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As I was walking to the top of the hill, my mind pondered the hundreds of times I had walked this with one or all of my children, giggling, talking about everything in the world, sharing secrets, inspiring one another with a book read, a dream shared. One of the rewards of my familiar mountain walks is this sparkling lake, a view of the mountains and our beloved bench that looks over it all.
We would sit together on our bench, a reward after the long hill, and relish our mutual friendships. Making time to walk as a habit meant that there was space for our relationship to stay strong as we lived the rhythm of making time for one another every week, all seasons. I know, from experience, that one of the most profound ways a mama can reach a heart with the messages on her heart, is to build intentional time slots that provide undistracted time to grow close as friends, to stay close for a lifetime.
Seeing my little blue lake, clouded skies, purple mountains lead me to deep thoughts stored about how profoundly important mothers are to the shaping of great souls, deep faith, engaged minds and strong character. People do not become fully developed and life-strong by accident. The shaping and nurturing of great souls happens by intentionality. If only we could see from heaven’s eyes the consequences of life determined by a specic moment in time, a conversation, a moment of encouragement when doubts threaten to overcome, a challenge to live into capacity when one is tempted to quit an important commitment in life, a word of compassion and grace for the one who is feeling friendless or alone.
Mothers are the keepers of lives entrusted by God in every generation. This week, I’ll celebrate Mother’s day with some personal thoughts and some special book giveaways that I hope will further inspire you.
As we converse with our children, seek to enrich them with our words of love and our voice of truth, we realize our children, don't need sweet platitudes of faith that will momentarily placate their emotions. They need the authentic strength that comes from the true foundation of a biblical worlveiw and a proper understanding of the real Christ who is worthy of their worship. They need an unwavering, internal moral and spiritual compass that will help them weather today's storms and tomorrow's and will guide them for the rest of their lives. They also need to see what real faith looks like when lived day in, day out; so they will have a pattern to follow.
The process of providing such gifts to my children is what I've come to think of as the ministry of motherhood. I believe it's central to the calling of anyone God has privileged to bring children into this world.
If you are a mother, it's your ministry too." ~from The Ministry of Motherhood
This ministry happens over a lifetime, over sacrificing. our personal moments to give back one more time. Motherhood requires every ounce of our self-control, our generosity, our wisdom, our faith, and leaves us exhausted in the pouring out of ourselves. over countless days and endless years. Yet, the child fortunate enough to. have a mother who has a vision of the long term consequences of such investment, and understands it is her service of worship to Christ for His generosity, is blessed indeed. This child will deeply feel the comfort of a place to belong, a purposeful community to together lives into their divine destiny, a sweet home where comfort, pleasure, joy and deep satisfaction is felt endlessly through the years.
Never forget that when a wise women works diligently to build this kind of legacy, she will find that the commitment of. working towards these goals, will eventually fulfill her own heart’s desire for intimacy and best friends, for understanding she is truly a part of God’s Devine purpose for her through her days on the earth. She will discover that the very design of God for the role of mothers was profoundly calling her to her best self and fulfilling a. deep sense of living a purposeful life.
May God bless. you this mother’s coming day with this knowledge and a sense of His beloved companionship, His wisdom, His grace and His deep love for you.
Don’t forget to get a copy of Nathan’s new book, Good Man, out today!
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