Thursday, March 27, 2008
Who am I?
And just in case you don’t feel overwhelmed yet, don’t forget the other roles that we play in life. In addition to wife and mother, we also are daughters, sisters, friends, church members, employees, bosses, neighbors, committee members, and prayer warriors (just to name a few.) Somehow, we are to incorporate all of these roles and ideas and come away self-confident, self-assured and with a healthy self-image.
One day I began to think about my identity and the old adage from Helen Reddy’s song, “I am woman, hear me roar,” came to mind. Immediately my spirit rejected it. During one point in my life, I embraced this phrase, and what I felt were the ideas it supported. I had experienced pain. I was strong. I was independent. I could take care of myself. I desired to have a special man in my life, but told myself that I didn’t need one. I was wise. I was invincible. I’d paid the price. These are the things I told myself. I now realize that I “roared” these mantras because they were the characteristics I admired in other women more than because I owned them myself. I had bought into the shift in cultural thinking that women “can do anything a man can do, and do it better” and that women are superior to men (ideas that have very obviously damaged the foundation of both marriage and family.)
One day I began to think about my identity and the old adage from Helen Reddy’s song, “I am woman, hear me roar,” came to mind. Immediately my spirit rejected it. During one point in my life, I embraced this phrase, and what I felt were the ideas it supported. I had experienced pain. I was strong. I was independent. I could take care of myself. I desired to have a special man in my life, but told myself that I didn’t need one. I was wise. I was invincible. I’d paid the price. These are the things I told myself. I now realize that I “roared” these mantras because they were the characteristics I admired in other women more than because I owned them myself. I had bought into the shift in cultural thinking that women “can do anything a man can do, and do it better” and that women are superior to men (ideas that have very obviously damaged the foundation of both marriage and family.)
Monday, March 24, 2008
A mom's many jobs
As mothers we often hear or read various descriptions of the many jobs that we perform. These include, but are not limited to, wife, mother, chef (sometimes short-order cook), chauffer, personal assistant, Chief Financial Officer, nurse, housekeeper, sex goddess, time-management specialist, spiritual advisor, and teacher. Despite these distinguished (and not so distinguished) titles, many of us continue to feel bogged down by the never-ending, daily responsibilities of motherhood. We want to embrace the respect and pride in fulfilling these roles. Most days, however, there’s just no energy to do so.
Another stumbling block to fully embracing the idea of glorified motherhood is the way that our society has altered our thinking about what it is to be a woman. Often it feels as if there is no way to win. Mothers who work outside of the home (whether by choice or necessity) are often made to feel guilty for not making motherhood their top priority. We’re told that we can “have it all” and then chastised for not “giving it all up” for our children. Mothers who choose to stay at home full time are generally seen as not contributing to society. We’re told that by “just being a housewife” and choosing to make sacrifices for our children that we don’t contribute to our communities and the world. There’s still the idea among many circles that housewives are lazy and that they watch TV and eat bonbons all day. Try creating a positive self image as a mother with all those mixed signals!
