Rest......
What a foreign word, a foreign concept. I don't know if it's the American in me, but resting is a hard thing to do. I mean who has time to rest? Certainly not mothers! Or is it the very thing we should be sure to fit into our schedules?
In October of last year I gave birth to my beautiful, miraculous baby girl Olivia Faith. I have written the story of her life in my blog: Hello World, but just to touch on how I learned the importance of rest, I'll briefly explain the story. I broke water at 20 weeks, delivered her at 30 weeks. Not one doctor was able to tell me why my amniotic sac tore, but I knew. I know deep inside of my heart that I needed to learn the art of slowing down. At 28 weeks (after being on bed rest for 8 weeks), I resealed. I was discharged from the hospital and came home to my family. After resting so much, I couldn't stay still. Two weeks later I broke water again. When I think of it now I actually risked my daughter's life by not staying on bed rest. I didn't think of it like that then, but that's exactly what I did. I am so ashamed, but I share this with you to urge you to rest.
Our children need well rested parents; and our children need to learn how to rest (being lazy and being idle is a totally different topic). When my children have melt downs I know exactly what's causing it. Exhaustion or hunger. It's always one of the two. There are a few other possibilities, but those are rare. The popular culprits are being tired or having skipped a meal. What do I do? What do I say? Oh sweetheart, I know, come to mommy, you need to rest. We know how important it is for them to be in bed on a school night to avoid morning attitudes, how important to rest during an especially busy week to avoid their immune systems weakening. Oh, but when it comes time for us to rest! And here's the thing: they rest because we make them rest, but what's going to happen when they grow up? Probably be just like us? Maybe not. But I know I don't want to take the chance with my girls. I want them to know that their bodies are a sanctuary to be nurtured, to be respected. Our bodies are worthy of rest. Guilt free rest. Rejuvenating rest. Healthy, strengthening rest. Sweet, delicious reeeeeeeeest.
I believe that when we rest, we strengthen our spirits and our ability to hear God. And weren't we made to have a relationship with our creator? Who has patience for relationship when we are not rested?
Let us not deprive ourselves. Our children need to know the importance of rest. For goodness sake, even God rested! And He urges us, He actually tells us directly in scripture: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Glory, Hallelujah!!!
My prayer is that everyone will deem themselves worthy of restoration, of rejuvenation, of rest. How can we be the patient, kind parents we wish to be if we don't take care of our own selves. Rest in God and let Him restore, refresh, and renew you. Let us be encouraged to raise God conscious children by teaching them the importance and the power of resting.
Rest, Refresh, Renew, Rejuvenate...........
Be Rested...........
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
With it (the tongue) we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God's likeness! Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not be so. James 3:9-10
Let me start with admitting my human faults and the truth of my lack of any degrees or certificates in theology or any other subject. In no way do I perceive myself to be superior to anyone. I am only very hungry for God and crave His presence in everything I do; and so while I seek Him, it is on my heart to share what I find to be the truth. God is salting me and I love it!
Todays subject is about the blessing and cursing that comes out of our mouths. How we so easily say: Oh bless her heart, and then when that same woman crosses us, we curse her, saying unspeakable things. Oh how I struggle with this. Sometimes people do things that are really mean, crazy, unthoughtful and rightfully so we become upset. Now dealing with those hurts and responses to those hurts are really a whole other subject. What I want to look at is my behavior in response to wrong doing towards me in front of my children.
How we react can make all the difference in the world in how they will deal with circumstances in their lives, in their future. Even when my girls seem like they are not listening, bet you a million bucks, they are! So when I'm driving and I get cut off by some racing lunatic, I'm urged not to say something like: what an idiot, I hope he gets a ticket for driving like that; but something more like: Oh boy I hope everything is okay with that person. God bless them and convict them in their driving. That driver could have a thousand reasons to be driving like that. A woman could be in labor, about to give birth in the car. They could be trying to reach a dying parent to whisper their last good-byes. They could just be an impatient, irresponsible person. I mean the list is endless and the truth is we'll never know, so it really comes down to making a decision to either speak a blessing or a curse. I find it desirable to speak blessings and I most certainly want my girls to speak blessings and to realize the incredibly huge fact that there is power in words. People wrongfully judge me all the time and the injustice of that really is an ugly thing. A cycle that surely deserves to be changed.
