The Gentleness Challenge

Join Courtney and the rest of us over at 
Women Living Well for The Gentleness Challenge for mom's.  I know this challenge is for me as I am not naturally a gentle person.  Yet....I want to be!  Isn't that half the battle?  Let me just say if you know you should, yet don't have the desire, pray for God to give you the desire.  Can you tell I've been there?  I have often snapped at my children or yelled in exhaustion or frustration only to feel bad about it moments later.  Can you relate?  Come on over and join us all as we strive together and sharpen one another toward godliness.

In relation to all of this, I have realized *again* that  I didn't see a lot of my reactions, trying to figure the ends out, changing course of plans etc,...for what it really was. Yesterday I heard a sound bite on the radio that made me again realize that I allow fear to torment me, yet I don't see it that way at the time. Logic and clever sounding excuses allow me to get around that which I am afraid of and I don't even realize that is root of these issues at the time.  That's a scary thought.  It's also something that could very well, and in fact does lead to lack of patience or anxiety which makes being a gentle mother a hard thing to grasp practically. 

Faith and perfect love cannot co-exist with fear.  I know this logically when I take the time to reflect on the issues.  *(note to self:  take the time to reflect!!!)  I am so done with living in fear. It is a torment, and doesn't change a thing for the better. Maybe for the worse, yes!!! God did not intend that for me, he gave me His son! His SON!!!!! Why would he withhold a lesser need from us when He has given us the most precious already? If He wants our kids for example to have something (such as musical training or other extra curricular things------one of the issues that had been nagging my mind BTW) then He will provide it. We can't lean on our own understanding. Perhaps it's not as important as it seems to me.  Perhaps there is a more important issue that needs to be worked on first before adding an activity that would allow less reflection time. We have to trust in Him, anything less is a big slap to the face with all He has done for us already. Scary thought! I am going to be more of an intentional
mother this year, it's so important.  I am going to try and look at the day at hand and stop worrying over the next.

Beatitudes For Homemakers

*Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a work of love; for her willing hands
  and happy heart transform duty into joyous service to all her family and God.
*Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friends;
  for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.
*Blessed is she who mends both stockings and broken toys and broken hearts;
  for her understanding is a balm to her husband and children.
*Blessed is she who scours and scrubs; for well she knows that cleanliness is one expression of godliness.
*Blessed is she whom children love; for the love of a child is of greater value than fortune or fame.
*Blessed is she who sings in her work; for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.
*Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps all the cobwebs of confusion;
  for her faith will triumph over all adversity.
*Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal;
  for her cheerfulness is an aid to mental and physical digestion.
*Blessed is she who introduces Jesus Christ to her children;
  for Godly sons and daughters shall be her reward.
*Blessed is she who preserves the sacredness of the Christian home;
  for hers is a divine trust that crowns her with dignity.

By Ella May Miller