Another stumbling block to fully embracing the idea of glorified motherhood is the way that our society has altered our thinking about what it is to be a woman. Often it feels as if there is no way to win. Mothers who work outside of the home (whether by choice or necessity) are often made to feel guilty for not making motherhood their top priority. We’re told that we can “have it all” and then chastised for not “giving it all up” for our children. Mothers who choose to stay at home full time are generally seen as not contributing to society. We’re told that by “just being a housewife” and choosing to make sacrifices for our children that we don’t contribute to our communities and the world. There’s still the idea among many circles that housewives are lazy and that they watch TV and eat bonbons all day. Try creating a positive self image as a mother with all those mixed signals!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Share prayer part 2
The second say to share prayer is to literally share it – to pray together. For if two agree about anything and ask for it, the Father will answer that prayer (Matthew 18:19.) Praying together can encompass the prayers mentioned above, prayer for families, prayer for friends, prayer for just about anything. It can be done in five minutes snagged while waiting for children to be released from school or get off the bus. Prayer can happen on a walk, in the car, over coffee, or while children play in the background. It’s nothing mysterious and doesn’t require certain conditions. All it requires is a heart that desires to talk with God.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Share prayer part 1
Share prayer: Prayer is something that almost everyone does, whether they are a Christian or not. Prayer often tends to be a higher form of wishing. Something deep in the core of our being calls out to a supreme, all-powerful being when we’re in need. And sometimes we pray for what we want. Prayer, however, is something that we are told to do (about everything) and shown how to do throughout the Bible. Prayer is meant to be powerful. It changes things. It changes attitudes. It changes lives. Prayer brings us closer to God, allows us to hear from God, and brings us closer to each other. Prayer can be shared in two ways. The first is praying for each other. These can be general prayers for health, safety, spiritual growth, and guidance. They can also be specific for things such as making a particular decision, handling a marital challenge, coping with a difficult child, or comfort in a time of loss. They can also be deeply personal, for things that are internal struggles such as personal sin and temptation. These are the hardest things to share, but usually need the most prayer. Knowing that someone is praying for you in a certain area can be reassuring and comforting.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
What's your biggest mommy reward?
I want to know: What is your biggest reward as a mom?
Is it snuggles first thing in the morning?
Seeing your child accomplish something on his or her own?
Hearing them say things that you taught them?
Just watching them play?
Is it snuggles first thing in the morning?
Seeing your child accomplish something on his or her own?
Hearing them say things that you taught them?
Just watching them play?
Monday, March 17, 2008
Share accountability
Share accountability: Sometimes I am very self-motivated. I am in touch with my priorities and utilize all of the tools I have to be efficient with my time. At other times I get distracted – by extraneous events, exhaustion, or a break in routine. It’s these times I rely on my accountability partner is someone you share your goals, objectives, desires, short-comings and heart with. An accountability partner nudges you back on track, encourages you to keep going, listens, laughs with you, cries with you, and helps you maintain balance. It’s a relationship that must be mutual and with someone who is trustworthy. As with any relationship, it should be one that challenges you to grow in a respectful and supportive way.
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Thursday, March 27, 2008
Who am I?
And just in case you don’t feel overwhelmed yet, don’t forget the other roles that we play in life. In addition to wife and mother, we also are daughters, sisters, friends, church members, employees, bosses, neighbors, committee members, and prayer warriors (just to name a few.) Somehow, we are to incorporate all of these roles and ideas and come away self-confident, self-assured and with a healthy self-image.
One day I began to think about my identity and the old adage from Helen Reddy’s song, “I am woman, hear me roar,” came to mind. Immediately my spirit rejected it. During one point in my life, I embraced this phrase, and what I felt were the ideas it supported. I had experienced pain. I was strong. I was independent. I could take care of myself. I desired to have a special man in my life, but told myself that I didn’t need one. I was wise. I was invincible. I’d paid the price. These are the things I told myself. I now realize that I “roared” these mantras because they were the characteristics I admired in other women more than because I owned them myself. I had bought into the shift in cultural thinking that women “can do anything a man can do, and do it better” and that women are superior to men (ideas that have very obviously damaged the foundation of both marriage and family.)
One day I began to think about my identity and the old adage from Helen Reddy’s song, “I am woman, hear me roar,” came to mind. Immediately my spirit rejected it. During one point in my life, I embraced this phrase, and what I felt were the ideas it supported. I had experienced pain. I was strong. I was independent. I could take care of myself. I desired to have a special man in my life, but told myself that I didn’t need one. I was wise. I was invincible. I’d paid the price. These are the things I told myself. I now realize that I “roared” these mantras because they were the characteristics I admired in other women more than because I owned them myself. I had bought into the shift in cultural thinking that women “can do anything a man can do, and do it better” and that women are superior to men (ideas that have very obviously damaged the foundation of both marriage and family.)
