(This is what I share when I speak at Mother/Daughter Banquets or brunches)
REFLECTIONS
Psalm 139:13-18
13
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of
the earth,
16
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
The theme is “Reflections”…
Let’s see what the dictionary says about the word.
Reflection - careful or long consideration or thought
a
of meditation
Meditation - a discourse intended to
express its author's reflections or to guide thought, idea, or opinion formed
or a remark made as a result others in contemplation
So the reflections we have as
Mothers should be something we’ve thought hard and long about and as a result,
we can share or help others with what we’ve experienced or learned.
First of all, as we read
Psalm 139 we have to know and believe that God has a purpose for each and every
one of us. Your life didn’t happen by
chance or was a mistake. Jeremiah 1:5
reads, "Before I formed you in the
womb I knew (or chose) you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the
nations."
He had and has a perfect plan
for each and everybody’s life. You are
special. You are ‘one-of-a-kind’. Not to be confused with anyone else. Unique.
No one’s like you or equal to you.
Accept that. Realize how
precious and special you are.
Moms----you were chosen to be
that very special someone to the child or children you bore. Daughters-----before the foundations of
the earth, God had your name written down and knew every little thing about
you. Your hair color, skin tone, eye
color, special features, height, weight (??) yes even our weight (He counts the
hairs on our heads, so surely He must know the pounds..), and your attitudes, behaviors… EVERYTHING!!!! You are UNIQUE. Accept that ladies. You are everything God planned you to be.
There’s a song called “Find
Us Faithful”.
After all our hopes and
dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through
all we’ve left behind
May the clues that they
discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads
them to the road we each must find.
Oh may all who come behind us
find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion
light their way
May the footprints that we
leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire
them to obey.
Oh may all who come behind us
find us faithful
What are you leaving behind
for your children, your daughters? You
know God never expects perfection from us, because we’re not and we never will be. All He wants from us is our faithfulness to
Him. And that’s the key. You want to be that perfect mother?? Then, the main reflection that our children
should have from us is that they knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus
Christ is our Savior and God the Father is the Lord of our lives.. They should
know that we’re there for them… praying for them… loving them unconditionally
(as Christ loves us) accepting them for who they are and not putting unrealistic expectations on them.
They are the one-of-a-kind
unique creation that God has entrusted to us as Mothers.
I have had no greater joy
than knowing that each of my children have accepted Jesus as their
Savior.. that my grandchildren have
followed in their parents footsteps… and I hope and pray that after I’m gone
that they’ll be able to say without hesitation
or question that I loved them with all my heart unconditionally… prayed for them… and loved Jesus above all!!
What greater legacy can we
leave them?? I really know how hard it
is. Believe me, with 7 children
entrusted to my care, was at times, overwhelming to say the least. I would question the Lord each time I was
pregnant… why another one?? Sometimes I
can’t even handle the one or ones you’ve given me. But I guess, or shall I say…. God DOES know
what He’s doing. Remember, He did
create the world, right??
I just want to leave these
final thoughts with you.
1. Encourage the positive traits of your
children. Don’t always look for and see the negative things they do. Lift them up.
Tell them what a great job they’ve done.
It’s easy when they are little and they go potty and you clap for that
accomplishment, high five them or give them some incentive treat….. It does get harder as they get older to see
it but purposely look for it and go out of your way to do it.
2. Spend one-on-one time with each one. Take time to plan with your hubby or parents
or friends to help with the others so you can do something even as little as
going for a walk with them or to the park or mall just with them!! Or just talk to them.. OR let them talk while
you listen.
3. Teach them responsibility! If you don’t, someday, they may be living
with you and not have a clue as to what to do or how to handle daily
situations. Ex. (doing laundry, fixing some meals, cleaning the house, mowing
the lawn, yard work, car repair) Do it while they’re young.
4. Try not to be such a perfectionist
yourself. Cut yourself some slack. Take a long hot bath with candles and aroma
therapy bath salts.. “Take me away, Calgon”.
