Yesterday morning, it was Mother's Day, and as everyone was still snoring away I decided to go on a walk. Since we are living in an apartment still, while we build, I have very little area to "get away" for a little quiet time. I love bringing my Bible and journal down to the area park so that's just what I did yesterday. After writing in my journal I went on a mile run and then walked/ran the second. It was just beautiful. I cranked up my praise and worship music and used this time as a prayer walk. Afterward, I headed on over to Panera, with the intention of just grabbing a coffee. Then, as I approached the counter, those Spinach & Bacon Soufflés were screaming at me to buy one. How could I say no? I ended up getting two.
I found a table outside, flipped open my Bible, and my Beth Moore Jesus Devotional (highly recommend any of the devotionals in this series). As I read the scripture listed for Day 18 I felt myself tearing up and I knew why. It was not because of the content or the words in this passage. While they are, of course, very important that is not what did it for me. I realized, as I read the passage aloud, that it just felt like home. There was familiarity, like you find with an old friend. The words on the pages resonated somewhere deep within my soul and I could feel the Holy Spirit well up inside.
With it being Mother's Day this especially meant something to me. You know why it felt like home? It was because the words that fill up these pages were engrained in me at a very early age by my parents.
"Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6
"Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart."
Proverbs 3:3
We, as Moms, feel "Pinterest pressure". You know what I'm talking about. We see a hundred (or thousands) of different ideas when it comes to crafts, cooking, organization, decorating immaculately, working out, and becoming a better person. A person that we just don't have time to become because we are too busy organizing in a new way or making a hundred different wreaths. We start wanting to be all things to all people, despite our natural God given talents. Our kids have a million activities we try to juggle all the while trying to be a calm "Super Mom" at the same time. We feel torn in a hundred directions. Don't get me wrong. If you know me, you know I love all of the things I find on Pinterest. I love to jump in and start new projects. It excites me and I enjoy it a ton. That in itself is not bad. However, I find myself needing to take a step back and remember what is truly important. What is truly at stake here?
The most important thing I can do as a Mom is point my children toward God through His word, His creation, and my actions. If my children see me putting a hundred things in front of God and my time with Him that speaks volumes. I remember being very little and waking up early in the mornings. Without fail my Mom was sitting at the kitchen table, with all of her highlighters out, pouring through the Bible. When I would be struggling with something I would find a Post-It note on my mirror the next day with scripture pertaining to my issue. If I came home from school crying over a boyfriend, she would pray with me, and tell me to journal about it to God.
The thing is, she was constantly pointing me toward God, and showing me through her actions that He was her number one priority. It is perfectly fine to jump into projects and take your kids to activities. Enjoy it ALL. God gave us all of these things so take it in. It is just important that we strike the balance, always being sure to put God where He belongs because the other stuff is just stuff, no matter how fun. As a Mom, we must train up our children in the ways of the Lord...now. You cannot start too early and you are never too late, even if you have kiddos that are now adults! Just don't wait because honestly that is ALL that really matters.
No comments:
Post a Comment