Monday, March 24, 2008
A mom's many jobs
As mothers we often hear or read various descriptions of the many jobs that we perform. These include, but are not limited to, wife, mother, chef (sometimes short-order cook), chauffer, personal assistant, Chief Financial Officer, nurse, housekeeper, sex goddess, time-management specialist, spiritual advisor, and teacher. Despite these distinguished (and not so distinguished) titles, many of us continue to feel bogged down by the never-ending, daily responsibilities of motherhood. We want to embrace the respect and pride in fulfilling these roles. Most days, however, there’s just no energy to do so.
Another stumbling block to fully embracing the idea of glorified motherhood is the way that our society has altered our thinking about what it is to be a woman. Often it feels as if there is no way to win. Mothers who work outside of the home (whether by choice or necessity) are often made to feel guilty for not making motherhood their top priority. We’re told that we can “have it all” and then chastised for not “giving it all up” for our children. Mothers who choose to stay at home full time are generally seen as not contributing to society. We’re told that by “just being a housewife” and choosing to make sacrifices for our children that we don’t contribute to our communities and the world. There’s still the idea among many circles that housewives are lazy and that they watch TV and eat bonbons all day. Try creating a positive self image as a mother with all those mixed signals!
Another stumbling block to fully embracing the idea of glorified motherhood is the way that our society has altered our thinking about what it is to be a woman. Often it feels as if there is no way to win. Mothers who work outside of the home (whether by choice or necessity) are often made to feel guilty for not making motherhood their top priority. We’re told that we can “have it all” and then chastised for not “giving it all up” for our children. Mothers who choose to stay at home full time are generally seen as not contributing to society. We’re told that by “just being a housewife” and choosing to make sacrifices for our children that we don’t contribute to our communities and the world. There’s still the idea among many circles that housewives are lazy and that they watch TV and eat bonbons all day. Try creating a positive self image as a mother with all those mixed signals!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Share prayer part 2
The second say to share prayer is to literally share it – to pray together. For if two agree about anything and ask for it, the Father will answer that prayer (Matthew 18:19.) Praying together can encompass the prayers mentioned above, prayer for families, prayer for friends, prayer for just about anything. It can be done in five minutes snagged while waiting for children to be released from school or get off the bus. Prayer can happen on a walk, in the car, over coffee, or while children play in the background. It’s nothing mysterious and doesn’t require certain conditions. All it requires is a heart that desires to talk with God.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Share prayer part 1
Share prayer: Prayer is something that almost everyone does, whether they are a Christian or not. Prayer often tends to be a higher form of wishing. Something deep in the core of our being calls out to a supreme, all-powerful being when we’re in need. And sometimes we pray for what we want. Prayer, however, is something that we are told to do (about everything) and shown how to do throughout the Bible. Prayer is meant to be powerful. It changes things. It changes attitudes. It changes lives. Prayer brings us closer to God, allows us to hear from God, and brings us closer to each other. Prayer can be shared in two ways. The first is praying for each other. These can be general prayers for health, safety, spiritual growth, and guidance. They can also be specific for things such as making a particular decision, handling a marital challenge, coping with a difficult child, or comfort in a time of loss. They can also be deeply personal, for things that are internal struggles such as personal sin and temptation. These are the hardest things to share, but usually need the most prayer. Knowing that someone is praying for you in a certain area can be reassuring and comforting.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
What's your biggest mommy reward?
I want to know: What is your biggest reward as a mom?
Is it snuggles first thing in the morning?
Seeing your child accomplish something on his or her own?
Hearing them say things that you taught them?
Just watching them play?
Is it snuggles first thing in the morning?
Seeing your child accomplish something on his or her own?
Hearing them say things that you taught them?
Just watching them play?
Monday, March 17, 2008
Share accountability
Share accountability: Sometimes I am very self-motivated. I am in touch with my priorities and utilize all of the tools I have to be efficient with my time. At other times I get distracted – by extraneous events, exhaustion, or a break in routine. It’s these times I rely on my accountability partner is someone you share your goals, objectives, desires, short-comings and heart with. An accountability partner nudges you back on track, encourages you to keep going, listens, laughs with you, cries with you, and helps you maintain balance. It’s a relationship that must be mutual and with someone who is trustworthy. As with any relationship, it should be one that challenges you to grow in a respectful and supportive way.
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