For those dear moms who’ve read and told many a bedtime story, here’s one for you:
There once was a man who had four sons. He wanted them to learn to not judge things too quickly, so he sent them each on a quest to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
He sent his first son in the winter, his second in the spring, his third in summer and his youngest in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no – it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
After hearing all his son’s responses, the wise father replied, “Sons, you are all right — because you have each seen only one season in the tree’s life. But you cannot judge a tree, a situation or a person in your life by only one season. Most things can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons have come to pass.”
Dear Moms ~
I know that the seasons of raising children can be very demanding and sometimes draining. For some of you moms, life right now is very, very hard. My heart goes out to you as I know the cry of your mother’s heart to be a good mom while the burdens you carry may be heavy.
I’m praying that this story offers you hope. You are yet in just one season with your family. Things will look VERY different when “all the seasons have come to pass.” God WILL continue to do His work within your children (and within you too!) - He isn’t finished yet! I know that He is very pleased to have a willing mother to work through.
When life is uncertain (which it actually always is, it’s just sometimes that we fully realize it) we have to go back to the things that we know for sure:
1) God IS good. He will never leave or forsake us.
2) We are His. So just as we take on the problems of our children, He takes on ours.
3) Our children and their unique design is not a mistake. He’s designed them, they too are His and He does have a good plan for them.
4) We have been given the authority by the one and only Sovereign God of the universe to speak into the spiritual on behalf of our children. Claim His promises and blessings and pray on behalf of your children.
5) Friends can pray you through difficult seasons. If you need prayer, ask for it. Ask a trusted friend, someone you admire who you can tell has been walking with the Lord, call a church and ask if someone could pray for you or email me - I’d love to pray for you! My email address is cathy@thumbpeople.com.
And always take comfort in God’s Word and His promise to you: “I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4
What’s one of the nicest things that anyone ever said to you?
I bet something came to your mind didn’t it?
You have the power to make a lifelong imprint on someone. Feel the awesome weight of that prospect for second. Our words, especially to our children, can and do shape the way they see themselves, view their future and act as a lense for how they approach the day. And yet, I confess that I’m often careless with how I wheel out words to the people in my life or am negligent in grabbing the moments to build my loved ones up with my words.
Take 82 seconds and watch this powerful ThumbPeople video:
“What you say can mean life or death. Those who speak with care will be rewarded.” Prov. 18:21 NCV
Giving your children the gift of loving and affirming words will not only make them thankful for those words that they’ll treasure in their hearts forever, it will make you thankful as well.
Last weekend, we dropped our son off at a college campus that’s five hours away from home.
It was very hard on my mother’s heart, but I AM thankful for the loving and affirming words that I was able to share with him over the years in our home and the words shared before we left campus.
The next day, I saw a quote by Dr. Suess that said, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
Watch this powerful, “Kids Need” ThumbPeople video and please forward it to other parents you know:
Kids grow up fast. It’s a cliché, I know, but it’s also kind of a mystery to me …
How can those LONG DAYS that follow those many sleepless nights … those LONGGG DAYS when the weather is nasty outside and the kids are fighting inside … those LONGGG DAYS when naptime didn’t happen … How can all those LONGGG DAYS add up to SHORT YEARS?
I don’t know, but honestly they do!
The pink Minnie Mouse backpacks are still catching my eye at Target for back to school shopping when in reality, I’m signing college registration papers for two of my three kids this year! Kids DO grow up fast.
Catch a few precious grains of sand as it’s flowing through the hourglass. It is possible!
Grab the once-in-a-lifetime moments, the opportunities to say the words that will resonate in your children’s hearts forever. Today is the day!
What is the value of a loving word? The Good Book of loving words says …
“The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver.” Proverbs 25:11 (CEV)
Be encouraged,
Cathy
Tags: Children grow up fast, video, ThumbPeople, kids, kids fighting, naptime, Minnie mouse, backpack, back to school, shopping, sleepless nights, words, children’s hearts, words of love, family, loving word, kids need, encouraged
Summer winds down at the same time that fall winds up! Gee with all that winding going on around us, moms - are you feeling winded?
Summer festivals, hours playing outside, family vacations are shifting from events that we’ve looked forward to, to precious memories that are tucked away to be enjoyed for our years to come as we recall and reflect on summer family memories.
But it seems before I’ve even downloaded the summer family vacation pictures and placed the hand picked seashells and agates in a special bowl, back to school letters, kids church programs and fall registrations are squawking for my attention!
WAIT JUST A MINUTE! Allow yourself the privilege to “ponder.”
Psalm 143:5 says, “I ponder all your great works and think about what You have done.”
Don’t be so quick to whip the sand shovels and buckets up on the garage shelf and shift your thoughts to the things that will need to be attended to for this next season … STOP for some time and “ponder” all the great things God has done this summer for you and your family …
Ponder the laughter in the backyard heard through the screen door.
Ponder the delight in fireflies, fireworks and campfires.
