Monday, May 9, 2022
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Proverbs 31:25-31
Mamas, Don’t Forget to Exercise Your Own Wings
Yesterday we heard from Brother Van about how a mother eagle prepares her eaglets to leave the nest. There are many things about mothering that are the same with all God’s creatures. Like mother eagles, we also work very hard to prepare our children for the world that waits for them.
The purpose of a mother is not to make happy children but successful adults. Mothers want to be liked but will sacrifice that for creating successful adults. - Van Houser
Somewhere along the way of raising our children to be successful adults, we can forget how to fly ourselves. Sometimes, our wings might even get broken along the way. It is very important for us mothers to exercise our own wings along the way - while helping our children learn how to use theirs.
Nurture: During this season when you are so busy nurturing your children, make nurturing yourself in your relationship with Jesus the first priority. I know - in a season where you consider it a good day if you get to shower, it feels impossible to give your relationship with Jesus the time it deserves. In this season, do what you can and feel no shame. If that is 10 minutes one day and 30 the next, then that is what it is. The important thing is to keep Him on the throne of your life. Not only will this give you the strength you need right now, but it also gives you future strength that you will need when you get there. Above all, your children will see you making your relationship with Jesus the most important thing in your life. This example may be the most important example you give them.
Don’t forget your purpose - and realize it will change someday: While our children are young, our purpose is caring for them, teaching them, leading them, protecting them, and eventually helping them out of the nest to fly on their own. We may have other purposes during this time. We certainly have other roles, but this is a season - and no season is permanent. We never stop being a mother, but the way we mother and our relationship with our kids changes. It can make us feel lost and a little disoriented in life when we are not prepared.
Don’t forget your gift - We have gifts that God has given us. Sometimes during the season of life when we are raising a young family, we don’t always get to use some of our gifts. That doesn’t mean we never get to use these gifts again; it may just mean we have to keep them warm on the back burner for a bit. Sometimes we may get to use different gifts during this season, or even discover new gifts. Sometimes we may discover new gifts after our children are grown. The important thing is not to forget the gifts you have been given and be open to God using you in different ways in different seasons.
Face Forward: Look to the future - your own as well as your child’s. Think about what you might want to do someday when you are in a different season. Ask God how He wants to use you and be open to His call on your life. Don’t wish the days away because all the monotonous days and stressful moments will be memories you cling to one day. In the future you might find yourself wishing you had this time back. Live in the moment, enjoy the moments, with the future in mind as well. Take every opportunity to use every moment you can as a life lesson. These are the lessons that make the greatest impact on our children’s lives.
It is hard to keep your wings in shape all this time - for all the years - while you are teaching your children to fly with their own. But when you get to the next season, and they have all flown the nest, it is a long way down to the ground and it makes a real hard thud when you hit if your own wings don’t work. It is a hard transition - even one that can take us by surprise. If you have forgotten how to fly, if your wings are out of shape, or if they are broken, it will be harder. Someday it will be your time to soar again. In the meantime, nurture your relationship with God, be open to His purpose for you in every season, don’t forget your gifts, and keep your eyes forward - eyes on the prize - Jesus.
