Working My Day Out As A Mother

And now that you are in this season or moment of life, here is book number 24,538,958,674. Wouldn't it be nice if part of being born was a library of hope, of direction, and of a daily guide on what to do next? Today I would like to go over to that library and pull out the next book. Sadly it does not exist.

Now I do go to a book that is pretty clear about life, liberty, and justice for all. I just finished up a little quiet time of prayer and being in the Word. And there are some days when I smile at God and say..."is this all I get?" Is this the words of hope, of direction, is this my guide for this season or moment?

I have been to bed a few nights in a row later than usual and with some sick kids a few night wakings which never fair well for me. No matter how tired I am, if I have slept a good 3-5 hours my body clocks it as a nice nap and I can not get back to sleep. Which turns out well for me in that I can have a few hours of quiet, prayer, and time in the Word. I always come away blessed and refueled.

Today is not one of those days. I was up in the middle of the night, although David took care of the sick child I just tried to get back to sleep. Today there is much going on inside my head, I am tired, and I have few temperments that are less than desirable and this is all I get for today.

Proverbs 15....vs.1"a gentle answer turns away wrath." vs.2"the tongue of the wise commands knowledge." vs.13" a happy heart makes the face cheerful." vs.14 "the discerning heart seeks knowledge." vs.30 "a cheeful look brings joy to the heart. And good news brings health to the bones".

These passages are about as good as it gets for mothering kind of directions. My kids are home, they are getting in each other's space, forgetting some manners, and even talking to much while others try to listen to the Olympics. I am tired and worn out and am seeking some confidence in my parenting and here is what I get. Words from the best and only book I know of. My shelves are full of wonderful books, but in the moment when I am desparate for a reminder of my actions I get this in this moment.

Thanks God for your Word and the timing of a passages much needed for today's work. You give me the confidence through your word to work yet another day out as a mother. Loving You Jesus.

To be like my mother

This morning Elliot came into the kitchen with a HUGE thank you for doing his mountain of laundry. If he was not sleeping in his bed last night I would have put the fresh sheets on his bed too. As we sat around the kitchen counter talking about the service of a mother I embraced how God has made me as a mother.

I shared with Elliot and David how my mother served me in my adult years and I now embrace the treasures now past along to me. My mother would allow me the freedom to just rest when in her home. She would jump in and care for the kids, jump in and do our laundry, prepare the meals, and free me up to do some things that maybe I never had time to do while being full time mommy. When she came to my home she would cook up a storm and fill my freezer, iron clothes that hung in my closet wrinkled, and do my mounds of laundry...even clean the bathrooms.

One weekend she came for a visit and I had a huge basket of ironing on my dryer. She jumped in and ironed it all. A couple months later she was coming for a visit and that basket was full once again and you know what, she did it all again. Who says that we have to stop serving our children once they grow up and are on their own? Do we take this black and white approach to parenting our adult children. Your are on your own now so figure it all out.

I was shown great love and service to my heart and soul when my mother stepped into my house. Some of my friends have complained over how their mother's come into their homes and "take over" and "control". My mother can come over and take over and control any time she wants and I am so blessed that my son sees this as a wonderful gift of service to him. Now as for the control part...hmmmm...should I toss some of these jeans with more holes than swiss cheese. Five years ago that would have been my choice. No longer.

My mother has not been so much in my life these past years yet even with the distance of time and geography I have learned some important things about mothering even into a child's adult years. It's a blessing to serve my children, and a gift that they would allow me. An even greater blessing to have had a mother to not just show me, but model serving in the ways that she did. Thanks Mom!!!