Sunday, May 10, 2009

Joyful Mothering!

{Today's devotional is a repost as I posted my musing thoughts yesterday. ::snort::}

“He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 113:9 NASB (though I know it best in KJV)

Years ago a godly gentlemen pointed this verse out to me. He felt it was a “word” for me…and he was proven correct. He gave it to me during a time when I’d been told I would never carry a child to term, had miscarried our first child and was pregnant with BreAnne. I was skeptical. I did carry Bre to term and have since had 16 pregnancies and am thrilled to be the mother of 9 “children”. On many days God has used this verse to gently remind me to, as we say around here, "adjust my attitude".

Over 23 years ago God began to speak to me about being a JOYFUL mother of children. This goes against the norm of our society. I cringe when well-meaning parents make disparaging comments about children being home for the summer in the presence of their children. Or when folks say ,“You are DONE aren’t you”, or “I would DIE if I had another child”. What are we communicating to our children? I want my children to know that I joy in my calling as their mother and that I praise the Lord for each and every one of them.

A lack of joy really expresses ingratitude for our circumstances. We need to consciously choose to count it a blessing to be training and loving our children. My joy is in being with my children each day – not necessarily in our huge daily accomplishments. ::snort::

As I surrender the day to Jesus, I learn to BE a joyful mother instead of focusing on my never ending “to do” list.

Jackie Wellwood, writing in “101 Devotions for Homeschool Moms”, (Which would be good for any mother I would think and is a book we discussed on SHS years ago) asks some great questions as Food For Thought on this very topic. They are so good that when I decided to write about this verse I REMEMBERED that I had a book around here with some questions on the verse (OK, really I remembered I’d made a list about this in a journal, found the journal and found the name of the book the idea for the list came from ::snort:: ). I plan to make a new list today. Without further ado: Jackie's Food for Thought:

1. Have I accepted my role as a mom and embraced the calling as my ministry? Why
or why not? Does this bring me joy?

2. What are some joy-stealers in my life?

3. Take a piece of paper and number it from 1 – 25. List ways your children bring you joy. Make another list of ten ways the children could bring you more joy if you relaxed a little and let yourself BE a mother instead of DOING so much (example: sit down and let a child tell you what he or she is thinking).


I love that the list focus' on MY attidue and not on what the chidlren can do to "make me" more joyful. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

1 comment:

Laura said...

This is a great post. Thank you for sharing it. I plan to find the book you have mentioned. I also love your new quote at the top of your blog. Hits home as I see how my boys are growing up so quickly.