Tag: motherhood

Motherhood

Finding peace at day care

on July 8, 2014

Family 070814The school year came to a close and, once again, I was scrambling to find the right summer day care for Jonathan and David. I was looking for a program that provides mental stimulation and a review of the academic year along with outdoors activities and a field trip. The cost was definitely higher than the city programs or the one the boys were in during the school year.

Getting Adam to agree on this comprehensive program that also teaches children Christian values was challenging. Even though Adam earns more money than I do, he didn’t want the additional expense. I had a deadline to submit the application to waive the registration fee so I submitted the application.

Even if I have to pay for the summer program entirely, I am at peace that they are in a day care offering exactly what I am looking for, including spiritual development. One major item checked off my to-do list for the summer.

Guiding Lesson:

Eve, 

070814-changing attitudeThe “To Do” List never ends!  However, signing up your children in a summer camp that has the right activities is checked off.  Congratulations!  Now for Adam sharing in the cost, it doesn’t seem like it will be checked off as you hoped.  Regardless, you didn’t allow his willingness to join in or not impact your decision in choosing the camp that reflects your values and desires for your children.  You are so clear and determine to provide the best for your boys. 

You and I both know that you will have more and more opportunities to share in the parenting with Adam.  I’m sure it is frustrating at times as you realize the different values you both have that lead you to different decisions and more disagreements.  Have you thought of how to approach these situations?  Do these situations impact the way your boys see their dad or how they see you?  How do you navigate and remain the mother you desire while being honest yet not saying anything inappropriate about Adam?  This is not easy.  It is exhausting. . . isn’t it?

I’m sure you realize that there is nothing you can do that can change Adam or any other person in your life.  The only thing you can do is change yourself, your attitude, and how you interact with him.  I know that there is a book called “The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian.”  I read a beautiful prayer from that book that I’d like to share.  I reworded it to fit your situation and I hope it helps you see and respond in a new way.  Let me know what type of impact this has.

Love,
Grace

Motherhood

Getting Closer through Challenges

on December 18, 2013

Family 121813

Challenges can bring people closer to God or can shut Him out. I have been consumed by my divorce and family situation that I just realized it’s been quite some time since I connected with you, Grace. Thanksgiving was a time to be grateful for our blessings and I thought of you. Even in the midst of all the changes I need to acknowledge your presence in my life, still and quiet, waiting to be called upon. Thank you.

Now with Christmas just around the corner, again, I am consumed with the preparations of family get-togethers, creating traditions, and the boys’ gifts. Reflections are certainly a part of this season too. I’m reminding the boys of the true meaning of Christmas, thinking of the struggles that Mary and Joseph encountered on their journey to give birth to Jesus. Yet these challenges and struggles we face can yield positive outcomes, ones that we could’ve never conceived of on our own. Only God knows why things happen, and it is during these times that we must have faith.

Divorce has brought peace, freedom, and a newfound identity. Family challenges have brought introspection, confidence, and quiet strength. Whatever the reasons are, I am grateful for what I have gone through. I am a better person, a courageous mom, and confident woman.

By the way, reflections paired with wine work well together. 😉

Guiding Lesson:

pearls of grace, God, challenges, pain, suffering, transformation, working mom, single mom, mother

Eve,

Welcome home!  So glad to have you back, reconnecting to who you truly are.   I have been waiting with open arms.  Never abandoning you and always right here.  You don’t have to look too far.  All you have to do is close your eyes and there I am in the stillness and silent place within you.  I’m glad you trust that no matter how long you stay away, I never give up but am patiently waiting while offering you love.   

Now through this lens, where you see yourself as precious before God, as Mary and Joseph did, wonderful things can happen.  The challenges and difficult situations do not have the power to penetrate your being.  This happens through God’s grace and faithfulness to your journey, which is similar to the journey that Mary and Joseph took in preparing for the birth of Jesus, the Light, in a world filled with darkness.  Many are so surprised that in the toughest times the greatest transformations occur.  It is evident by the woman you are becoming . . . confident, strong, and courageous.  This is because God always knew that this is who you are.  The external challenges allowed these parts of you to come to life since you had to use a new muscle that through the training of life became stronger. 

