Mom, You Are Enough. Just The Way You Are.

By on January 25, 2012 in a mother's heart, connection with boys, physicality of boys

I don’t know about you, but one of the things I find most charming about little boys is their sometimes over abundant energy!

My little man is always out to conquer the world.

Even if some days, that just means a very large armchair.  Or snow pile.  Or sneaking under mom’s bed when she isn’t looking and grabbing her feet for sheer comedic effect.

Whatever it may be, his zest and zeal for life are the most genuine I’ve ever seen.  It’s a big, big world, baby.  He’s raring and ready to go as far as the biggest adventure will take him.

And when he jumps from the top step, or he winds up with a running start, I want my arms wide open to catch him …

instead of holding my breath and wincing;

bracing myself, and bemoaning the impending impact.

*

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You see, my body isn’t made for rough and rowdy.  My body is tender, sensitive, weak.  I’m learning, day by day, to live in it.

And so, I feel that this wild wonder of a boy,

has gotten the short end of the stick in the mother department.

He needs a mom who can roll and wrangle and toss him up and chase him down.

He deserves a mom who can keep up.

I am not enough for him.

But,

has God not given him to me?

While I hope to fill those needs the best that I can, perhaps he also needs a mom who can teach him gentleness and consideration.  Perhaps he needs a mom to cultivate a sensitivity to the needs of others…to foster a heart for those who can’t keep up.

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If we know that God doesn’t make mistakes, then we also know that our boys are ours by design.  Your struggle to relate to your son in some way is for the good of you both; for your sanctification and his betterment.

Mom, you are enough.  Just the way you are.

iPhone photos...the only way to keep this little tornado still, if only for a moment

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Positive Thinking

By on January 14, 2012 in connection with boys

 

At the end of the day do you ever sit and evaluate the day?

How  were the kids? How was your attitude? How many times did you raise your voice? How many times did you say the word “No”? For me it’s too many to mention. I know sad huh?

What about how many times you said, thank you, for a deed that does get accomplished?  Telling them they did a great job?

Something I have noticed, is lack of encouragement.

We make sure we tell the kids when they are not listening. We point out bad attitudes. We teach that being mean to siblings is not nice.We tell them many times how important it is to take care of their things.

I notice a difference the days when I am so nit picky.”Why didn’t you do this? ” You shouldn’t do it that way you should do it this way!” “It’s too noisy in here, be quiet!”

The kids seem so discouraged. This does not go over well.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” Colossians 3:21 esv

I am making it a priority to be positive! I am not saying not to correct when correction is needed. I am saying to encourage.

 

Thank You!

Great Job!

You are a big helper!

The smiles that appear is worth it all.

Love those happy hearts.

 

What area can you find to encourage you son(s)?

 

 

 Photo Credit

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I’ve forgotten my babies.

By on December 13, 2011 in a mother's heart, connection with boys, Gentle Parenting, Life Lessons, reflection

{We invite you to grab a FREE PDF download of our newest eBook, Hope for the Weary Mom. To get your copy, subscribe to the MOB Society by email, look for a verification email in your inbox, and click the link to your download at the end.}

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I have a really bad memory. Just ask my husband. Or, I don’t know, maybe it’s perfectly average. I mean, most people don’t remember every moment of their lives, right? Every joke, every cool breeze, every good book.

 

I forget these kind of things almost instantaneously.

 

And normally it doesn’t bother me that much. But once in awhile, I’ll be going through old pictures, and I’ll find a picture of my seven-year-old as a one-year-old – and I find myself thinking, “I don’t remember this child”. I remember this picture, I might remember this day, but I don’t remember this child.

 

 

Everyone tells you to treasure the time with your children because it’s over in a heartbeat.

 

 

I’ve not been treasuring. I’ve not been intentionally treasuring this era of my life. I’ve been tired, and unfocused, and selfish, and just waiting for freaking little person bedtime so I could watch Friends, or something equally dumb.

 

 

And now I realize that I’ve lost them. I’ve lost my babies, they’re gone. My youngest is three.

 

 

Once when I was about eight years old my family moved to Florida for just one year. One day, when it was raining, my step-dad and I stood in the mouth of our open garage. And he told me to remember that moment. To concentrate on the water rushing down the paved hill of our street; the way it sounded, the way it smelled, the way it looked.

 

And I did. To this day I can transport myself pack to those minutes of my life and appreciate them.

 

What I’ve realized as life has gone on is that we have to be intentional to remember the good in our life. The hurt, and the pain, and the unfortunate seers itself onto our hearts and into our minds almost against our will. We can be weighed down with these unwanted memories for a lifetime. But the good? We forget it so quickly.

 

So I’m determined to remember my babies. The smiles, and the jokes, and the round cheeks, and the lisps, and the laughs that far outweigh the poop and the tears and the gray hairs. Because I’m a little bit terrified of forgetting them. And waking up sometime very soon to an empty house, with my cup overflowing with regrets.

 

Let’s burn today into our memories. Because really, y’all – it won’t last forever.

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The winners of the Hope for the Weary Mom giveawaysfrom the MOB Society are:

Hope Bag from Dayspring – Suzy

Hope piece from Red Letter Art – Laura

David Nevue CD – Mom of Four

Ladies: Please check your email and get back to us ASAP! Congratulations!

 

 

 

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Who Do They Think God Is?

By on November 29, 2011 in connection with boys

My boys are obsessed with big cats.

Lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs – all of them.

I can only speculate why they are so fascinated, but I would imagine they are drawn to the sheer power of these cats.

Little J races around the living room and kitchen pretending to be a cheetah. Big J roars as loud as he can before pouncing off the couch.

Boys are drawn to strength.

So why, then, are so many boys and men NOT drawn to God?

It is so important to teach our boys that God is a God of love, but is He coming off as boring and weak in the process?

Our boys need to know the awesome power of our God. They need to know of His mighty hand.

Your strong hand, LORD, is dominant in power; your strong hand, LORD, shatters the enemy! ~Exodus 15:6

The hubby recently found a song he thought the boys might like. Of course, it mentioned a lion. But more importantly, it paints a picture of our STRONG God that is sinking right into their hearts and minds…

My God is not dead, He’s surely alive
He’s living on the inside roaring like a lion {Like a Lion, David Crowder Band}

Big J has been singing it non-stop, at the top of his lungs. Little J is attempting to sing the chorus – or making up his own variations. But they are hearing about AND singing about just how powerful a God we serve.

Can we teach them about a God of love AND a God of mighty power at the same time?

You bet.

Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold to bring a revolution somehow {Like a Lion}

God’s love IS powerful – there is nothing meek and mild about it.

Teach them about our strong and powerful God and His love that overcame all. Read about it, sing about it, talk about it. Let them know their God is mightier than any lion or tiger!

And then watch a revolution among our young men as they are drawn to our POWERFUL God of love.

Any favorite verses or stories or songs you use to show your boys the awesome power and strength of God?

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