The tools my Mother gave me!

As Mother's Day came to a close yesterday, I thought about all the tools my mom has given me. The tools we need to survive, to live, to love, to give, to fight when necessary and the tools to teach our own children.

I want to thank my mom for thinking about my future. She trained me up in the way I should go but you need to know.... I did not take the exact path she so diligently prayed and worked tirelessly for. Putting that aside when the fire of life breathed heavily down on me in high school, then college and into adulthood and now motherhood, I have her to thank for the hope she gave me.

She has passed on the tool of perseverance, the tool of not living by feelings but by honor and commitment, the tool of fighting for what is true and right for my family and for myself. The tool of bravery, the tool of consistency and the tool of always looking inside FIRST. The tool of encouragement and servant hood and the tool of self respect. The tool of how to become a wise women, the tool of admonishing myself and not giving into shame and guilt. The tool of loving without judgment, the tool of forgiving without condemning and the tool of believing without seeing. 

Now that being said I do not always use these tools she gave her life to teach me but having them rooted into my being helps to practice them and pass them on to my children.

I closed my eyes at the end of the day hoping my children can say that I gave them a similar tool box for life, necessary tools to withstand the snarls of cruelty that will appear and a joyful spirit to enjoy the laughter in between.

Thank you Mom for a job well done, for never giving up on me, for continuing to pray for me and spur me on, for parenting with joy and supporting the passion in me to pursue a life worth living.

I love you, I love you, I love you,

Your Grateful Daughter

In the glory of the moment

It is a day of all green lights. You know what I mean, when you hit the streets and all lights are green. You get to work with a smile creased across your face.

That is my week thus far - all green lights. One moment of glory following the other days of discontentment and I am left with yes mams and no thanks you's coming from the mouth of babes.

How do we celebrate moment of glory in the middle of a lifetime of chaos?

I choose to celebrate by sharing the moments with you to remember and reflect later.

The new chore chart up and they run to check off the boxes, the morning breakfast with no spills and helpful cleaner uppers. The bed time routine followed without whining or crying. The early evening quietness that relaxes the nervous system.

The days began with eagerness to learn more and completed with a verse that has been memorized with nagging. Sibling sharing without expectations!

The devil must not be attacking the A Team (my family nickname: Aspergers, Asthma, Addiction & Anger) this week.

The dryer and washer empty, the floor cleaned, the dishes done, the dogs walked the bills paid and the day still has time. 

In the celebration should come preparation for the flood- resting mind and body to withstand the next downhill slide stemming from human nature (selfishness and overdoing). 

 My preparation must include time with the God of Glory, music, laughter, sleep, exercise, open conversation with a genuine friend and stillness. 

May I reread to remember in the heat of battle against the threats of this world My moments of glory!