had just put on her feet for church.

"Anything! Anything matches!" Exasperation gets the better of me after the stress of trying to organize everyone, everything and somehow do it in time for church -- and later in the van as we drive for 20 minutes, I have a chance to catch my breath before the next flurry of activity.

This is not what I want my Sunday morning to look like. 

This is not how I want my children to think of Sunday mornings -- as chaotic times of haze before we rush into the car for church and sit sheepishly in the pew. 

We have very little children; there will be some chaos -- there is no way to ensure that everything will run smoothly on a Sunday morning. 

But I want my family's "struggle" to get ready for church, to get ready for worship, to be a Godly struggle -- and I want my struggle to be a Godly one as well. Not a frustrated, overwhelmed, burdened struggle that I later need to repent of. 

And these are some practical things that the Lord has laid on my heart that have helped to turn the ungodly struggle into a Godly one. 

And before the "practical" comes in, we have to realize that the root is a heart issue -- a "mood" issue -- and, as Oswald Chambers says, "moods go by kicking." 

And moods go by surrendering and submitting and trusting in the One who created little children and Sunday mornings and who gives us the grace to overcome and to hold on to His joy through the struggle of it all. 

So here they are -- helpful to me, and maybe to someone else, too:

• Prepare clothing the night before -- this includes ironing -- and lay out each family members' outfits for the next day.

• Wash hair, take showers, baths, etc. the night before. Minimize the amount of time spent in the bathroom on Sunday morning.

• Remind children that Sunday is a special day, a set-apart day. Make Sunday "Special" in the way that you talk about it as a family -- as something that is exciting and delightful, not a burden or another "item " on an already-overflowing schedule.

• Keep Sunday activities to a minimum. Focus on spending time worshiping the Lord, with other believers, etc. Emphasize the importance of this to your children. 

• Wake up a little earlier than usual on Sunday morning to ensure a little bit of extra time to get ready.

• Pack the diaper bag the night before as well as changes of clothes, books, snacks, etc. and put these together near the door. 

• When things don't flow smoothly, laugh, pray, and do the best you possibly can to get the family to church on time. Don't panic; pray. 

These are practical steps that have helped us as a family. Sunday mornings usually go more smoothly when we put them into practice. It will never go perfectly -- and that's where His grace comes in. No matter how "prepared" we are, there will always be disturbances, distractions, interruptions, diapers that need to be changed at the last minute, and cranky toddlers. 

But He gives His grace. And as we seek Him and pray to Him and ask Him to fill our hearts with thankfulness, He will transform our Sunday mornings. And our ungodly struggle will become a place of praise to show forth His glory.  

You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Yes They Are All Ours, Missional Call, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Messy Marriage, My Teacher's Name is Mama, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Count My Blessings, Beauty Observed, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays