"Few women realize what great service they are doing for mankind and for the kingdom of Christ
when they provide a shelter for the family and good mothering.
A mother builds something far more magnificent than any cathedral- the dwelling place for an immortal soul (both her child’s fleshly tabernacle and his earthly abode).
No professional pursuit so uniquely combines the most menial tasks with the most meaningful opportunities.
It is hard to locate an aging mother who believes she made a mistake in pouring her life into her children, and it would certainly be more difficult to find a child to testify that his mother loved him and poured herself into his life to his detriment and demise."
Though the website represents families with 7 or more children, the heart of most of the mothers would edify a family of any size. After all, it's not the quantity of children, but the heart of the parents in raising however many children the Lord blesses us with that matters most. I've been encouraged.
As I raise my little tribe of children and seek God's Word daily for wisdom and joy in my ministry here at home, I glean first and foremost from Him. God is the best parenting role model I could ever seek to emulate! He is the wisest Teacher!
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."
Ephesians 5:1
God is my Dad and the One I seek to imitate in my parenting. What would I do without Him and His Word as my guide?!
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
2 Timothy 3:16
Even so, I still look for earthly examples who exude the love of Christ in their parenting, especially when it comes to larger family parenting as I embrace my role as wife and mom, the keeper of my home. I don't know any families in person who have 8 or more children, so I'm thankful today for the families represented at Mega-Family Blogs. There's a love for motherhood that spurs me on in the hearts of many of the families represented. As I've been encouraged, I'm praying likewise that the Lord would allow me to be an encouragement to other mothers, no matter how many they rear, that God may be glorified in our parenting.
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
By God's grace, may we parents cherish the days of sweet Eskimo kisses, snuggle up with little ones who simply need a hug, turn to a worthy Savior with our trials, avoid escapism and instead lean hard into Jesus when we sin and struggle. May we embrace the education of our mommy-hearts as we learn the fruit of the Spirit through the day to day ministry of parenthood. May we learn to look on the bright side, grow in patience, love, kindness, and compassion. May we see rightly how God would have us view children, as blessed gifts from Him in our lives, even as He uses them to chisel us more into His image through difficulty. May we never wish the mothering days away, but rather be busy at home, serving our families out of Christ's abounding LOVE. May we take advantage of the time we've been given with children in our homes. May we capitalize on moments in each day with each child to share God's character with them. May we stop for the one and stay home enough to have time for the small yet important things like baking and stories and puzzles and prayers, quarrels and tears and forgiveness and depth, laughter and music and dancing and play. May we moms and dads see parenting as our mission field, worthy of our devotion and God's usefulness of time.
May we give our children respect as young people and listen to their hearts as we speak wisdom into theirs.
May our relationships with our offspring glorify God most of all!
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
Galatians 5:22-23
Oh, that fathers would long to disciple their families and express compassion like their Father God!
"As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him." Psalm 103:13
"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4
Oh, that we mothers would be gentle nurturers with honest desire to embrace our children the way God offers Himself to us!
"For thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants.'" Isaiah 66:12-14
What a blessing even the challenges of parenting are when we see them through God's eyes, when we see little ones the way Jesus sees them, when we saturate in the lessons and relational privilege of parenthood. What a joy to share life with family, to have the opportunity to pour into malleable little lives. What a challenge to daily take up the cross of servant-hearted love, the kind that lays itself down for others and offers a soft place to land. What a calling to be a mom or a dad.
Indeed, children are a blessing!
"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."
It's true what they say, "The best gifts in life are free."
Last year my girls and I fulfilled a lifelong goal of learning how to knit, thanks to our Keepers of the Faithmeeting with friends. We discovered a new favorite hobby.
It's been a long time coming, but Elka has finally finished the scarf she set out to make for her Mommy for Christmas.
Sweet (and silly) Elka simply couldn't wait to offer her labor of LOVE...and I'm {OVERJOYED} to receive such a gift!
These are the best gifts...the ones made with care and sacrificed time...these are the best gifts to me.
As I look back on the photos of Elka above, I remember the morning well. It was still dark before dawn as we set out for Noble's oral surgery and she desperately wanted to join us to support her little brother. So, she packed up her knitting for what would be hours in a waiting room while the other siblings stayed home and she knit her little heart out with us that whole day.
Now, months later, her gift is complete, my mommy-heart too.
And I realize I've been given more than just a present.
I've been given LOVE.
As the gift-giving season approaches, I'll be wearing my blue scarf, thankful for my Elka whose offering reminds me of how it is more blessed to give than receive and that what we all really want, what we all really need is LOVE.
We recently had the blessed opportunity to spend the afternoon with dear friends.
They live over the hills and through the woods, up andoff the beaten trail where we've explored before. It was an adventurous day of pursuing God's will for our family's next move and He revealed Himself to us in multiple ways that day.
These mentors of ours are dear saints...retired missionaries from Papua New Guinea, in their 70s and 80s now,
FULL of the type of wisdom years, experience, and a close walk with God produce.
"Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.
'With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.'"
Job 12:12-13
These friends of ours are the type of people that when they speak...we listen. So, it was truly a delight to spend our day with them. We walked the acreage of their property while our kids swung from the oaks. We discussed life in the Lord, ate organic fruits and veggies they'd bought special from the Farmers Market in town for our visit, and mostly...we listened.
"Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."
Proverbs 19:20
Before our trek back home, we took time to pray.
As we gathered, our gentleman friend shared words we will never forget...again, the type of man who doesn't speak constantly, but when he does, you listen. What was he preparing to share? We clung to his analogous words.
He told us what he himself had never forgotten from decades before, when he left his corporate career with wife and children in tow to spread the gospel in Papua New Guinea. He told us of advice he'd received as he made the choice to lose his life...to find it.
Step out...
His words were to step out and start moving...
He said that if we observe a boat, still, unmoving, docked with a dormant rudder in the water behind it, we'll see that the rudder can't steer the stagnant boat. There's no momentum. However, if we unleash the ropes, set sail, and head out to sea with movement, the rudder begins to accomplish it's purpose. It steers the direction of the boat.
rudder: noun. a flat piece of wood or other material at the back
of a boat or plane that is moved to change the direction of travel.
Our friend shared with us how he was encouraged back in the days of feeling prompted by God to step out into the mission field. He recalled how he needed to take steps forward in order to see God's leading. Stagnance was sure to accomplish nothing.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." Psalm 32:8
Step out...
The will of God will steer our life's course like a rudder behind a moving boat. The Lord is faithful to guide.
"The steps of a man are established by the Lord." Psalm 37:23
Surely there are times to be still, but when we sense movement, it would be wise to step out in obedience, in faith, knowing that God's perfect plans cannot fail. He will lead as we trust His directing. He will guide us as we step out.
"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10
So, as we listened and learned and took hold of what wisdom had to offer through our time out in nature with friends, we traveled back home full of insight and God's love and a yearning to advance in obedience, to trust in the Lord and step out.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
And if I'm here imitating Him, and if He has shown compassion to me, then how could I withhold that which I've received?
Grace. Mercy. Second chances.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:4-9
"Therefore be imitators of God." Ephesians 5:1
So, I'm in. A second chance is coming their way. They may not "deserve" this grace, but do I?
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;
it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
"Do you suppose, O man—
you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—
that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience,
not knowing that God'skindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"
Romans 2:3-4
It's His kindness which leads me to repentance. Oh, that I might teach my children through similar means as I hold back retribution, model undeserved grace, express love in unlovable circumstances, and offer second chances.
"Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,
"I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!'
And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land."
I'd go on loooong journeys, traverse uncharted territory, excavate buried treasure in the cliff aside our house.
Of course, I always had many children. Stuffed animals, dolls, they'd come with me on my journeys and I'd be sure to take good care of them...especially when perilous storms set in or a dangerous river required bravery while crossing.
I'd climb the tree out front with my children tied securely to my waist. I'd harness them to myself with some sort of rope/belt combination. I'd perch up high in the leaves and dream. I loved playing pretend.
Now, here I am...Mommy still to many children, yet with real life treks, rivers, and valleys to forge. In real life time I press on and still dream. I ponder tomorrows and marvel at the sights and sounds of my children, the ones now playing pretend.
A crock pot of thyme, lentils, root veggies, onion infuse the house with smells of home. Cinnamon, clove, apple, nutmeg
steam atop the stove. Yams and roasting garlic permeate the kitchen as the oven warms the room and my soul.
Fall has arrived indeed.
I sit here still and breath it in, ponder, listen, pray. I cherish little voices from outside. They pretend like me.
Piano gentle in the other room, giggles and bustling as sprinkles precipitate...finally...after all they've waited all day!
I take it in and remember when...
Someday they'll be big like me.
But, for now, they're small. What a gift.
How blessed, the innocence of play.
Jesus loves the little children...and so do I. He beckons our hearts to faith such as these.
The girl has grown and here she sits, living the days she once dreamed.
I thank the Lord, pray for childlike faith, and cherish their playing pretend.
"And they were bringing children to [Jesus] that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.
But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them,
'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."
It had been a day of prayer...real, believing prayer.
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Mark 11:24
It had been a day of confession, repentance, and forgiveness.
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
James 5:16
It was a day filled with petition and lowly yet lofty requests.
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
John 15:7
Because of God's grace, we sought the Lord...He answered.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."
John 15:16
When God chooses to answer prayer in very specific and tangible ways, He reminds our feebleness of who He is. Of course, all of heaven and earth is His bounty. He has more than we could ever need spiritually, emotionally, physically. He may not always give us exactly what we want...but to be sure, He always gives us exactly what He knows we need.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights
with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
James 1:17
In love, our Abba Father responds to our prayers at times with a no, and other times He waits or says yes.
We've learned through many no's the wisdom of God.
His thoughts and ways, after all, dwell high above our own and He longs to teach us contentment in all things.
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:11-13
Yesterday, our father God swooped in, answered heartfelt prayers, and proved to us, yet again, just how personal He is.
"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."
1 John 5:14-15
We're still waiting on more answers. We have so very far to go!
But, pondering God's thoughtful response to His children yesterday invokes...gratitude, glory and honor to His name!
"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."
Jeremiah 33:3
We're still praying...without ceasing so it seems...constant in prayer, deep in need. And yet, filled with hope by the knowing that God, who is rich in mercy, abounding in love...He has a plan and He's working it out for the best version of His story through ours.
"ButGod, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—
by grace you have been saved—
and raised us up with him and seated us with him
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we shouldwalk in them."
I've shared before about our Jesus Act Stick reward system.
We've used it for many years without wane and truly it's been a tremendous blessing for our family!
All of the kids down to our 2 year old earn sticks when we observe that they've exhibited selfless love or sacrificial behavior with a genuine heart. It's an honor to reward their kind actions. We display our Jesus Act Stick jars on a focal point table in our home where they can be visibly built into our daily life. I enjoy seeing with my eyes and allowing our children to notice tangibly the benefits of a loving heart. The jars serve as a reminder.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34
We believe in the power of positive affirmation and encouragement and find that when we stop to point out our children's good fruit, they grow even more. Of course, parenting requires we also contend with the difficult, employ discipline when needed, and correct wrong behavior. But, when we emphasize the positive in others, we perpetuate more positive. Children and adults alike believe what's spoken into their lives (both positive and negative). This is why we are intentional to point out and reward Christlike actions with Jesus Act Sticks and one-on-one dates with Mom or Dad to follow.
Kids are built up and quality time memories are made...it's a win, win!
Here's to documenting just a bit of our Jesus Act Stick Dates...lately.
The kids tend to go back and forth between dates with Mom and dates with Dad. Brodie had some pretty fun dates this past week with his girls! First, he and Elka went for a long bike ride down at the beach (something that's not quite the same with all 10 of us!), then per her request they got smoothies and went for a swim. Mostly, Elka felt special which is what mattered most that day!
One of my favorite things about our Jesus Act Stick Dates is that often times they are merely experiential...and therefore FREE or at least nearly free...meaning they cost us our time more than our $$, which is invaluable.
When it came time for Aida's date, she knew just what she'd always wanted to do... and it's a good thing her dad is one of the BEST sports we all know! He puts me to shame with his willing heart.
Who knew Aida had such a deep longing to rent a surrey with a fringe on top?!
Oh, the gleam in the eye of a lifelong dream come true...ha!
Plus, it's always fun to be a "tourist" is your own hometown every now and then.
After their buggy ride, they surfed for a bit which is always special one-on-one.
The day proved to provide fuel for both heart and soul all around.
Even when I'm the one back at home and not on the date,
my heart is always full when I know my loved ones are filling up with LOVE.
It's a joy to send them off!
How thankful we are for our Jesus Act Stick Dates.
We'll never forget them!
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13
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