Dear Sweet Moms,
You have been on my heart so often the past month. I know that the holidays puts an extra load on each of you as you serve your families and try to make your home a place of beauty, fun, filled with spiritual meaning and adding the extra special meals and gifts on top of that—and you have exhausted moms at the end of it! Yet, I know that your sacrifices of love make such a difference in the souls of your children. I am spending so much more time with my older children during this season of life when they are all home again. I see, anew, how much the years of filling their souls with eternal treasures and wisdom and love have been the making of them. Know that you are fulfilling the special design of God’s hand when you become a picture of Him and His love and creativity in your own home.
I had such a wonderful time with the precious moms the two weekends I spent speaking in Texas. They were a blessing to me. Then, we as a family, spent a week in the mountain town of Breckenridge, Co for a time of refreshment, as well as a time of writing for me. I have finished writing 4 new chapters and a new prologue for Seasons of a Mother’s heart—ten years later. Perspective from being older and living through years of God’s lessons for me as a woman and mom has taught me much that I look so forward to sharing with those of you who will be able to come to our conferences this year, or who are able to get the new Seasons of a Mother’s heart. God is so good!
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I love Christmas. The story of our heavenly Father condescending to come to the earth, through a normal family, just like yours and mine, is such a beautiful miracle. He chose family to be the venue through which He would grace the world with his presence. I love the fact that Mary and Joseph were young, first time parents, who experienced the pangs of a baby moving inside, the wonder of the timing of when their precious son, the King of all the world would be born. Then, to think that God the father brought Him into the world where the most common, working place shepherds would be invited to the celebration—by having the incredible privilege of hearing an angel choir in the starry night out in the countryside. Already they were acquainted with the myriads of stars that bespoke to them each evening of the transcendence and majesty of God—and then to be sung to by angels in the midst of the glorious beauty—unsurpassed awe must have filled their hearts.
In honor of the shepherds and of our savior’s birth, we celebrate a shepherd’s meal each Christmas eve. Thick slices of homemade herb, onion bread, chunks of cheese, nuts and fruit; along with steamy potato soup, we eat a simple meal by candlelight and read the Bible story out loud of His appearing to these families, and then we sing a few hymns together. It is one of the favorite evenings of the year for all of us and it reminds us that Jesus was a humble friend of the common man—that He can relate to our everyday life—and yet He is still the messiah before whom every knee will bow when He rules the universe from His throne. His life again becomes a model for us in ministry—that we must be humble and cultivate a heart for reaching out to the common man and woman—and bring them the glorious, generous love our savior-king.
The reality of the Christmas seasons for moms and for me, is that daily, we can feel that overwhelming pressure that the season brings—more to do, more activities, more relatives to please, high expectations on us every day. I try to take a deep breath, so to speak, every morning before I get out of bed, and commit my day into the hands of the Lord. Several of my friends are struggling with depression, one sweet mom, is struggling with post partum depression and irrational fears. One friend told me that before the Thanksgiving holidays, she was considering getting anti-depressant medication. But when she went to her mother-in-law’s home for a week, where she was pampered, she said she didn’t have one bad day! So she came home determined to include into her schedule, activities that she enjoyed. I do think it is so important that we do become wise conductors of our own life-symphony. We must care for our physical, emotional, spiritual lives in order to make sure that we are healthy and that our hearts are filled so that we will have resources from which all those who come to us, will have something to draw.
The reason that I wrote my book, The Mom Walk, is that I learned over the years, that it is only in consistently walking with Him, that we have the deep well of His resources to bring energy and wisdom to all the tasks of life. His word is what guides my mind and heart and priorities. I receive perspective for my soul in order to be able to make it, every day, with the power and grace and strength that the Holy Spirit provides. Of course there are many days that I find my resources low and my attitudes skewed and my heart overwhelmed. But it is in the continual coming to Him, where I find daily, the strength and refreshment that I need—for that day—and He is always there. My feelings are not always there, but when I read truth and obey His word, then I have confidence that what I have placed into His hands will be answered in His time and in His way. My feelings sometimes fluctuate, my confidence in Him is sure.
As I was praying for His perspective this season in my quiet time the past couple of days, He brought this to mind:
“For a child will be born to us, a son shall be given to us, and the government will rest on His shoulders; And his name shall be called:
Wonderful Counselor—He will counsel me in every area. He has the answers and the wisdom for my marriage, the issues that involve my children—their hearts, attitudes, health, future, friends, –He knows our financial needs; He will give direction for our future; grace to handle difficult relationships—He is Wisdom himself. I just need to go to Him and His word and He will instruct me in the way I should go. I must take time to come to Him!
Mighty God—He is strong and able to rule over any detail of my life. In His timing, he will act on my behalf. There is no enemy stronger than Him; He is powerful to overcome all difficulties, all temptations, all people or authorities. If I come to Him and ask Him to be my “mighty God” and to give His strength to any situation in my life, He is able and will work on my behalf—Jesus Christ is the Mighty God.
