Moms I Adore: Mother of a Teen

I am a mother to a 3, 5, and 9 year old and even though the baby and toddler years have been challenging, I am completely terrified of the teen years.  That is why I adore you, Mother of a Teen.  The wisdom and patience you have to build upon is truly a blessing, and your dedication to your child is strong.  I know how your heart breaks when your teen begins to “speak their mind” and lash out against you and the family that you have so carefully built with love.  Teenage years are so full of uncertainty, battles, and boundaries being crossed.  But yet, you stand your ground, and love your teen throughout it all, and you are there for them even though they think they don’t need you.  You fight with them, you fight for them, and you fight to keep them on the right track.  You hold on to your faith that the Lord will provide opportunities to help your teen grow in the Truth, and you keep that Truth evident in your life.  I believe no other prayer is as fervent, powerful, and effective as the prayer of a mother of a teen teetering on the edge of worldly desires.  Your prayers are pure and unselfish, and you would give your all to keep your teen from destruction.  Rest in the Lord, Mother of a Teen, He tells us that the “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)     You survived the birth of your child, the sleepless nights and unending feedings.  You survived the tantrums of your toddler and the grade school years of being awkward and teased.  You can also survive this, the years of I -know-everything, and mom-and-dad-know-nothing.  You help them understand that you do in fact, know what they are going through, and do not forget to share the problems you had, and be willing to admit when you have done something wrong.  Continue to train them up in the Lord, and in doing so, when they are old, they will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

I adore you, mother of a teen, your strength and courage amaze me, and I am so glad that you love your child enough to not let them go just yet, because in your wisdom, you know what is best.  Fight the good fight, and finish this race called the teen years.  Being blessed to parent them is no easy task, but just remember that you were placed in charge of this precious child of God, and it is your job to point them back to Him, back to the Creator, and in doing so, the strife and lessons learned from their teen years will carry them on to become better workers in the kingdom if you do not give up.  May God continue to bless you on this journey.

Moms I Adore: The Empowered Mom

This mom has some serious girl power. She is strong, smart, beautiful, and caring. She has an amazing career that allows her enough wiggle room to still be at home with her two beautiful little girls. She is creative and imaginative and uses these unique talents to raise her children, encourage her husband, and uses them in her profession. She is a deep thinker, and can carry on a deep intellectual conversation with anyone, then turn around and sing the ABC’s with her children. She is such a great balance of independence and submissiveness. Through her empowerment as a woman, she still submits herself to her Lord and to her husband. She has found the perfect balance between the two and you can see it through the things she does. She uses her abilities to help others develop theirs, and to inform, encourage, uplift, and bring glory to her Father. She isn’t afraid to profess that she has been blessed with a gift, and she uses her gift for her Father in heaven. She isn’t arrogant, or rude, and does not boast in herself and you can see her amazing traits through the things she does each and every day. This woman reminds me so much of the woman in Proverbs 31. The strong independence of the these two women are shown through the way they manage their homes and take charge of their careers all the while keeping their hearts in the shelter of their husbands. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she opens her mouth with wisdom. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her work praise her in the gates.

Moms I Adore: The Scripture Rich Mom

This very special woman is a stay-at-home mom with two boys who are in school.  She is one of the most amazing people I have ever met.  Out of her mouth flows scripture and passages to encourage and uplift her friends and her family.    Her children are wonderful and so well behaved; you can see the respect and love they have for their Mom.  When I hear of her speak about dicipline problems, or just day to day training with her two young boys, she always has a scripture ready for whatever occasion that may be.  She keeps herself in the word, and submerges herself in its powerful truths.  She knows how beneficial  the word is and she uses it in every aspect of her life.  I find peace when I talk to her, because whatever the case is, she usually has that inspired word of God in her heart and flowing from her mouth as we talk about the daily troubles and of life.

“The heart of her husband safely trusts her.” as stated in Proverbs 31:11 and “her children rise up and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28).   I just cannot say enough about this woman, through her life she radiates the Lord and his love for us.  She has taken his word and placed it close to her heart and more importantly, she shares it with others.  Thank you so much Scripture Rich Mom for the example that you are to all of us.  Thank you for using the word of God to train and raise your children up in the Lord, I have a feeling they will be great workers in His kingdom because of the example you are to them.  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3: 16-17)

Moms I Adore: The Gentle Spirit

Have you ever witnesses a moment that made you stop in your tracks?  With this Mom I Adore, I have stopped to watch her with her children several times.  She amazes me, I didn’t even know it was humanly possible to do what she does, but she does it, and the scene is surrounded with love and concern for her children.  When her children misbehave, she stoops down, holds them close, and whispers her reprimand.  So many of us discipline our children by raising our voice, but this mom somehow manages to dial it down, while still sounding firm, and administer her direction.  She is the stay-at-home mom of two children, and a dedicated wife.  She is one of the most sweetest spirits I know.  Out of her mouth flows love at all times, and I see so much beauty in this person.  She respects and loves her husband, and you can see the mutual love and respect in all that they do.  Her children adore her, and they are such sweet little girls, you can see their mother’s sweetness being passed on to them.  This woman is steady, and her husband and children I am sure, find security in her ability to control herself, even when at times, I am sure she would rather do the opposite.  I admire this trait so much and hope to one day be as gentle as she.  May the Lord bless you and keep you, Mom I Adore.  You are filled with “The incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is so precious to God.” (1 Peter 3:4)

Moms I Adore: The Enduring Mom

She lives for weeks at a time as a “single” mother of three.  Her husband’s job is demanding, and leaves her home alone with her children, yearning for the next time he comes in to be home.  Because of this life, I have selected this woman as the Enduring Mom.  She lives a holy and upright life and serves the Lord with all of her being.  She cleaves to her God with such an awesome faith and goes to Him for everything.  She is an excellent wife, and mother to her three little ones.  Though busy, and tired from her full time job and managing the home without her husband for weeks at a time, she still finds the time, strength, and love to raise her kids in the Lord and open their eyes to Him in the things she does every day.  She is such a wonderful example of patience and of self-control.  She is strong enough to take care of her children all on her own, and even more importantly, she is strong enough to ask the help of others when she needs a break.  I feel this is why she is such a good mother.  She takes time for herself, which is pretty few and far between, and she uses that time to give herself a break from the demands that try to overtake her.  I am so proud of this person and the wife and mother she is.  She is such an active member of the Church, and she makes sure that her kids are as well.  Though exhausted from the day, you can see her, sometimes with kids in both arms, hurrying through the Church doors so she and the kids can attend services.  When her husband is home, you can see all of them at services so happy to be with one another and in the company of their brothers and sisters in Christ.  This woman is blessed, and worthy of praise.  “The heart of her husband safely trust her” (Prov 31:11), “Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come” (Prov 31:25), “A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised”(Prov 31:30).  Thank you Enduring Mom for the example you are to me and many others, may the Lord continue to bless you and keep you and your family.