Mother's Day Thoughts

Did you know that the history of Mother's Day goes back as far as the Ancient Greeks and Romans? Mother's Day in it's present form began in 1908 in the United States.  The History website has some rather interesting background about it. It was designated to the second Sunday in May by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. It was started by the church in the 1600's in England and was called Mothering Sunday and celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent.  It had it's rebirth in the general community in the late 1800's as a work club to teach woman how to improve sanitary conditions in order to lower infant mortality. Mother's Day was first held in Australia in 1924.

Dear Mother Who Feels She Has No Value
Our roles as mothers have a deep value far and above all we could ever imagine.  It saddens me just how devalued motherhood has become in the current social climate and today as I was reading through some scriptures pertaining to Motherhood I realised that God places a high value upon our position whether we are physical mothers or spiritual mothers.

Our Teaching is Valuable
In Proverbs 6:20-21 it says: My son, keep your father's command and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. Think about that for a moment.  We are instructed to not forsake our mother's teaching and to bind all her teaching about our necks.  Whether we are teaching our children life skills, new habits, scholastic subjects, language, anything we teach has value.  God sees it as so valuable that whatever we are teaching needs to be remembered by our children.

We are Worth MORE than Rubies*
Proverbs 31:10-30 We are so valuable that our value is equated to that of Rubies. You are valuable.  Stop comparing your real life to someone elses staged picture perfect life on TV or social media.   You are more valuable being yourself than trying to become what you think others expect of you.  You are especially created in the image of the Lord God (Genesis 1:27) and carefully he formed you in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) and you are fearfully and wonderfully made(Psalm 139:14).

*Did you know that rubies have a current market value of $15,000 / ct and a red ruby has the highest value of all. Rubies are a member of the four most precious gemstones in the world.

Our Position brings Blessing
In Exodus 20:12 God commands a blessing upon our children simply because of our position as the parent. God has chosen to use us as the reason that blessing flows to our children. The key that unlocks that blessing from God towards our children is their choice to children honour us.

Think about that for a moment.  We are so important that our very existence God chose to use as a reason to bless our children.

God compares His compassion to that of a Mother
We are so valuable to God that He chose to compare his compassion and remembrance with that of a Mother in Isaiah 49:15.

I think it is time for us as Mother's to take time to learn the truth of our personal value.  We are rendered powerless in our positions as mothers because we do not understand our true personal value.  We are robbed of the pleasure of our blessing (Psalm 127:3) when we base our value in the choices of our children.  Your value is not determined or reflected through the choices your children make.  Your value is in that God made you and He chose you and He formed you into a woman and a mother.

You are a Blessing Mother and you are deeply loved.

Think seasonally. One interest per season, coupled with thirty minutes of reading a day, may be all that is needed to keep up the Mother Culture and regain any lost enthusiasm for living - Karen Andreola

Past Thoughts on Mothers Day to Encourage you

• Dear Mom Who is Feeling Overwhelmed – As a mother so often we feel overwhelmed and alone. Here are some words to encourage and equip you as a Mother.
• Mother this IS who you ARE! – Often times we forget who we really are in the humdrum of daily living. Here are some words to encourage and remind you of who you are.
• 10 Things every Mom should Know – 10 things to remember from the perspective of your child.
•  Do you value "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle ... " - "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."  How often do we hear these words?  Often enough for them to totally loose their impact. As a full time stay at home Mom it's so easy to loose sight of the true value of our positions.
• Are you getting filled up because you are pouring out ...  This question really impacted me. It was one of those Ah ha moments.  I have been feeling very 'flat' of late and life was starting to become flatter by the day. I was generally  living in survival mode.  I should know better since I often ask my circle of home school mothers "What are you doing daily to recharge yourselves ?" Yet somehow in the busyness of life I had forgotten to apply to myself what I was encouraging my friends to do. 
• Time Out for YOU the Mom - this is an interesting question and one that often gets mixed responses from the community.
• Cultivate your soul - Are you living life abundantly?  How can you reach that place?  Read more and be encouraged.
• Find posts on Mother Culture here. -Some posts to encourage you on looking after yourself well in order to fulfil your role as Mother.