Everlasting Father—He always has a Father’s heart. Even as a father has compassion on his children, so God my father will have compassion on me (Psalm 103: 13-14). Even as a Father would give his child bread and not a stone, so my heavenly Father will give me what is good. I can trust Him to provide for me as I approach Him as my Father—and submit to Him as his beloved child. He, as my Father, is responsible for my life, it is not all on my shoulders. I need to rest against Him as a child rests in His Father’s arms. (Psalm 131:1-3)
Prince of Peace—Even though there is tribulation in the world, I can rest in the fact and in the hope, that all things will come to right some day. Jesus said, “In this world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” He will give me peace if I place all of the issues in my life in His hands. (the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.) I need to choose to leave my life in His hands, to not panic, to rest in His power and ability to take care of me and my children. He is also the peace maker—and when I humble myself and choose to love, He will bring peace. He has also made peace with me, through His sacrifice—he has forgiven me everything and for always. I have peace with God through Jesus.
In short, the name of the blessed messiah tells me that for today, for each day, He is all that I need—He will counsel and give wisdom, be strong and mighty for my cause. love and provide for me as a compassionate Father and bring peace to my heart. May the name of Jesus Christ be praised throughout each day of December as He leads me on this journey as a Mom!
That was so beautifully written. We read the Isiah 9: 2-7 together as a family for the first Sunday in Advent this year.
I must say that after we read and prayed and lit our candles, it was time for dishes and the bedtime routine.
I did not really ponder those words. I did not really consider what the names of God mean to me.
Thank you for taking the time to write out what it means to you.
Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, these things comfort and encourage me.
I am determined to not take time to meditate on the Lord and not let the Holi-daze overwhelm me this year.
Yours have penetrated deeply as someone who has been in my shoes. We are the only homeschoolers in both of our families and they just don’t seem to understand the things and the pressures we feel. Trying to meet certain expectations at Christmas can make those pressures heavier but this year due to financial issues we have scaled back and Jesus has been more of the focus. I have been feeling His Peace more deeply at this time.
Your words of encouragement are a balm for my soul. Thank you
Hello Sally,
Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement pointing us in the direction of our Savior!
Blessings! Carrie
I love your tradition of a shepherd’s meal. How fun and meaningful! I just finished reading Brock and Bodie Thoene’s book Sixth Seal which is a wonderful work of fiction that makes alive the Christmas story. It’s written from the perspective of both Mary and Joseph as well as the shepherd’s. Beautiful!
With our little daughter being 2 this year we are really having fun trying to keep the focus of the season on the fact that it is Jesus birth(day) that we are celebrating. I think she is really getting it as I find her telling me she is making things “for baby Jesus birthday”. Last night I caught her talking about baby Jesus in her sleep, and a few weeks ago, in a hardware store, she rushed over to the paint cards saying “I am going to pick out a card for baby Jesus’ birthday. Look daddy! I got a present for Jesus!”
I need to read this. God is always faithful to speak through His Children at the perfect time. Every year we rumage around the house and find anything to build our little manger scene. We often use old shoe boxes and glitter glue. I wanted to buy a manger scene this year, but my son said that he wasnt interested in any scene except for the tradition of making one. We also started a new tradition. He gets to leave a Christmas message on the greeting when people call the house. It is a cute Song about the Lords coming into this world.It so blessed my heart.
My prayer is that The Lord will reveal Himself to me in a very mighty special way this Christmas. He already has. One of them is reading this post by you Sally. And learning how to put the CHRIST back into Christmas. I have never read Isaiah 9:6 in the light that you have shared. I have a beautiful tapestry of that scripture hanging in my house that a friend gave to me. I look at it every day. But I’m so used to it being there that I pass buy the meaning day after day.. Praise be to God.
Love,
Your sister in Christ,
Nettie
P.s. I love what Rebecca wrote, HOW Adorable. Out of the mouth of babes Praise is Perfected.
P.s.s I have missed sharing on this blogg. I am always so encouraged.
P.s.s.s Have a very Happy HOLY-Day, and CHRIST-mas.
Love,
nettie
Thank you for this! I am going to link to this on my blog and use it for discussion in my friend Sarah’s Family Focus Friday topic (http://www.inlightofthetruth.blogspot.com) I hope that is okay?! If not, please let me know! I have found many traditions here that I am going to incorporate this year into our Christmas celebration. My husband and I grew up with our families acknowledging Christ at Christmas but that was about it. Santa Claus was the main focus. We also do the Santa Claus thing but we are scaling it way down and making Christ the focus. I believe that we are going to explain the Saint Nick thing and kind of go about it that way. Anyway, sorry for the blovel. You inspired me today and I am SO glad I found your blog! :o) Thanks again!
Blessings to you,
Julie
http://www.accordingtohispower2.blogspot.com
http://www.charliejulie98.wordpress.com
LOVE the website!!! Will have to come back when I have more time!!!
God Bless and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!