I'll Never Tire of Mother's Day

Some people have a love-hate relationship with Mother's Day. I'm not one of those people; I absolutely love the day.

Motherhood is no easy task, and anything we do to celebrate mothers is worthwhile. Now I'm not saying go out and spend money you don't have, but if a day forces you to acknowledge what you can be doing often, then it's worthwhile.

And I know some don't have the best relationship with their mothers; I know all mothers aren't saints or well-meaning. I know motherhood might have been a surprise for some, and they didn't handle it well. I know some mothers never treated their offspring kindly. This is the complexity of human nature that we all wrestle with.

I had no aspirations of being a mother, yet I became one four times over. For me, motherhood forced me to grow; to view life differently through the lens of a child at various stages. Motherhood empowered me; it made me realize that I could do things differently, especially if I didn't like the way things were done to me and how they made me feel. Motherhood made me smarter; I learned to listen to my children recognizing there is lots of wisdom in the mouth of babes. Motherhood gave me discernment forcing me to do what's best for me and mine. Motherhood humbled me; I know nothing, yet these little ones are looking at me like I must know everything. And though I never planned on it, motherhood taught me sacrifice. I've sacrificed goals and possessions in the name of putting others needs before mine. I didn't even know I could do this, but I did it over and over again. One last thing - motherhood made me realize I'm multifaceted. I can do many things, including being a mom. Motherhood is not the be all and end-all that we sometimes make it out to be.

I think humans are wired for acknowledgement and affirmation. This day was initially created to honor the sacrifices mothers make for their children. When we honor another person, we are showing that their efforts are not in vain and they are not taken for granted. It's very easy to take people for granted, even if you never intended to. Everyone needs a pat on the back, if only for a day.

I hope you'll make the best of the day regardless of your situation. Enjoy the day and the weekend.

--Nylse

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My Other Mom is Gone

I remember the first time I met her. My then-boyfriend had spent a bit of time describing his mother to me, but his description did not adequately prepare me for who she was. 

When I first saw her at the airport, I can still see her face to this day. It was stern but welcoming; however, I was not put off by her. I was never afraid of her and always felt comfortable around her. She was staring straight ahead, with perfectly coiffed hair with an outfit that displayed her status in this world. 

But it was her face that struck me. At first glance, she looked nothing like my husband; her complexion was similar to mine, and we were about the same height and size. It turns out these superficial commonalities cemented our bond over

Ezra Bible Study - Change: There is Hope

The last chapter of Ezra does not end as we would expect; instead, we see what happens when we truly make a U-turn and change. In this final chapter, there's a recognition of error, coupled with a desire to correct even though it affects their life choices. You see, these men had married women from countries that did not believe in God, which means these women also did not believe in God. God placed a prohibition of intermarriage with the people of heathen nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-6). This chapter ends with a reckoning, listing all the men that left their wives, but let's not oversimplify it. This is

A Chapter A Day - Proverbs 15

Look at how far we've come already. There are more contrasts between righteousness and wickedness with a focus on the little things that make a big impact - a soft answer, a wholesome tongue, a merry heart. Some of the larger impacts are highlighted also. Can you believe we're at the midpoint?
Proverbs 15

Observations and Highlights

This chapter starts off with another verse that I've heard quoted many times, particularly in my teens. "A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger (v1)." Or said another way, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." This verse came back to me when I would have yelled at my children, snapped at my husband, or became sarcastic with a coworker. It has saved me from much grief though I am not perfect. I have done all of the above and recognized after the fact, had I spoken differently I would have had a different outcome. It requires self-control to always give a soft answer.

Another theme in this chapter is - little is much when God is in it. (v 6, 16,17,25,27). This is the title of an old hymn that encourages you to give your best no matter how insignificant you feel or how small the task. When God is in it, there's a blessing.

Don't we love genuinely cheerful people? A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance (v13). Everything flows from within, so make sure your heart is right.

Whenever I'm facing huge decisions in my life I recall v 22 - "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed." It's not wrong to seek out advice, just be sure your sources can be honest and truthful and have your best interest at heart. Counsel means advice or guidance, especially as solicited from a knowledgeable person - so this rules out asking everyone for their opinions. You're not looking for hundreds of opinions, you're looking for additional insight to assist in making a decision. For me, the Bible serves as one of my primary sources of counsel, then my husband, and maybe another person who has some understanding(professional or otherwise) of what I'm thinking about. After all of this, I pray about it, until I have peace on the direction I should take.

Don't be afraid to seek out instruction, it's the beginning of understanding that leads to wisdom. (v 32,33).

One last point - before honor is humility (v33). We all need to submit, whether we like it or not. We submit to laws and rules. At work, we submit to our bosses. At home, we submit to each other (husband and wife). Children submit to their parents. So why not submit to God, and honor his commandments? Start with God first. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom (v 33).

Read on.

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