Who Do You Say I Am?

(Bluff Springs, Cloudcroft, NM)

Recently a friend shared with me that her 3 year old came up to her while she was cooking and said, "Hey Mom, if you turn our apron around, it will be a cape!".   It made me ponder on how our children see us as "Super Mom", able to do just about anything!  Most times we actually believe it ourselves.  It isn't just limited to motherhood, however, it extends to all other roles in our lives.  

I can run a load of laundry while I discuss biology with my eldest, then move on to rounding up the daycare kids for a fine motor development activity in homemade play-doh.  Next I can amaze you with getting seven children ages six and under to sit in a circle and sing praises to Jesus and listen to a Bible story.  That not "wow" enough?  Watch me look up Bible scriptures for a younger Christian friend or have a friend over for a "coffee chat" while the children have nap time - that is after I have touched algebra bases with my 14 year old and got the pork chops marinated.

Let us not forget to take care of ourselves!  

Quiet times.  Check.  

Workout.  Check. 

Spiritual mentoring times.  Check.

 "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Often this scripture comes to mind when thinking about my super mom/wife/disciple of Jesus abilities.  Question: how much of it is me and how much of it is Him?  

I would like to think that it's always in His power.  How true is that though?  I mean, how many years did I operate on my own limited strength before I met Jesus?  How much am I now?  I claim Jesus not just as my Savior, but also as my Lord.  Does He really rule in the area of my strength?  Has that changed over the years as I have matured in the Lord?  

Up until recently, the answer was "not truly".  It's so much easier to default and just "do" things. 

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 15:15-16

What changed?  I am working at acknowledging that it is the Son of the living God who really is in charge of the strength that I have to face each day.  I had heard this often enough and thought I "got it".  What did it mean on a practical day to day functioning though?  How do you do "ALL things through Him"?  

Isaiah 66:2b says “These are the ones I look on with favor:   those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word."

 "Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." 1 Chronicles 22:11

Herein lies the secret... knowing that in the intensity and insanity of the day, fighting to keep in mind that we are here to bring Him glory.  That is the crux of our existence if we claim to be in Christ.  It is acknowledging not only in my head that Jesus is greater than I, but also in my heart.  Humility.  Contrite.  Acknowledging my need for His strength knowing my mental, physical, spiritual faculties exists because He wills it.  

Back to what does this mean on a practical level?  When I am tired and don't want to give to my children, I remember that I am a living example of Jesus and I give.  When I don't want to be gentle and kind to anyone because I am tired and cranky, I remember that it is for the Lord I live, not myself.  When someone is horrid to me on the phone (dealing with governmental bureaucracy will at times bring this into play), I remember that it is not ME I want them to see, but the Son of the living God and HE will give me the strength.  


It is also giving praise and accepting forgiveness when I am weak and I give in and shoo away well-intentioned invitations to a round of chess from the 6 year old or snap at my 14 year old or tell that lady on the other end of the phone with the quippy attitude how I feel about that quippy attitude.  It is knowing that I in and of myself am nothing without God - and truly receiving that as a part of me.  


When those times come, I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.  I can ask for His forgiveness.  I can be humble and contrite and claim in Him that I am a new creation.  Embrace the cleansing that comes with that. Move forward and ask that He gives me what I need to not let the things of this world be more important... the stuff that needs to get done.... but hearts of those around me be the most important.  I want them to see God's glory not in me, but through me.  


And so there it is.  I can't do it all without His strength.  And I still won't be able to do it all, because only He can.  But there is peace in knowing this fact.  I won't ever have to "Wonder Woman", but I can be a disciple of Jesus - focusing on bringing Him the glory whether I am "doing it all" or surrendering to the fact that I blow it and need Him.

Allow yourself to feel the grace that He so freely gives.  Take off the apron/cape.  Bring glory to Him by showing His love and play Legos with that little one.  The dishes can wait.  You probably need the rest anyway.  


Who do YOU say you are?  Who do you say HE is? Keep it in perspective.  

Take 2 - Want Someone To Walk With?


Homeschooling.  Daycare.  Adult child.  Teen.  Preschoolers. Gradeschoolers. Working out.  Eating right.  Friendships.  Reaching out. Growing spiritually.  Shrinking physically.  Marriage. Finances.  Lack of finances. Down time. On time. There's so much to talk about.  There's so much to think about.  Even each topic carries with it layers to get lost in.  Where to start?  


