Subscribe to TOS now for two years and get your 19 gifts . . .

before they're gone.

______________________________________

I have a splitting headache, yet I have three sick children to care for. I have a child who is not cooperating whom I have to deal with. I have a toddler who wants me to play baseball and teenagers who want to talk. I have to make dinner and it is after 7 p.m., I have a house that looks like a tornado, and I don't know where to start, let alone when. I certainly don't feel very virtuous. And, nobody cares about it all but me. At least that's how it feels sometimes, doesn't it? It feels like nobody cares about all that I do, about how I feel, or when I'll ever get rest. Welcome to motherhood. Doesn't sound all that glorious, does it?

The functions of motherhood are obviously important, but the main thing is that we give all glory to our God by how we respond to all these things that press on us. Giving Him glory in our everyday lives is what our children will remember and what matters for eternity. God will not say, "Well done-you were a good mother." But He will hopefully say, "Well done, you were a good and faithful servant and made my Son known to those I gave you."

Whenever we place too much importance on our office as mothers and our sacrificial tasks, the danger is that our focus becomes skewed and our emotions entangled. We begin to feel we deserve to be treated well, rather than the better focus of treating others well. We feel we deserve recognition for our sacrifices, rather than laying down our lives in response to the One who was made of no reputation and laid down His life for us. We feel we deserve celebration rather than pointing heavenward and saying that all glory must belong to Him, for there is no one good, not even one.

If we make it through one day in our own strength, we feel the right to shout, "Bravo!" But more often than not, our strength fails and we come to the end of our resources before we come to the end of the day. But if His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses and the excellence of His power has filled our earthen vessels so that we can not only make it through a day but come out victorious, we can shout "Hallelujah!"

So what is the danger of just one day of focusing on ourselves? For one thing, if all of these earthly "rights" of celebration are not met satisfactorily in our eyes, we are disappointed and sometimes even angry with those we are called to love and serve. However, if all is done for Him and through Him and with Him, then any day is worthy of celebration because it is He whom we celebrate. We can avoid all the trappings of anger and disappointment when we are not celebrated as we think we ought to be, and all the glory that rightly belongs to God is rightly given Him. For truly, without Him, we can do nothing.

This country applauds mothers once a year. But does heaven applaud mothers? Yes, it does, especially when mothers applaud heaven first. Does anyone really care? Yes, our Father in heaven cares tremendously and continually implores us to come to Him and find rest for our weary souls. But we must come.

A friend said to me today, "Plan the calm," and I couldn't agree more: Plan the calm by planning to spend time with your Father. Then, you will be the virtuous mother you desire to be, and God will get the glory.

~Deborah

Love,
~gena
gena@tosmag.com

Just a mom. That's what I would like on my tombstone. No, not the mom part . . . but the phrase, "Just a dad." No apology, no explanation, no justification, no tongue-in-cheek defense . . . just three wonderful words. Just a dad.

Listen here, Mom. Relish those three words. Don't define them, defend them, or justify them. Just bask in them. Especially this Sunday.

Happy Mother's Day,

Todd

Ruth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist 

and

Debbie Strayer, Homeschool Consultant 

For me, Mother's Day is a great reminder and opportunity to count my blessings. I had a wonderful and loving mom who went to be with the Lord when I was a teenager; but I still remember her love, her tender-hearted kindness, and the devotion she generously gave our family. Though I have missed her many, many times over the years, I can still think back to all she meant to me and I am thankful. I remember hoping and praying that I would have the chance to have my own dear ones someday.

Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the precious gifts God gave us in our children. From the time they were young, I realized that a deep satisfaction and joy had come into my life that I had never known existed. As all you moms will attest, who knew you could love so completely and give so freely? As if just raising them wasn't enough, then the Lord brought homeschooling our way, and my opportunity to know and love these children in such a personal and special way grew even more.

With each passing year I would say to myself, how can it be any better than this? When they were young, every day was an adventure. A song, a cookie, the sight of a butterfly all led to "oohs" and "aahs" of excitement. As time went on, my wise, mother-like mentor, Dr. Beechick encouraged me to observe my children--to know and appreciate God's workmanship, and so I did. She encouraged me to work with God's plan, not to create a plan of my own, to trust Him to lead and guide me, and He has been faithful. 

Now that my children are grown and dear friends, all I can say once again, is thank you, Lord. You are good beyond my wildest dreams and I have been abundantly blessed. Every step of the way you have given me the gifts of love and when I look around me, I see so much to be grateful for. Today, dear friends, take a minute to look around you and count your blessings, for truly, God has been good to us. 

~ Debbie 

Read more from Debbie at www.debbiestrayer.com.