I wonder, often, how you are doing and how I can support you. I know parents who are truly cherishing this time and stewarding it well to support those on the front lines, and I know parents who are being totally crushed by this season and feel like they’re not going to make it another day. I also know a lot of parents who fall somewhere in the middle. I’ve found myself in all of these places, just depending on the day (or hour!) I’m guessing you can relate.

I never imagined I’d be sharing a post about how God is growing us through a pandemic. I pray this note finds you and your family well and feeling held in God’s hands. If I can pray for you in any specific way during this time, please don’t hesitate to reply and let me know. I am alongside you under His grace.

I don’t have “one word” or a New Year’s resolution this year but while driving alone in my car (a rarity, indeed!) and chatting with God about some things that were on my heart for my kids, God gave me four words that I could not ignore. I tried, oh trust me, I tried to ignore the words. I tried to convince myself those four words were merely of my own imagination and not from God. But throughout the rest of the day, the four words settled in my soul and I received them not as a challenge, but an invitation. 

I was pushing my cart through the décor section in Target when my toddler spotted the Christmas section across the way and exclaimed, “Look Mom, it’s a Christmas tree.” Had he not been buckled in, he may have ejected himself with enthusiasm. I wasn’t surprised that my little guy was excited to see the beautifully lit tree. What did surprise me was the answer he gave when I responded and asked, “You’re right buddy. That is a Christmas tree! Do you remember what Christmas is about?” Without hesitation he responded, “Yes! Santa brings us presents!”

There's a familiar pressure trying to make it’s way back into my heart. So I’m calling it out and sharing it with you in case you know this one too.

It’s the one that whispers, “Your child’s path is decided by how well you parent.” It’s not surprising that these pressures (aka lies) come creeping back. There’s enough messaging in our culture to make us feel like it’s all riding on how well we perform as parents. But strangely enough, this specific pressure once stemmed from me taking scripture out of context.

Friend, You are SET FREE for freedom! I pray and hope that this month has been an opportunity for you to truly discover how the promises of God empower us to parent in the assurance of His sovereignty and grace!

I just love The Message paraphrase of Romans 8:38-39.  “Absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.”

Doesn’t it paint just the most tender and beautiful picture?  Jesus has embraced us!  And nothing – no sin, no shortcoming, no shame – can wedge its way into that embrace. Jesus holds us THAT TIGHTLY in His embrace. 

I recently had coffee with a friend who is a first-time mom, and her adorable baby is getting older and beginning to look more like a tantruming toddler.  She is also pregnant with her second child.  So to say she was feeling really overwhelmed and defeated on this particular day would be an understatement.

This particular friend is familiar with how my parenting journey began, which just means she knows that when I first became a mom, and I had 3 little boys under 5, I had unrealistic expectations of perfection of myself, and therefore I had unrealistic expectations of perfection of my kids. 

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9

This is what the Lord said to Paul after Paul begged the Lord to take away a weakness in his life. Can we just sit with this verse for a moment and think about how we would have responded to this assurance that the Lord gave Paul.

“Mommy, does Jesus live in your heart?” That’s the question a precious seven-year-old girl asked her mom after they’d finished their nighttime prayers.

The mom stroked her daughter’s hair, looked tenderly into her daughter’s eyes, and assured her, “He sure does, sweetie. Jesus has been in my heart since I was a young child like you.”

“Mommy,” her daughter continued with childlike curiosity, “what does Jesus do in there?”