Gratitude and Reflection

I am so overwhelmed with thankfulness right now. The girls had friends over for the night, and my 15 and 17 year old went to work anticipating all of the fun things they could do with their cousin. They decided that they would throw a Christmas party, even though it is still October. They strung up lights, wrapped their bedroom door festively, planned for hot cocoa with candy canes and  chose Christmas music. It makes my heart glad that they are happy with what we have here in the house and are still able to have a good time doing wholesome things.

The oldest three girls and I read a chapter from a devotional by Elizabeth George for teen girls. The chapter was on serving others in love. I couldn’t help but think of my girls who did so much to make a pleasant night for all of us.

We all sat and decorated gingerbread houses, took pictures and enjoyed our premature Christmas activities.

I am savoring every moment of my children’s childhood. It is all too fleeting and I am constantly aware of that. I can still remember the first time we decorated gingerbread houses with Rebekah so long ago.

If you have young children, flash ahead in your mind ten years. How old will they be?  What will they be doing?

Now, hug them tight and go to work putting your all into being the kind of mother you ought to be. Mother to the glory of God. Do it with all that you have in you. It is tiring sometimes, but so is every other kind of work. Just do it. And in the end you will have no regrets.

Do not be a distracted mother. Or worse, a mother who lets her kids know that they are a bother. Befriend your child. Win their heart. In ten years, you’ll wish you could go back for just one more day and push that child on the swing or roll a ball with him. You’ll wish for one afternoon to sit and read a book or have a cup of hot chocolate and conversation. You’ll wish you had another day to teach him God’s word and encourage them to trust Christ.

Do it now today. God has given you today, but we have no guarantee for tomorrow.

What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. ~Martin Luther