Being a Mama, Mother, Mom

Thought for the Day: Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. Deuteronomy 11: 18-21
On more than one occasion I have admitted that the most awesome gift God has ever given me besides salvation and my hubby is that of being a mother. From the moment I discovered I was with child back in 1981, I remember looking down at my then flat stomach and commenting to myself, Wow, I have a little person in there. That was the beginning of an entirely different outlook on life. Once Nicholas was born 5 weeks before his due date only to end up in Childrens Hospital in Pittsburgh four weeks later, life has been filled with ups and downs as I learned how to be a mother. Handling the stresses, the decisions, the healthcare, the treatment and offering encouragement and comfort to my children from boo-boos to broken bones, the journey has dealt a spectrum of growth as I grew into this amazing role. Every mom hopes that she has given her children the proper nurturing mixed with sufficient independence in order that her young might spread their wings and take flight at the proper time. As a Christian mom I remember when Nicholas neared the time to depart for college. Being my oldest, I began to panic wondering if I had taught him enough about the Bible and the Lord Jesus so his spiritual resolve was strong enough to handle the smorgasbord of freedom that would spread before him in college. Once he was in his first year of college I continually called him and questioned the decisions he was making, the activities he was involved in, etc., etc. To be honest, it was a burden weighing me down as I felt God needed my help as an overseer. Finally, after we talked the summer before his sophomore year of college, he and I both determined I couldnt continually call and check up on him. I admitted that I needed to trust God to protect and take care of him when I wasnt in the immediate area to do so. It was time to let go and let God as the saying goes. Being a soccer player, and a good one at that, Nicholas second year of collegiate competition began. Six weeks after praying that God would take the reins from me and watch over my son, Nicholas broke his leg badly in an away game and was flat on his back with his leg casted to the hip. Not exactly how I

thought God would take care of him! Trusting in my Lord, I truly believe at this juncture of his life Nicholas learned a valuable lesson; soccer is a game in life, its not life. God continued His on-the-job maternal training through our second child, our daughter, Kimberly. Kimberly was our strong-willed child. After having a child that basically listened to correction and realized the consequences for unwanted behavior, here comes the child that listened but decided to face the consequences anyway. Once when she needed a time out in her room, I remember vividly placing her on her bed, explaining the wrong she had committed and walked out of the room. I heard the door open and out she came. As I looked around, Kimberly commented, I dont want to be in the room by myself. Soon thereafter I bought the book by Dr. James Dobson, The Strong-Willed Child and read it from cover to cover. I learned quickly each child is unique and responds differently to various stimuli. What I didnt know then was Gods plan to build into Kimberlys character and small stature an independent woman that truly holds her own! Often God has interrupted my preconceived plans of mothering in order to take back the reins and remind me I was given these children for a only a short span of earthly years and He has them for eternity. I am to guide, teach and love them, but He will develop them into the man and woman He designed from the moment they were conceived. I have been granted the privilege of being the vessel through which these blessings have flowed. The best gift we can give our children is that of a life filled with love and the other eight ingredients of the fruit of the Spirit. Passing on our faith and love for the Lord Jesus Christ is an eternal gift that our children will hopefully pass to future generations. May countless non-believers be introduced to our Savior through our offspring, for what better gift can be given a mother than knowing her children will join her one day around the throne of God bringing others to know the joy of eternal peace?

Lord, how blessed and how awesome is motherhood! Thank you for giving me the honor and privilege of being Nicholas and Kimberlys mom. They have brought countless joy into my life from the moment I participated with our Creator God in the miracle of their earthly birth. I pray that they will take up the mantle of faith and continue teaching and instructing our familys future generations of the mercy, grace and free offering of salvation given through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!