Preferred, Adored, & Chosen

Moms.  It’s a subject near & dear to my heart. It’s among life’s greatest blessings to be one.  What an experience to be loved by one.  One thing is true— a mom becomes a giver the day she births her child. 

There have been some earlier days that my children seemed to pilfer every joy that was mine.  It’s like having the most delicious, decadent bar of chocolate to enjoy in total seclusion at the end of a long, busy day—- and then having your two kids, discover this secret moment, & plop right next to you begging for you to share it. And you do. That’s motherhood, though.

You know what else is? 

Making the breakfast toast instead of blow-drying your hair.  

Falling into bed utterly exhausted only to be awakened by a fearful preschooler.

Buying the sneakers for your son, when your ‘newest’ pair is at least two years old.

An excellent mother denies herself a hundred times a day. Don’t you agree?

It’s doing the inconvenient or selfless act when you would rather not. These moments of your time and sacrifice are the tiny, but strong threads that tie you to your children. You do all of them, day in & day out, because of love. 

It’s servanthood, this mothering thing. And soon, rest assured, the needs won’t be as immediate.  The time will come when their independence is gained, and you have some personal freedoms again. 

In the meantime, a great indicator of being a wonderful mom, is when you are preferred, adored, and chosen by your children. When they seek you out for the hug, the answer, or the snack… even if you are on the toilet, and dad is standing in the kitchen!

Motherhood.

Relish it.   The love you are giving now, will be experienced, understood and passed down to the next generation.  

Continue it.  Your impact also empowers your children to go out and love the world.

Your love, selflessness, and tireless work lives on in many ways! Happy Mother’s Day!

1 Peter 3:4: "You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

Proverbs 31:28–29: "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Thank you, Lord, for my own mom. Love rooted itself in me because of her. Please give mothers the strength to meet each day and its challenges with Your joy and gentleness. Make us givers of good things, so that our home abounds in Your love.  Amen!

Heart Surgery

Don’t you love when a verse hits home? It’s been there all along, but as you read it again it powerfully becomes a profound lightbulb moment! That happened to me this week.

Romans 2 describes that Christ came for Jews and Gentiles (non-Jewish people) alike. Much debate happened within the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time surrounding the topic of circumcision. This was to be the outward sign for Jewish males of the covenant between God and the Israelites. It dates way back to the time of Abraham, and the practice became more rooted in Law than faith by the turn of the New Testament. Paul’s letter to the Romans included this verse, “Rather, the real Jew is the person who is a Jew on the inside, that is, whose heart has been circumcised, and this is the work of God's Spirit, not of the written Law. Such a person receives praise from God, not from human beings.” (2:29)

Isn’t that wonderful? The mark of God’s work in your life and mine should be held in our hearts. We are changed from the inside out, due to the Holy Spirit living in us! There is no outward profession or physical act necessary when the “surgery” is done by the Ultimate Healer himself. 

We are constantly being renewed when we walk a life of faith with the Lord.   The change is sure and steady, and develops over time.  Where is the sharp tongue and tones of our past? What has happened to our desire to be right? To be rich? To be important? 

We grow up and we grow out of these past behaviors as God’s mission of love becomes our singular focus.  Our quest is not self-glory, but His glory.

How will we know if our hearts have been circumcised? That proof shows itself in the words we speak, the company we keep, the way we treat others, and the pursuits that fill our time.  Scripture becomes the spiritual food needed to make these heart changes. We read it AND apply it. Our eyes have opened to ourselves and our tendencies, and we surrender it all to God, who is the only One to heal us.

David once wrote, “Create a pure heart in me, O God,
    and put a new and loyal spirit in me.” Psalm 51:10

This is the posture of heart circumcision! 

Let us all who are in Christ desire for change, for maturity, and for our own heart surgery. And as we live new & improved, our outward living will also turn others to the Surgeon. 

This beautiful life gives us a journey.

One from birth to eternity.

For those of us who choose Jesus now,

Also choose a heart mending in that same vow.

We grow as we learn what the Bible conveys.

Our roots plunge deep, as we worship and pray.

The many years pass by and it’s no surprise to see

Our hearts are not what they used to be.

Where once a temper, now gentleness reigns.

Peace covers our minds & patience is gained.

We love better, stronger, and wiser each day.

Because He is the Truth, the Life, & the Way! 

Photo by Piron Guillaume on Unsplash

Stay Merry