Thank you Matt at Jesusluvsall Blog for creating and nominating me for the Mom’s Making A Difference Award. I feel very thankful and honored to have the privilege to share my thoughts with others on motherhood.
I invite anyone reading this post to visit Matt’s blog at: Jesusluvsall Blog
Although Matt struggles with chronic illness, it’s always inspiring to see how he keeps on pursuing Christ. He is answering God’s call on his life to help and encourage people from different cultures. You’ll be blessed by his writings!
My daughter Shalenah is 22, and a recent college graduate. I’m in awe at how fast the years have flown by. She has blossomed into a beautiful and intelligent young lady. I am very blessed and proud to be her mom.
Although I have been a single parent for most of her life, I have never felt alone in my parenting. My mom has been with us every step of the way loving us, supporting us and diligently praying for us. We have also had the love, support and prayers of many other family members and friends.
One of the greatest lessons I have learned about being a mom, is the importance of prayer. I know that may seem obvious, but with the busyness of life, it can be easy to neglect to pray. I also know that as moms, we tend to try and fix everything ourselves, but we don’t have to. We can just place the challenges of parenting safely in God’s hands. He knows the exact purpose He has for our kids.
Through every stage of our children’s lives we must learn to trust God. I’ve enjoyed being a college mom for the last four years, but now I have to transition into another phase. I have to trust God to guide my daughters steps as she pursues her “after college” adult life.
When my daughter was about 11, I signed up for a parenting class at church called, “Growing Kids God’s Way”. One week in particular we learned about a concept called, “Couch Time”. The purpose of Couch Time for the married couples in the class, was to remind the children that the priority relationship in the home was the one between Mom and Dad. During the fifteen minutes of Couch Time, the children were to play or work on whatever activity their parents gave them. While the kids were occupied, Mom and Dad had to spend uninterrupted time together talking on the couch where the kids could see them. This small but important routine assured kids that everything would be alright, because everything was alright between Mom and Dad.
For myself and the other single parent in the class, we had to spend our time on the couch with God while reading our Bible. It always seemed my daughter had so much joy during this time. She would occasionally glance over at the couch, to ensure that I was still there spending time with God. Couch Time was so powerful for me because it taught me that God was the head of my home. He is my Husband (Isaiah 54:5). In my heart, it reinforced that God was faithfully watching over my daughter and I and providing for us.
That Couch Time lesson was years ago, but God’s grace has remained the same. He has taken good care of me and my daughter, and loved us unconditionally. Although she is a young adult now and entering a new phase of her life, I can look back and see how God has directed our paths. This gives me strength to keep trusting Him in the future. I’m so thankful for His presence in our lives.
I nominate the following Moms for the Mom’s Making A Difference Award:
Deandra at: Imago Dei
Crystal at: Devotions of Grace
Renee at: Heart Tokens
Rules:
1- Please share a post about being a mom.
2- Please pass it on to another mom or other moms.
Drawing Closer to Christ 