I have been blessed to go through a book with a small group of wonderful Mama's and friends these past few months. It has been so nice to have this bond between us and to encourage one another. I love the mama time and I always come home feeling refreshed.
This past week we met up and had dinner and were able to fellowship which was really nice! We were suppose to discuss the last chapter of The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson, but we never got that far. My mom and I discussed the chapter around 2am. ;)
So, I'm going to share all the things I underlined with you!
Her words speak such truth and I'm very thankful that Sally listened to God's calling of ministering to mother's hearts.
Chapter 12 is titled "The Faithful Mother" which states, finishing the journey with endurance and grace.
Oh and the verse!
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." Hebrews 10:35-39
Talking about feeling inadequate...
"
His strength is perfected in my weakness"
"Though cultural storms attack violently each day, a solid Christian home can be a protective fortress, a haven of peace for all who live there. Those inside its walls are protected, nurtured and nourished in body, heart, mind and soul.
Such homes need a director, guardian, and caretaker, which is what God had in mind when he designed the role of mother. Homes that are being established and protected by the mothers who have a clear vision of their God-designed role can bring refuge and life and hope to a generation of children who need to grow strong in order to be able to battle the storms they will one day face."
"What I've also needed is good, old-fashioned perseverance-a deep, unwavering commitment to stay the course and not give up."
"Many moms eventually relinquish the authority that God designed them to have and the responsibility of raising their children to others-the teachers at school, the church youth group and its leaders, or even the children's peers. But while people can certainly be a blessing to our children, enriching their lives, God has given the stewardship of children's lives to parents, not to institutions or even the church."
"Where do we get this kind of endurance? ...
Plain old stubbornness has probably helped as well. I don't like to fail, so I keep on trying."
Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:6 goes on to say that "without faith it is impossible to please [God], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
"There would be times when I was dealing with a habit or a sing or an attitude of one of my children, and I would feel like a total failure."
Love this part, just beautiful...
"My only choice in these times when I reached the bottom of my heart was to do again what I had practiced so many times-to keep trusting the Master and Lord of my life. And as I poured out my heart-my fears, my inadequacies, my weariness, my concerns about my children, and my own lack of love for some of my own family members-I found solace for my soul and strength for my heart. The Lord would encourage me to
trust him, to wait on him and give him time to work, to
hold on to his promises,
to not compromise my convictions, and most important, to persist in my love and my prayers for the little ones he entrusted to my care."
Amen!
"Jesus also prayed specifically for all of his disciples the night before he died: "I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15)."
"We need to recognize that Satan seeks to destroy our children's desire to walk with God."
"Our children will be tempted to stumble...Yet, as mothers, with God's strength and companionship,
we can be champions for their souls and walk with them through their times of temptation and struggle.
We can support them in prayer,
encourage them through the Word,
and love them as Christ loved Peter and the other disciples."
"In recent years I have learned firsthand that the need for wise mothering doesn't lessen as children grow older."
Oh so true!!!
"I really think that God made children funny as a gift to help parents survive."
Yes! I totally agree! How many times have you felt frustrated and one of your littles (or biggers) and they said or did something and you couldn't help yourself but to bust out laughing? Oh man...
"But I've found that a mother whose emotional well is dry cannot continue indefinitely to give to others without cratering."
She was talking about enlisting allies in our mission of motherhood. Having that companionship of others who get what your life is like. The ups and downs of discipling children.
"As a bonus, I have found that this practice of taking time for personal refreshment has given my children a model for ways that they, too, can find refreshment for their souls."
"It is not perfection that God expects from mothers."
"
The precious children he has placed in our hands are hoping that we will be faithful and endure so that they will have a reason to hope and an example to follow in their own lives."
"
We are the real, in-the-flesh, tangible picture of God's loving hands, strong arms of protection, and encouraging words of hope to our children."
"Each child longs for a heritage in which he can have pride; a home where he can see the faithfulness of God lived out every day; a family in which love is constant, forgiveness and grace hold everyone together, and faith and endurance conquer all obstacles.
This is the kind of foundation upon which a child can begin to build the fortress for his own life."
"It is not only the knowledge of holiness that we must pass on to our children. It is a personal relationship with a
God who is far great, bigger, more adventurous, stronger, and better than anyone I will ever know.
He is the source of joy that gives me the strength to keep going during the hard times, the mundane times, the intense times, and the fun times as well."
I pray that God helps me, not just a general "help us Lord" in front of my children. Lord please give me patience and endurance.
I've got my power bars (the Word) and my gatorade (God's Love), let's finish this race well! ;)
haha it is 3am... :)
