Jewels of Joy: October 2006

I don't usually write very much due to lack of time and not wanting to be putting my blog before the needs of the household, but today I want to write a bit of what is on my heart.

Just today I attending a Moms group, I will withhold the name of it, and was very saddened by the "teaching" I sat under. As I looked around the room, there were about 30 moms there gathered together enjoying each others fellowship and snacking on breakfast yummies. This start to our time together did not sadden me, it was what was to follow. This group met in a church, a church that I would pray would want to be a Biblical and spiritual encouragement to moms...but yet, God's precious name and His Word was not mentioned ONCE! I find this very sad and a very wasted opportunity to share God's heart with moms who are gathered together, all in the same season of our mothering journey.

God has blessed us with His very Word and we should not handle what He says lightly. I believe God has clearly shown us His heart in regards to parenting and being a mother. He has made it clear in Proverbs 31 that the worth of a Godly woman, a woman that fears God and obeys Him, is FAR above jewels. Proverbs 31: 10-31 walks us through the description of a Godly woman. Verse after verse, God clearly shows us woman a beautiful example of servanthood and true love for her family. This Godly woman uses her precious hands to clothe her family, to reach out to the needy, to prepare all the needs of her family...she is a precious jewel and yet we often feel like we could never be as her...yet, I do believe we can! With God's help and power we can! Her children rise up and bless her, her husband praises her! In verse 11 it says that the heart of her husband trusts in her...verse 12 says that she does him good and not evil...verse 25, strength and dignity are her clothing, she smiles at the future...verse 26, she opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue...verse 27, she looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness...

As you have read and hopefully have read before, this woman is amazing and a tremedous Godly example to us woman. Let us embrace these truths in God's Word and LIVE them out in our lives! Through God alone, the power of His Word in our lives will we live out God's beautiful call on our lives!

At this group meeting, I got a feeling from many moms that they are tired and fed up with their "job", not once was being a wife and mother referred to as a high calling or a gift from God, this again saddened my heart, because I do believe that the gift of mothering IS a HIGH calling and a blessing from God. The duties of an older woman towards a younger are clear in Titus 2:3-5. Older woman of God are to be an example and teach from God's Word his instrution to us younger wives and mothers. Yet, I do not see that happen too often...after attending this Moms group, I walked away, glad to have had some time with other moms, but yet very empty in the area of Biblical instrution and encouragement!

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own hubands, that the Word of God may not be dishonored" Titus 2:3-5

I firmly believe that my spiritual growth does NOT come from others and that I am to personally know my Heavenly Father through time in His Word, but when I read of what God has commanded of us wives and mothers and do not see it being taught, I have had to ask God what I am to do...I know that though I am young in my marriage and young in my mothering, I am still an "older" woman to some, so God has spoken to my heart to be the Godly example to those woman and young girls that likewise need to be instructed in God's Word.

I was created to be a helpmeet to my husband and for this, I am thankful and find complete satisfaction in who I am before the Lord. GOD has called me to this and I embrace it with my heart.

Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

I am a created helper to my husband and a keeper of the home. I love that I am blessed with this high calling from God! I have been instructed to love my husband and love my children. Being a "worker at home" is an around the clock responsibility, yet many moms don't view it as a privilege, but yet a drag...my heart was broken as I listened to all the moms speak out about how much work being a mom is and how they have no identity due to the tasks and demands of them....though I know not all of the woman who where there may feel this way, the ones who were our "teachers" did not bring us God's Word, but yet just stirred up discontentment in our demanding "job"....it left me wanting to evaluate and dig into my heart in regards to who I am before the Lord and the attitude I live out...a good place to be.

I will end now and just state that I do believe God allowed me to attend this group meeting to open my own eyes to how I view my calling as a mommy and wife. Sitting there, God gave me a desire to get into God's Word and reclaim the PRIVILEGE and blessing of motherhood!

We are all on a journey planned and given to us from God. I mess up a lot in these areas and need God's grace to get me through each day, each decision, but I believe that is exactly where God wants me, resting and NEEDING Him every step of the way...