*used blog 6/17/2021 The Ministry of Motherhood

It's not easy being a child these days.

I listen to them talking around tables, gathered in groups at restaurants; watch their characterization on television shows and movies. I wonder if we understand as well as we think we do what it's really like to grow up during this season. Sometimes it seems that so much has changed, today's children live in a different world than the one I grew up in. The hurried, harried pace of it all wearies me as a mother, and I can only imagine its effect on this generation which has known nothing else.

As the world's raging current rushes past our homes, what happens inside?

Are we creating spaces of peace for our children? When they come to us with the hard questions about the difficult things in life, do we have real answers for them? Are we well-equipped to buffer the young ones from the onslaught of the world even as we prepare them to make their way--and even overcome-- in it?

They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. And I do believe this is true when we think about what our children really need from us as mothers.

They 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

How do you feel about the ministry of motherhood?

*used blog 6/7/2021 5 Principles of Building a strong friendship with your children

One of many moments of giggling and being friends

  1. Time and Availability Whatever the age, children develop better when they know I will make our time together a priority. People grow close not through monitoring one another’s behavior but by working together, playing together, talking together, celebrating together, weeping together. Relationships develop when people are there for each other—and that’s as true for parents and children as it is for anyone else.

  2. Acceptance and Unconditional LoveIn building meaningful relationships with my children, I must learn to accept unconditionally the person God made each of them to be—even with personality traits that differ from mine or that make me uncomfortable. I need to accept the “warts” and irritating characteristics that may never change. I have to love my children with a mature commitment that reaches past my feelings for them, which can change from circumstance to circumstance.

  3. Affirmation and EncouragementI believe most children are acutely aware of their limitations and their failures. While they often need correction for their mistakes and even confrontation for their sinful selfishness, they also need recognition for their real efforts and accomplishments and positive reminders of who they can be with God’s help.

  4. GraceOur children need us to give them the grace to grow. If we make them think that we expect perfection, then eventually they may give up trying to please us, because they know they will always fail, or they may spend their whole lives feeling guilty for their failures.

  5. Relationship TrainingWe need to consciously train our children in the skills and attitudes that will enable them to sustain positive relationships. A person can only experience true intimacy when his heart has been deepened and exercised in real love and commitment.From Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson :)

For more on A Mom--A Strong Friend go to Momheart.org today--lots of good stuff there! And a video from me!

Wowza!! Check out Joel's New Tunes!

So many of you write me and say how much you absolutely love my son Joel's music. I'm so excited to let you know that he's just released all of his piano music, including his spectacular new album "If I Rise on the Wings of the Dawn", on iTunes and other online stores!

It's beautiful, melodic piano music to enjoy with a cup of tea and a book on a lovely afternoon, or even just as a way to escape the craziness of your motherly lives. I encourage all of you to go forth and enjoy his gorgeous music!

Find it here on iTunes

Find it here on Amazon

Find it here on CDBaby

Available anywhere else online music is sold!

* used Blog 6/3/2021 If you can keep your head...........

"If you can keep your head, when all about you....

are losing there's and blaming it on you.

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

but make allowance for their doubting, too."

This poem, IF, by Rudyard Kipling, of which I have just quoted a little tiny bit, is one that I made all of my children memorize--and we reviewed it over and over and over again.

Right is always right even if no one is doing it, wrong is always wrong even if everyone is doing it.....a Clarkson favorite mama saying.

We are called to have a different character, a constant one, one that reflects the very image of Jesus, and yet,

In this crazy world, and especially in this crazy Christian world,

there are many irrational, unloving, critical,

exhausted, weary, discouraged,

immature, mean-spirited, untrained people wandering around. How I have been embarrassed by supposed Christians, even in the past couple of weeks.

I have seen lately, in the lives of my children and friends, them being overcome by some very difficult situations and people who unwillingly become a tool in the hand of Satan to discourage and destroy--faith, heart, well-being of others..