Then there are more personal instances. When someone close to me offends me and pisses me off. It has happened and it will happen again. I am human, I get upset, I get hurt; but losing my temper in front of my children is becoming less and less acceptable to me. (Forgiveness is crucial and relevant, but entirely another subject.) My reaction will teach them. They are their own little human beings and have their individual temperaments, but they are teachable, and will pick up a lot of things from us as parents. There are times when we do have fall outs with others in front of our children. I hear so much of how unhealthy it is for parents to argue in front of their children, and yes that is not a cool thing. Does it happen? It does in this household. We disagree on something and the super ego in us absolutely cannot wait until later to prove why I am right!! Or he is right (which is never :) Joking. Up to this point in my life what has mattered most is that my children see us make up. We are human, and they can see that. We apologize, we forgive, we move on. (Sometimes not in that order, sometimes we are called to forgive without an apology.) I still believe in that theory, but I am beginning to tweak my behavior. I'm realizing that I want my children to respect their future mates (and all other people) and expect the same in return. To agree to disagree. This particular subject is touchy and has endless scenarios, so I'll move on.
Even if we hold our tongue just for their sake, it would be worth it. Every single person has their own thing they are dealing with; and God loves them just as much as He loves us! And with practicing controlling our tempers in front of our children, it just may do an awesome work in us; leading us to a better place with ourselves and with the world as a whole.
Be Blessed & Speak Blessings......
Todays subject is about the blessing and cursing that comes out of our mouths. How we so easily say: Oh bless her heart, and then when that same woman crosses us, we curse her, saying unspeakable things. Oh how I struggle with this. Sometimes people do things that are really mean, crazy, unthoughtful and rightfully so we become upset. Now dealing with those hurts and responses to those hurts are really a whole other subject. What I want to look at is my behavior in response to wrong doing towards me in front of my children.
How we react can make all the difference in the world in how they will deal with circumstances in their lives, in their future. Even when my girls seem like they are not listening, bet you a million bucks, they are! So when I'm driving and I get cut off by some racing lunatic, I'm urged not to say something like: what an idiot, I hope he gets a ticket for driving like that; but something more like: Oh boy I hope everything is okay with that person. God bless them and convict them in their driving. That driver could have a thousand reasons to be driving like that. A woman could be in labor, about to give birth in the car. They could be trying to reach a dying parent to whisper their last good-byes. They could just be an impatient, irresponsible person. I mean the list is endless and the truth is we'll never know, so it really comes down to making a decision to either speak a blessing or a curse. I find it desirable to speak blessings and I most certainly want my girls to speak blessings and to realize the incredibly huge fact that there is power in words. People wrongfully judge me all the time and the injustice of that really is an ugly thing. A cycle that surely deserves to be changed.
Then there are more personal instances. When someone close to me offends me and pisses me off. It has happened and it will happen again. I am human, I get upset, I get hurt; but losing my temper in front of my children is becoming less and less acceptable to me. (Forgiveness is crucial and relevant, but entirely another subject.) My reaction will teach them. They are their own little human beings and have their individual temperaments, but they are teachable, and will pick up a lot of things from us as parents. There are times when we do have fall outs with others in front of our children. I hear so much of how unhealthy it is for parents to argue in front of their children, and yes that is not a cool thing. Does it happen? It does in this household. We disagree on something and the super ego in us absolutely cannot wait until later to prove why I am right!! Or he is right (which is never :) Joking. Up to this point in my life what has mattered most is that my children see us make up. We are human, and they can see that. We apologize, we forgive, we move on. (Sometimes not in that order, sometimes we are called to forgive without an apology.) I still believe in that theory, but I am beginning to tweak my behavior. I'm realizing that I want my children to respect their future mates (and all other people) and expect the same in return. To agree to disagree. This particular subject is touchy and has endless scenarios, so I'll move on.