If you don’t take time for yourself or take care of yourself, believe me
nobody else will and you won’t be as
productive.
5. And last, but not least, remember to let
every part of your life be a spiritual experience for you and your family. Teach them early about Jesus and how He must
be an integral part of their daily lives. Sing songs with them about Jesus
while they’re little… Share about His blessings and share your answered prayers
with them to show them how real He is.
Love Jesus with all your
heart, soul, and mind!!!!
I would like to close with a
few things to read to you that are especially a blessing to me.
MOTHERHOOD
Motherhood is now! The good and the bad of it. The rewards and the trials. Tremendous
pressures ware placed upon you as a mother, for you have been chosen to work
with God in the awesome task of nurturing the priceless treasures God has given
you.
As a mother, you accept your children’s faltering
steps toward independence with discipline, humor, patience, and a tremendous
amount of trust. At times the struggles
almost become an endurance contest. You
wonder if you can handle all the confusion another day: the ringing phone, the broken dishes, the
blaring television, the hurtful words.
High temperatures, school,
conferences, dentist appointments, rebellious tears. Is there ever an end?
But suddenly in the mist of turmoil you catch a
broad grin. You feel a warm hug. At bedtime somebody prays, “Thank you, God,
for Mom and for chocolate chip cookies… and for love. “
You renew again your deep desire to create a
genuine God hunger in your children. God
has chosen YOU for such a task as this.
“Her children stand and bless her. Her husband
praises hers: “There are many virtious
and capable women in the world, but you
surpass them all!!”
Proverbs 31: 28, 29
Finally, I want to share
something very special with you. I’m
asked one question as I speak to various groups. “How long til you quit being a Mother?” Well, you’re a Mom til you die, and your
heartstrings will always be attached to those babies whether they're here with you or in heaven.
"The Cord"
We are connected, my child and I,
by an invisible cord not seen by the eye
It's not like the cord that connects us till birth.
This cord can't be seen by any on earth.
This cord does its work right from the start.
It binds us together, attached to my heart.
The strength of this cord is hard to describe.
It can't be destroyed. It can't be denied.
It's stronger than any cord man could create.
It withstands the test. Can hold any weight.
And though you are gone, though you're not here with me,
The cord is still there but no one can see.
It pulls at my heart. I am bruised, I am sore.
But this cord is my lifeline as never before.
I am thankful that God connects us this way
A mother and a child, death can't take it away
A special ‘Reflection’ from
my son, Tim (37 years old)
With
Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I have been thinking of you a lot this
week and what it means to be a mom and raise a child. Also, with the
wedding season upon us I get to see a lot of ceremonies and two people
committing to life together. This led me to think of the similarities of
wedding vows, and vows a mom gives to her child.
Here is an example:
I, your mom, take you, Tim to be my beautiful child. With deepest joy I receive
you into my life that together we may be one. As is Christ to His body, the church,
so I will be to you a loving and faithful Mother. Always will I perform my
headship over you even as Christ does over me, knowing that His Lordship is one
of the holiest desires for my life. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest
devotion, my tenderest care. I promise I will live first unto God rather than
others or even you. I promise that I will lead our lives into a life of faith
and hope in Christ Jesus. Ever honoring God's guidance by His spirit through
the Word, And so throughout life, no matter what may lie ahead of us, I pledge
to you my life as a loving and faithful mom.
Now these vows are never said verbally, but are like an unspoken
contract between mother and child the very first time their eyes meet on the
day of their birth. I believe you took these vows the day I was born and
lived up to and exceeded each one.
There are so many moms that God could have lent me to, but I am so
blessed that he lent me to you. With your every day devotion, love, care,
patience and direction I became the man that I am today.
Thank you for being my mom and my best friend.
I love you more today than ever, Happy Mother's Day!!!
Love your son,
Tim
Thank you so much for allowing me to be with you and
sharing and may God bless you on your
journey!!!! And may the reflections of
your heart keep you strong and happy and loving for many, many years to come.