And yet, for those of us who have lived long enough, we know that this is the common "tribulation" and stress that Jesus was referring to when he said, "In this world, you will have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world."

And so, if we can keep our heads, know that love covers a multitude of sin, live in grace and know that we and everyone else we will ever know make mistakes on a regular basis,

and live in the liberating grace of the freedom and blessing we find in the abiding love of Jesus,

then we will always, always have peace and always have the ability to keep giving life as he did.

Overcoming evil with good, loving beyond measure, forgiving and being a peacemaker, living with practiced faith, again and again and again,

this is where we become more like Him, our very dear savior,

and it is where we become true warriors who redeem.

And so, I highly commend this poem, the entire poem, to put in your brain and that of your children, so that you may have grace in your soul to go to, for facing this world and conquering the challenges that come your way.

Words have such power to bring life and inspiration and power--I just love words.

Thank you, Rudyard, for penning this poem for my own well-being and for that of my children......

Just a little pondering over blue

Simon Kozhin, (Russian artist)

Blue, my favorite color.

Blues are what I see in the fields surrounding my house this time of year. Every year, God brings me blue and I stop to notice amidst my comings and goings, speeding away in my car with one more round of speech and debate,

hurried breakfasts and quick cups of tea and coffee,

late night talks, sharing secrets on beds,

Blue, every day, no matter what is going on, He is there, painting,

creating His art,

speaking to me words of comfort and grace-

will I see Him? Hear Him today, amidst my own agenda?

Today, I will pause for the blue He has taken such pains to paint for my pleasure.

PS Thanks for everyone voting--looks like it will be 3! Fun to see everyone's opinions and thoughts.

Teaching our children, training their minds.......

“We teach our children how to think and reason in their own minds so that they may be able, when mature, to discern what is true and what is false. It is our job to train them to understand “righteousness and holiness of the truth” in their everyday lives. We will not always be there to think for them, so we teach them to think for themselves according to biblical precepts … Our task is to train ourselves and our children to think clearly, truthfully, and biblically about Jesus and the world. This task requires us to understand the scope of the biblical knowledge our children need and to develop a plan for helping them acquire it. In addition, we help them understand biblical principles and guidelines and learn how to apply them to everyday life.” Sally Clarkson, Mission of Motherhood

For more about teaching children, join me today at momheart.org

(Still having fun at the Speech and debate tourney. Having fun and amazed at the wonderful speeches and clear train of thought. Great, great event! )

Teaching children and training their minds

“We teach our children how to think and reason in their own minds so that they may be able, when mature, to discern what is true and what is false. It is our job to train them to understand “righteousness and holiness of the truth” in their everyday lives. We will not always be there to think for them, so we teach them to think for themselves according to biblical precepts … Our task is to train ourselves and our children to think clearly, truthfully, and biblically about Jesus and the world. This task requires us to understand the scope of the biblical knowledge our children need and to develop a plan for helping them acquire it. In addition, we help them understand biblical principles and guidelines and learn how to apply them to everyday life.” Sally Clarkson, Mission of Motherhood

For more about teaching children, join me today at momheart.org

(Still having fun at the Speech and debate tourney. Having fun and amazed at the wonderful speeches and clear train of thought. Great, great event! )

There is a season, .......,

Kasey, Benjy and Mary working on a case.

 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven--including debate and speech!

This week, almost 600 students are gathering here in the Colorado Springs area for the nationals finals of speech and debate.

We have 11 of us, including our family of 5, together for a week, eating meals, sleeping, and attending a gazillion rounds of speech and debate competitions. It is all very thrilling and fun for us as we love so many of the students who will participate.

Joy will be in 5 different events for this week, speaking for many different rounds, (we hope!).

Joy and two sweet friends who are waiting for a round to begin.

As I want to enjoy each minute and be fully present for all of my peeps who I will see, I will not be blogging this week.

Pray for us and we will do so for you and have a great week!

Reviewing ballots when it is all over.

Fun, fun and great memories.