I Can’t Go To the Potty Alone…And I’m OK With That

(Reposted from the archives)

The first rays of sun invade my bedroom…beautiful, and unwelcomed all the same. Sleep begs me to stay, a two year old begs me to come. The baby sleeps…finally.

Yesterday’s laundry is scattered on the bedroom floor–objects of a child’s imaginary play. So much for “organized perfection” now that I have upgraded the laundry room.

Another child whines…for breakfast. How long will it take to teach him to ask cheerfully?

I wish the coffee was already made.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye wands.”

Singing comes from behind me. The reminder that my sinful heart is so easily tainted by trifling irritations…the reminder that I can’t teach my children to stop whining until I stop.

So, what of the Cheerios on the floor? Fingerprints on the glass? Do I let the noise “get on my nerves”?

Life lives here. And it is so beautiful, and I am thankful. With all its flaws, and reality. Yes, our floor is dirty a lot. And I can’t remember the last time I visited the potty alone.

And I dread the day when I will actually miss all that stuff!

A Word From My Heart

Lord, wash over me Your loving kindness, Your gentle spirit, and whisper love while I wait.

Hold me in your arms just now, and carry me through this dark place.

For I know your love is better than life.

Let me love the valleys more than all else, for they lift me to You.

Let me cherish the empty places, for they fill me with You.

Let my tears cleanse away the clutter like rain that brings fresh life again.

Thank you that You know my heart when it’s impossible for anyone else to

And let me rest in that knowing as my faith look up to Thee.

Friday Favorites: Best Motherhood Survival Tips

Sometimes “survival mode” happens.  You know that if you’re a mother.  Seasons of life, sickness, stressful life events, poor health–any number of reasons can make life feel overwhelming.

But the merry-go-round keeps turning and jumping off is not an option!  Motherhood is full time, even when you don’t feel like it.

But on the worst of days, there are some things you can do to keep things going.  I’ll share a few of my favorites: Read more »

Flesh-Covered Grace

The piercing pain of my sin is bittersweet, reminding me of my deep love of the Father.  Grace covers my nakedness and then He clothes me in righteousness. I want to walk worthy of this robe, and that’s why sin hurts…and it should.

Home is the place where all is revealed….the deep pain, the deep love and the deep grace.

“There is an unconscious influence that hangs about every life like an atmosphere, which is more important than the words or acts of the life….When the results of life are all gathered up it will probably be seen that the things which have made the deepest and most lasting impressions in our homes and upon our children have not been the things we did with purpose and intention, planning to produce a certain effect, but the things we did when we were not thinking of training or influencing or affecting any other life.”  (From The Family, J.R. Miller)

Training is needful…there is no denying that.  But training alone is futile, like seeds dropped on parched soil.  That is, the soul-soil of our children must be nurtured and cultivated with constant tenderness and friendship so that the seeds can grow there.

My tongue has been the greatest source of my sorrow lately.

“The law of kindness is on her tongue”.  A kindness that rules.  Is that true of me?

“Out of the heart the mouth speaks.”

And sometimes the words fall out too carelessly, too harshly, and the Father shows me the contents of my heart just then, and it hurts.

And then He offers more grace, and I must offer it too; and they give it, those who are still wearing the ugly, regurgitated contents of my heart.

They still call me “the best Mom in the whole world”.

And that can only be HIS grace, made flesh and dwelling here.

Raising Children: My Spaghetti-Smeared Generation

Farmer holds a few ordinary seeds in his hand.

But he doesn’t see seeds.  He also doesn’t see, or rather, doesn’t dwell on the work he’s about to give himself to.

OK he does see the seeds, and dirt, and sweat and weeds.  But it’s what lies beyond the seeing….it’s the VISION.

He really sees a swelling harvest from that handful of humble seeds–a miracle he really can’t fully understand.

He sees results of his labor and the fruit of his hands and the many who will be blessed by it for years to come.

Because next year, his seeds will yield more seeds.

And some days he’ll be scratching in the dirt and sweating and seeing nothing but weeds.  But he knows what’s underneath if he’ll only persevere, and he has the FAITH required to believe it will burst forth from the ground.

Someone asked me how I could be excited about a ninth baby.

“Because I don’t see a baby”.

Well, yes I do, and he/she is magnificently more wonderful than a handful of seeds!

But I see more than a baby.

I see a harvest…the fruit of our love, the physical reminder of “two becomes one”, the labor of our hands through the years, a heritage, for me, from my Father.

My vision goes beyond that sweet little face and all the messes I know I will clean up, and the mid-night feedings that aren’t easy, the squabbles and the stains on the furniture, the tears and laughter, and the days I just want quiet…

There’s a whole generation underneath that spaghetti-smeared face that’s been given to me.

And it’s worth it.

And I want to be here when the harvest is fully ripe….

But I won’t.

Because the seeds we plant now will grow beyond us and the harvest will become unable to be measured.

So I will keep pulling the weeds, planting the seeds, nurturing, watering, tending and praying for growth, thanking God for the miracles.

And I will have the FAITH to believe that His glory will burst forth.

10 Things to Teach Your Children Before They Leave Home

1. Self-control. It starts when a baby is just months old–opportunities to gently remind her that even though you like her a lot, she is not the center of the universe, never will be, and doesn’t need to aspire to be.  This spans from controlling the physical passions of a baby throwing food off a high chair to sexual urges as an adolescent, and continues into areas of finance (you must pay for what you want), handling disappointments and dealing with the difficulties of life.
2. “School” is not the goal — learning is, and that is never over.
3. Good books are essential for growth.
4. Be honest, no matter what.
5. Be diligent, no matter how small the job.
6. Forgive others.  Never hold a grudge, especially against those who have asked your forgiveness.
7. People are more important than things–live like it.
8. Listen to people when they talk.
9. Be courteous and remember your manners everywhere you go.  (Courtesy is a stamp of excellence and a ticket to success.)
10. Believe God enough to do what He says, even when it doesn’t make sense or it’s not the popular choice.