Even if we hold our tongue just for their sake, it would be worth it. Every single person has their own thing they are dealing with; and God loves them just as much as He loves us! And with practicing controlling our tempers in front of our children, it just may do an awesome work in us; leading us to a better place with ourselves and with the world as a whole.
Be Blessed & Speak Blessings......
Monday, April 18, 2011
I AM the True Vine, and my Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit He cuts away; and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. -John 15:1-2
Nothing melts my heart more than hearing my daughters praying to God. Their sweet little voices pursuing their Heavenly Father. I could only imagine Gods excitement about His own Son, and all of us. I remember a time when Asia (my 6 year old) wouldn't even pray out loud in front of me. She was unsure of how to pray. Then I guess over the years of hearing me praying in no particular fashion or form, just pouring my feelings from my heart, she began to gain confidence. Now she prays every single day, all on her own. I notice that her prayers sound a lot like mine, beginning with thanks and ending with blessings for others. Again, I am reminded of the impact I have on my children.
It is truly incredible how we as people are transformed once we become parents. Certain things that used to matter, matter no longer, and some things that never mattered, is all that matters now. We are conscious, we are aware, but most of all we are motivated. So big is our responsibility; glory to God He is here to help us. To strengthen the fruits of our spirit. To sustain, invigorate, and rejuvenate us. For both the motivated and unmotivated. God has promised that in dwelling in His Holy Son, He will personally prune us that we may live richer and in excellence. We have our very own Gardener!
I am so inspired and would like to encourage others that we are not alone in our walk with our children. God is also a parent. He also deals with stubborn, impatient, sassy, loud, difficult, know-it-alls. But in His faithfulness carefully and patiently He prunes us all.
When I see undesirable behavior in my children, I instinctively correct. I realize that while every misbehavior doesn't have some deeper meaning, some actually do. Sometimes instead of correcting I must investigate and if need be do some pruning. Why do we prune? To open up the endless possibilities for our children. So they may not be held down by behaviors, by attitudes that can hinder their blessings.
And so the phenomenal, encouraging cycle continues of being a child and being a parent, learning and teaching, growing, being pruned and pruning. With opening ourselves up to the sovereign power of Gods transforming ways, we can be empowered to wisely and patiently Raise God Conscious Children, who then become fulfilled adults.
Join me next time while I explore practical ways to Raise God Conscious Children.
Be Blessed........
It is truly incredible how we as people are transformed once we become parents. Certain things that used to matter, matter no longer, and some things that never mattered, is all that matters now. We are conscious, we are aware, but most of all we are motivated. So big is our responsibility; glory to God He is here to help us. To strengthen the fruits of our spirit. To sustain, invigorate, and rejuvenate us. For both the motivated and unmotivated. God has promised that in dwelling in His Holy Son, He will personally prune us that we may live richer and in excellence. We have our very own Gardener!
I am so inspired and would like to encourage others that we are not alone in our walk with our children. God is also a parent. He also deals with stubborn, impatient, sassy, loud, difficult, know-it-alls. But in His faithfulness carefully and patiently He prunes us all.
When I see undesirable behavior in my children, I instinctively correct. I realize that while every misbehavior doesn't have some deeper meaning, some actually do. Sometimes instead of correcting I must investigate and if need be do some pruning. Why do we prune? To open up the endless possibilities for our children. So they may not be held down by behaviors, by attitudes that can hinder their blessings.
And so the phenomenal, encouraging cycle continues of being a child and being a parent, learning and teaching, growing, being pruned and pruning. With opening ourselves up to the sovereign power of Gods transforming ways, we can be empowered to wisely and patiently Raise God Conscious Children, who then become fulfilled adults.
Join me next time while I explore practical ways to Raise God Conscious Children.
Be Blessed........
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