It is similar to the Nelson Mandela’s story.  He did not give into the seduction that his situation defined who he was.  Even though he was in prison and was cast into darkness, he didn’t use his muscle to fight it.  Instead, he became a true free man by exercising his muscles of hope, peace, and forgiveness before he was released from prison.  By doing this, day in and day out without any hope of what we call freedom, God showed him true freedom and true light in a dark, prison cell.  This is what God’s grace can do.

Another example is Mother Theresa who didn’t drown in the suffering she was immersed in every day.  Instead, she loved until it hurt and eventually the only thing left was love. 

So as you continue to go through the pain, the challenges, and the suffering, know that God’s grace is there to transform the impossible, beyond human understanding, to an incredible and strong woman of faith, of hope, and of great love. 

I’ll leave you with a quote from Winston Churchill,  “If you find yourself in hell, don’t stop, keep going.” 

Now let’s enjoy a glass of wine, symbolic of joy!

Grace

Pearls of Grace

On Being a Mother: Expanding My Heart-Part III

on June 14, 2013

Pearls of Grace, Pearls of wisdom, God, motherhood

Expanding our hearts to receive more of his love for us through our children – How has God expanded our hearts?  One thing I’ve always acknowledged is that children have been and are God’s greatest gifts.  I learned about a love I never knew existed and it has caused me to love God’s people in a new way.  As I continue to observe other mothers, I recognize that their children helped them see the beauty in the world and in themselves as if for the first time.  They help mothers feel God’s unconditional love and forgiveness as they grow up and as we grow as mothers and guardian angels.  This is what expands my heart.

I remember a story that one mother told Eve’s mother.  She said that her son’s friend dared another friend to punch her son.  He was hurt and she was told about the incident.  One of her rules is that if her son does something like this, she has him call the friend to apologize and make amends.  If he is hurt, they need to figure out how to restore the relationship.  In this situation, he called and spoke to both of his friends.  After the phone conversation, she asked how he felt about the situation and his friends.  He responded by saying, “I feel fine mom.  I wasn’t angry at them.  I was angry at the choices they made.”  In that moment, God showed her the incredible love He has for her.  He may not like or approve of the choices we make, but He always loves us.

Our children truly are the greatest blessings and being their mother and guardian angel is our greatest joy in heaven and on earth.

So I continue to completely trust, surrender to the moment, and allow God to expand my heart so I can receive more of his love for me through Eve.  And as Mother Mary taught me to say:  Let it be done to me according to thy word.  What more is there to say to show our gratitude to God for these wonderful children? 

A CHILD’S POEM TO HER MOTHER

Mother I hear you
I wonder what you look like
I wait to be held by you

Mother I’m here
I’m in the comfort of your arms
I rest and know I am home

Mother, You are here
You nurture me as I grow
You never leave my side

Mother You are near
You teach me lessons with great love
You believe when I can not

Mother, You are dear
Blessing me with what you do
Blessing me with who you are, my mother.

Read On Being a Mother: Part I and Part II

Pearls of Grace

On Being a Mother: Surrender to the Moment-Part II

on June 13, 2013

Pearls of Grace: Wisdom shared by a guardian angel

Pearls of Wisdom, Grace, Christian, God, in the moment, present

Surrender to the moment – So what does this mean?  As a working mother, you are constantly being pulled in so many directions.  There are so many demands, so many deadlines, and so little sleep.  You gave up sleep a long time ago –just like many others.  As a guardian angel and spiritual mother, I am here to balance you, bring you home, find peace, and surrender in the moment.

God is asking each of us to be present—to find him in all the diaper changes, the broken arms, the runny noses, restless nights, the tears, and so on.

One evening, I remember Eve’s mother had two to three women over for a meeting.  In the midst of the meeting, Eve began getting sick all over the couch and carpet.  Without any hesitation, these wonderful mothers, stopped what they were doing and surrendered to the moment.  They helped Eve’s mother clean her place and care for her daughter.  In surrendering to the moment of being a mother, her daughter was taken care of and through these amazing women, her heart and my heart expanded allowing her to receive more of God’s love for her.

NEXT DAY’S PEARLS OF GRACE
On Being a Mother: Expanding My Heart-Part III

Read On Being a Mother: Part I

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