Ideas for Mothers Day

•  On Every Bed of Roses Pinterest you will find:   
• Mom's Craft Ideas
• Mother Culture   
• Marriage  
• Mother's Day
•  Mother's Day Poems - Mother's Day Celebration.
• Mother's Day Prayers - Mother's Day Celebration. 
•  25+ Mothers Day Crafts for Kids – Most Wonderful Cards, Keepsakes and More!- Easy Peasy and Fun
• 44 Mother’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids - Personal Creations
• Mother's Day Craft Ideas for Kids - Red Ted Art This pages has hundreds of links organised in categories.

History of Mother's Day

•  Mother's Day Turns 100 - National Geographic
• Mother's Day History - Mother's Day Celebration 
• 7 Things You Don't Know About Mother's Day -  National Geographic
• A history of Mother's Day: From campaigns for peace to cards, flowers and family reunions  - ABC News.

This post is part of the Homeschool Review Crew Resources & Gift Ideas for Mother's Day Round up.

Mother this IS who you ARE!

Dear Mother here is a message worthy of hearing at least once a week until you know it in your heart. You are worth so much more than you know.

Watch on YouTube: Who You Are: A Message To All Women

Dear Mom Who is Feeling Overwhelmed

Your soul aches from the secret doubts and fears. 
You lie awake at night allowing fear to gnaw at your insides

In those moments questions flood your soul

• Why does it feel like this?
• Why is it so hard?
• Why do I feel like a constant failure?
• Why is it that every choice feels like one that is wrong?
• Why does it feel like somehow I will NEVER measure up and be successful at this journey of MOTHERHOOD?
• Why do I constantly feel overwhelmed?

I too wrestle with these haunting questions that feel like a millstone of agony around my heart.
Oh Lord I've cried out in my heart, "Your word says Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." so why does this feel so deeply painful and bone wearying?  


And then His gentle voice whispers to my heart ...
                                                    
                    ... Be True to Yourself
 
WHAT do you mean Lord ?

And once again I feel His presence ...
                       
                              ... Be True to Yourself

The echo of this statement hangs in the air with breathless anticipation. I can feel it's the key to set me FREE...

I ponder these words:  Be TRUE to YOURSELF


As I contemplate my feelings it became clearer. When I started my journey first as a new Mother then as a  homeschooling Mom I was full of excitement and anticipation. I attended any and all meetings, listened avidly to all the conversations, diligently sought advice on different issues, carefully looked over anything new on the market, attended all the trips that fit our very tight budget and constantly strived to grow. It was all new and exhilarating. I looked forward to each monthly meeting, any conference and the fortnightly co-op meetings.

Each time I heard what someone was doing that sounded wonderful I added it to my list of what we were doing. After all what I could see them doing seemed to add to their success so if I did it too I would be successful ... I loved the results of what each of these families were doing and wanted that fruit for my family. As the years went by I began to become bone weary.

“Oh Lord I am sooo very tired, I just can’t anymore….” I slowed down, carefully chose what we did do and slowly over time my strength returned but my heart still ached with inadequacy and His voice keeps whispering to my soul

 “Be true to YOURSELF”

I have spent some time meditating on His words to my spirit and looking back it has become clearer. I now know what He is saying to my heart.

Each time I had attended a meeting I would watch all the Mom's there, comparing what we did with what they were doing.  After all they were further along this journey then me they must know what to do. I would then take note of what each of these Mom’s (who in my eyes were successful) were doing and I would take their way of doing things and try to add it to mine. I thought that if I somehow could do it the way they were I would be successful.  It never occurred to me to take the new idea to the Lord in prayer and seek Him to see if it was for us.

I now realise that if the Lord wanted ALL those things for my children He would have placed my children in their families. He did not. He chose my family and I had not been TRUE to myself and who HE had made me. I had added all these carbon copies and the burden was too heavy for me and for my children.

I had been trying to mold myself to look like these super successful Mothers.

In Colossians 3:1 it says: Set your hearts on things above. This is the key to setting you free and healing your heart. We need to focus on Him and His design for our families and not strive in the flesh to perform or become what someone else is.  

