A Favorite Christmas Memory

When I was probably 5 or 6, my mom and I were out Christmas shopping and she found this really pretty collectible doll that had a wind-up thing on it that played a song and the little doll would rock back and forth to the music. "Mommy, is that going to be my present!?" "No I'm buying this for me for Christmas!" she said. That was so confusing to me. You can't buy a present for yourself because then you wouldn't be surprised on Christmas morning when you open it! That Christmas, my mom wrapped up her doll in pretty wrapping paper, put it under the tree and then opened it Christmas morning. 

For years, I couldn't figure out my mom's odd behavior. I would think about it every year and ponder why she did that. But now that I have had 4 Christmases as a mom, I finally understand why she did that. 

She was taking care of herself.

As a mom, we give and we give and we give. We are lucky if we get a full, unrushed meal... or a shower. 

So it's important for us to take care of ourselves! We can't give out anything of ourselves to our husband, our children, or others if we HAVE nothing to give out! 

Reading our Bible, taking time "off" from motherhood by getting coffee with a friend, working out, or even buying a little extra something for ourselves.... find things that pour back into you, that fill you up. 

This applies to everyone! While stay-at-home moms do especially struggle with having any time to themselves or having no routine change and dealing with the same people 24/7.....  anyone can commit too much of their time to something. We need to be careful that we don't burn ourselves out. Because when we do that, we can't do what God is asking us to do: show love to others. If we are too overwhelmed and haven't taken time to ourselves we end up giving everyone the LAST of what we have... which is usually snippy and grumpy.

People deserve your best. Your family deserves your best. You deserve your best. God deserves your best. Make sure you take time to grow and encourage yourself,

Thanks Momma... for unknowingly teaching me that lesson all those years ago. Thank you for taking time for yourself so you could give me your best. <3

What are some things you can think of that your mother did to take care of  herself in order to be able to give back to you? Comment here on the blog or on Facebook! Tag your mom or share this with her as a THANK YOU!

Are You The Problem?

This past Sunday in church we had a guest speaker, Dino Rizzo. (Link to service attached at the end of this post) He talks about how our actions need to point to Christ, how we are a sample of Jesus to others (like the yummy samples in Sams or Costco), and how our actions need to be an invitation to others to join in a relationship with Jesus Christ. This is elementary to me, I've heard this my whole life. I KNOW this. But this weekend, during the message, God asked me a question, "Are you doing these 3 things for your children?"

While yes, I know my job is to love my children and raise them in a godly way .... and I know that I need to be an example to them of how we should treat others. I also know that how I am with them will directly effect their relationship with God... 

But it just suddenly hit me. Are my actions towards them pointing their little spirits toward Jesus? Are my actions giving them a sample of Jesus' love, forgiveness, kindness, self-control...? When my kids are old enough to decide for themselves if they want a relationship with God and that they want to follow His Word, will they think back to their childhood and how they were treated by their mom and feel invited towards what she had?

Or will my children see that God acts on his anger? Will they see that God is lacking in self-control? Will they see that being in a relationship with God is a casual thing and really has no relevance in their life? That it's not something they really need? 

And while I feel like I can say with confidence that they will know that I love them and that I love God and that I want them to be in a relationship with Him.... will they also feel confusion about WHO God is because of my actions? About how to be rich in good deeds (Dino Rizzo's message)? About how to treat their own children or their spouse?

If I can show kindness, patience and mercy to those outside of my home, but not to the tiny people that God has trusted me with, then I am the problem. I am what is wrong with the world.

I want to be the one the POINTS to the Solution of our messy lives. I want to be the one that shows them a SAMPLE of who God is, what He has for us here, and even what heaven is like. I want to be someone who INVITES my own children into the most amazing and beautiful relationship I have ever experienced. I want them to know the fullness of His forgiveness, His grace and mercy, His compassion and His love, just as I do.

But if I am the one, not the world, who is the problem.... what hope do they have? God trusted Jeff and I to lead these little people to Him. Trusted us to show them how go out into all the world and show that hurting and lost world the love of a Savior who died for their mistakes.

Putting these 3 things (Point, Sample, Invite) at the forefront of my mind these past few days and acting on them has helped me immensely in how I deal with the everyday things that happen around here. I will never be perfect, I won't always get it right. My children will be asked to forgive me over and over. But if they can see that I am constantly going back to Jesus, that I am constantly pointing back to Him... they will see Him and not me.

They will see HIM... and not me.

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. -Proverbs 11:24 & 25-

Parents: insert your child's name where others is at. Megan who refreshes Ian, Megan who refreshes Andrew, Megan who refreshes Ivy.... you, in return, will be refreshed. This goes for your spouse too. Even if your family believes in Jesus, why shouldn't you allow God to use you to show His love to them? 

For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for each of us to do. -Ephesians 2:8-10

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples." -Mother Teresa

(Watch Service Here: https://vimeo.com/147255741 )