Mothers of young children need to walk in wisdom, because self-sacrifice and diligence and patience are required around the clock. But God gives more grace when we ask for it, and wise mothers need to be asking for grace as much as their children are asking for drinks and treats and food in general. As soon as my daughter was big enough to get out of bed by herself, she would come to my bedside in the early morning and begin whispering very courteously in my ear, “Ba-na-na, ba-na-na, ba-na-na.” She must have coached my younger daughter a few years later, because she would do the same thing except expand the menu: “Ba-na-na…toast…cheerios…juice….” That is about the time, just as my eyes were opening, that I needed to start asking God for grace, eager, like my children, for results.

A wise mother bestows on her children, she does not demand. She teaches with Read More

While we’ve been here in Virginia, one of the women asked me a very good question that made me ponder. She asked me what I did as a mother that made my children turn out to be so creative. First I had to think about my children in terms of that word, creative. (I had previously thought they were just crazy, but creative describes them much better.)Yes, they are a creative bunch. Bekah designs and sews clothes, paints, and no big project intimidates her (like designing and laying a mosaic kitchen floor); Nate writes wonderful stories and designs and builds things (like the third story on his house); Rachel is a decorator, floral designer, caterer, poet, and project manager. Where did all this craziness come from?
The obvious first answer is that it is all a glorious gift from God. He has given my children talents which they are eagerly using, and the best of parents can’t put in what God left out. But God uses means to nurture these gift-laden children, and I suppose that is where I came in as their mother. Though I may not have always been aware of it at the time, I can see how God used some very simple things to encourage my children along the way. Here is a quick overview.
When Bekah was in high school, she began designing clothes. I had taught her how to sew when she was little, but by high school she wanted to sew without the benefit of a pattern. I remember wondering if I was wasting money buying all that fabric, because she seldom actually wore any of her creations. But I made a deliberate decision to keep buying the fabric because I saw it as an investment in her, not in her wardrobe. She spent hours Read More

Mothers seem especially good at worrying. We are designed to look after and care for our families, and so we are easily targeted to become worriers. But the problem with worrying is it is a complete waste of time. It accomplishes nothing good. As Jesus said, we can’t even get one hair to change color by worrying, so what makes us think worrying will keep our kids safe or pay the bills? It’s a futile activity.

But we must take some perverse pleasure in it, or else we wouldn’t do it. My own personal opinion is this: something happens that drives home to us how entirely dependent on God we are for our preservation, and the flesh panics and thinks something like, “You mean I’m not in charge? God is?” When the children are all safely tucked into their beds, we feel satisfied that we have everything under control. But when one of them is off on a skiing trip, or really sick, or driving in bad weather, we feel vulnerable. We can’t see them. We can’t protect them. These times are so very good for a mother’s soul. Realizing that our children and our grandchildren, the born and the unborn, are all completely, totally, absolutely, and perfectly in God’s hands should set us free from worry. If things really were in our hands and not in God’s hands, then we would have a reason to worry. But thanks be to God, that is not the case. We are all in His divine, omnipotent care. He has numbered our days. He orders our steps. The more we believe this with evangelical faith, the more we will be set free from worrying because we will see it for what it is — unbelief. God loves us and He loves our children more than we do. What a great relief and blessing the truth always is.  Wisdom doesn’t worry.

Years ago when my three were very small, I remember one day in particular feeling pretty swamped. I felt like I was shoveling all day to get everything done, and then the next day the pile was back again, same size as the day before. But this morning in particular must have been a real doozy because I called my mother-in-law for a little moral support. She did not respond with the pity that I had hoped for, but (something much better) she told me a couple of things that I have never forgotten.
First she pointed out that I didn’t really have it so bad. She told me a story about a missionary who was being persecuted for his faith, arrested, and hung by his feet in a cell. His wife came and fed him and ministered to him in this condition. So, in other words, she told me to quit feeling so sorry for myself, and that I didn’t have near the trouble that I

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