I had been trying to do all these things to be successful in the worlds eyes and had taken my eyes off HIM. He has been reminding me to ask Him and He will show me. I need to Trust in Him with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. As I acknowledge Him in ALL my ways He will make my path straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

My encouragement to you is to take your eyes off your friends (especially the super successful ones),  and place them firmly on your Lord.

He has a plan for you and it is a good plan. Your children, your home and your husband are a good and perfect gift from Him to YOU.  His word in in James 1:17 reminds us that 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' He makes no mistakes. 

In His word this week He reminded me: 'Come to me all you who are heavy laden and find rest for your souls' (Matthew 11:28-30). If you are exhausted or feeling overwhelmed take some time. STOP what you are doing. Prayerfully take it before your Heavenly Father and seek His heart for your family. Be TRUE to yourself and who He has made you. When He formed you He placed within you all you would need through Him to succeed (Philippians4:13) at the task He has placed before you.

He is the good Shepherd and He gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11) Dear Mother that is YOU! His yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and His burden is light and easy to be borne. He calls out to you to take His yoke upon you and to learn from Him, for he is gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief) and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls (paraphrase of Matthew 11:28-30).

This rest is found in being TRUE TO YOURSELF and whom He has created you to be.

Take some time to write a list of all the good things and meditate upon these and when life becomes overwhelming take some time to read your list and remind yourself to be TRUE to whom He created YOU to be. 

Blessings
Chareen

Mother's Day is right around the corner and I've gotten together with a group of bloggers to bring you a giveaway and blog hop that we are hoping will bless your socks off!

We not only hope to bless several moms with some pretty awesome giveaway prizes, but we also hope to bless many more moms through the Letters to Moms Blog Hop, where each participating blogger is writing a 'Dear Mom' letter.

These letters will be anything from a letter to our own moms, a letter to ourselves, a letter to a mother figure, or a generalized letter to a group of moms, such as weary moms, hopeless moms, expecting moms, single moms....... Maybe one of these letters will speak to you!

So please, hop around to the many other bloggers above, and of course enter to win the giveaway too - there will be 4 winners with the total prize value over $1000!

An InLinkz Link-up

10 Things every Mom should Know

An Open Letter To Moms from Kid President 

Blessings this Mothers Day

To My Children: A Mother’s Prayer

Today is Mother's Day in Australia and without my children I would not be a Mom. I am so grateful that children are a gift from His hand. Today I want to dedicate this song to my four children. (Mr T, Miss J, Sir N & One in the Fathers Arms.)

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, 

the fruit of the womb a reward.

(Psalm127:3)

A Mother’s Prayer 

(HANNAH'S SONG)

Words by Rachel Aldous 

Music by John Mandeville

Verse:

My sweet baby on loan from above.

No better treasure could I more love.

I stand here beside your bed as I pray

I lay my hand on your head and I say:

Chorus:

May you grow up to serve Him

all of your days.

May He lead you and guide you

in all of your ways.

May His hand bless your future with

friendships that last.

May you cherish your youth

and not grow up too fast

Verse:

I stare in wonder at your tiny frame.

Just to think that God knows you by name.

He knows every hair on your beautiful head.

He knows your thoughts before they are said. 

Chorus:

May you grow up to serve Him

all of your days

May He lead you and guide you

in all of your ways.

May His Hand bless your future with

friendships that last.

May you cherish your youth

and not grow up too fast.

Prayer:

May God grant you peace in the midst of a storm.

May God give you strength even when you’re forlorn.

May you answer the door when Jesus comes knocking.

May wisdom guide when your mouth is talking.

May discretion protect you and keep you pure.

May you never stumble or fall for a lure.

May your heart remain humble to the very end.

May uprightness and truth be what you defend.

May the world not ensnare or change who you are.

May the light that's within you shine like the stars.

May angels surround you body, spirit, mind. 

May favor and peace be yours to find.

May rejection and pain never reach you.

May your spirit grow bold for what you’re called to.

May you grow up to serve Him all of your days

May He lead you and guide you in all of your ways

May His Hand bless your future with friendships that last.

May you cherish your youth and not grow up too fast.

As you rest in God’s care I will rest, too.

Knowing that Jesus is watching over you.

Amen

Hannah speaks: 

I love you, Mommy…

Find A Mothers Prayer on Facebook,  WWW