I have never even followed a blog myself.  


My hope is that you are like me though.  It is always better for my heart when I have someone acknowledge that they've "been there" before.  You know what I mean.  You aren't crazy.  Someone else has felt lost, lonely, frustrated, tired, weary, just like you!


There are those of us who really are doing the best we can to be a Mary and sometimes slip into being a Martha, not just of housework, but of life work - that is, those things that make up the day to day living.  We can easily loose sight of Jesus and it becomes just something we do.  That's when we can get off track.  Been there lately? 


Let's walk together.  


I promise it's a place where being real is really the place to be.  Let's bring it back to Jesus. Together.

A felt board representation of "doing it together".  Notice the sun shining

It's all in how you see it....

Most mornings start off the same way. I reluctantly emerge from the warm embrace of a deep slumber to the pitter-patter of little feet and a sweet little voice - “Good morning, Momma”. If I’m lucky, a little persuasion gets me ten minutes of cuddle time with my favorite people. That’s the most peaceful and calm time of the day.

Today, chaos culminated around lunch. Kharisma and I discussed Thomas Jefferson’s letter to Meriwether Lewis (of the famed Lewis & Clark). I shoveled bananas into Matthew’s hungry little mouth as we discussed the wilderness, terrain, and “savages” these noble men faced. Matthew fussed when I would get too involved with the topic and I would reply with a goofy-momma smile and another glob of bananas. Then my stately teacher face would return as would my discussions with Kharisma. “This is do-able”, I think.

The Lewis letter is 200 years old. It’s tough to understand when you are 11. It’s even tougher when you are trying to help said 11 year old figure it out. I sent up silent prayers for patience and understanding before I respond to quizzical looks. At that moment, a little blonde cherub appeared before me. Golden curls haloed her face. “Momma, I have to go pee-pee.” I look to her... too long I guess. Matthew started his hungry little squeals again. So, another goofy smile and another two globs of bananas shoveled. Rachael can pretty much navigate the whole potty ordeal when she chooses to. I send her off to the bathroom where she usually pulls the stool up and does what she needs to.

At this point, big brother David, popped in and announced (because it is an announcement) he has to poop. “Use the one in my room, Rachie’s in the other one” and he darted off in the direction of my bedroom. More hungry squeals blasted from the baby boy. Another less exuberant smile and a glob of bananas. Rachael returned in tears. She had peed all over the floor. WHA? That never happened before! Ok – breathe and another quick prayer.

“Kharisma read the next paragraph and try to figure it out, I’ll be back.” I grabbed a handful of cheerios and tossed them in front of Matthew. He’s content for now. Off I headed to the main bathroom with butt-naked Rachael trailing me. I thought of Sacagawea and ponder “What did she use for diapers in the uncharted wilderness?” As I flopped the hand towel down on the puddle, I heard in the distance “Mom, I’m done”. It was David needing me to finish the task. Off I went, butt-naked Rachael still trailing me. The wiping’s done, David’s happy, and then off to re-dress Rachael.

I headed back out into the living room where I grabbed the still dry diaper Rachael was wearing before. (Background noise – baby fussing for bananas.) “Come on Rachael, let’s put this on you.” I turned to see her holding a new diaper. “I want this one”, she said scowling. ... urgh... more silent prayers. I wrestled the two year old to the ground and pinned her while I put the diaper and her pants back on. Sacagawea, how did you do it girl?

As I go to get the Swiffer and vinegar to wash the bathroom floor, I stopped and stuffed another two spoonfuls of gooey banana, sans smile. Just then, Kharisma announced “I got it!” (Thank you, Lord, for answering prayers!) As I sanitize the bathroom floor, I think - this is the stuff memories are made of – never things that you anticipate or even plan, but a culmination of chaos and love. Just like Lewis and Clark, we are all on our own expedition to navigate this wilderness called Motherhood. However, as mothers we have a choice... are we enjoying the beauty of the journey or are we overwhelmed by the obstacles of the uncharted territory? Stop complaining. Take a breath. Pray. You will never be down this path again.