Ponder the majesty of God’s summer creation – vibrant flowers, song birds and the landscapes painted across your memories from your summer vacation.
Ponder.
The definition for ponder is: “To consider something very deeply and thoroughly; meditate upon.”
Because of the pace of our culture, instead of having our minds ponder, our minds often just wander.
God’s Word asks us to ponder His great works and what He has done.
Re-experience the events of this summer a second time with your Heavenly Father - in His presence – ponder.
It’s in that pondering place that you’ll meet Him, receive His insights, feel His love and be encouraged.
Stay encouraged!
~ Cathy
P.S. Make sure to come to my blog next Tuesday, August 25th! I’ll have a special video treat for you, moms!
I saw something the other day that said, “Pay attention to the moments and the years will take care of themselves.”
Now there’s a good rule of thumb for moms!
The call of motherhood can be so daunting … it is after all, a lifetime commitment.
And then there’s the mostly unhappy reports from the pretty 10:00 news anchorwoman and the concerns that start to bubble up in my mind about what my child’s experiences will be like in this not-always-so-friendly world.
But moms, be encouraged! Life happens in the moment and you can do a lot to create many wonderful memory-making moments with your child.
A lot of my precious memories as a child were captured with my mom doing very ordinary things. Playing next to her while she did laundry in the basement, “helping” her while she cooked and catching bugs while she gardened.
What almost always transformed those everyday experiences into priceless memories were the words that were spoken.
Today you’ll have a teachable moment with your child. You’ll have a moment filled with opportunity to share a nugget of wisdom and a heartfelt word. – It’s all in the moment.
Pay attention to the moments and the years will take care of themselves.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow …” Matthew 6:34
Be encouraged!
Cathy
Be sure to come to my blog on Tuesday, August 25th. ThumbPeople is planning a special video release that captures the heart and voice of kids. It’s awesome!
“A” my name is Alice, my husband’s name is Allen, we live in Alabama and we sell Apples!
We’ve driven countless miles with our three kids in the car looking for things that started with a certain letter of the alphabet.
But in thinking about word games, I think families have their own hidden version. It’s the “I’m saying one thing but I really mean another thing” word game.
Now that my kids are older, “Mom, I think you’re the best!” could really mean, “I’m a little short on cash, and my car’s on E.” “I was telling the guys what great meatloaf you make and what a good cook you are.” Most certainly means, “Swing by the grocery store and pick up some hamburger and make a monster meatloaf. Feed me!”
But there are tougher family word games to decipher. The preschool temper tantrum that seemed to erupt from nowhere, the harsh words to a sibling and the hardest words for a parent to hear, negative words your child might speak about themselves.
When words start flying, here’s what I’m asking God to help me with … I want to be calm and understand what is REALLY being said behind the carelessly chosen words I’m hearing. What I believe is being said most often is, “I’m scared.” “I’m hurt.” “I’m feeling unsure of myself.” “I need to know you love me.”
“Give me understanding …” Psalm 119:34
God can help you hear what your kids are really saying. Just ask Him. He’s faithful!
Be encouraged!
~ Cathy
ThumbPeople is releasing a very powerful video on Tuesday, August 25th related to this. Make sure to check out my blog that day!
Peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese? Crusts on or off? Cut diagonally or straight? Moms know a lot about making sandwiches.
When I’m gonna make sandwiches for my three kids, I know very well who’s sandwich gets buttered, who’s gotta have Hellmann’s mayo and who prefers Miracle Whip.
But here’s the thing about sandwiches … when I’m not making them, I’m feeling sandwiched. Sometimes sandwiched between conflicting demands on my time and attention but I’ve also had seasons where I’ve felt sandwiched between the generations in my family and their needs.
My handicapped mom often needed me to run her errands and shovel her sidewalk and at times my dad needed me to navigate healthcare choices for him. All while I had diapers to change and very busy toddlers at home.
Oh, what to do, when you’re both the peanut butter AND jelly in the PB and J sandwich!
During seemingly impossible times, God will do the impossible. So breathe. Look up. Focus on His face. He is a good God who wouldn’t give you more than you can possibly do in a day. His grace is new each day and will totally cover all of your needs as well as the needs of those around you.
It might mean the house is messy, your parents may have to be briefly put on hold or possibly ask someone else for help and book time with your children may happen in the doctor’s waiting room or their playtime outside may be with you as you’re shoveling an elderly parent’s sidewalk.
Here’s what happened in my life: Even when I often felt as though I was failing to meet the needs around me, I tried my best to help my parents. They were thankful. I tried my best to be a good mom and my kids learned to have compassion for the elderly, handicapped and sick. All the while God was making me more patient, more empathetic and stronger.
When you’re feeling like you’re the peanut butter and jelly – God’s the bread. He’s always got you covered!
“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35
Be encouraged ~
Cathy
P.S. When you feel “spread too thin,” let God’s words of blessing refresh you by listening to ThumbPeople’s Words of Blessing CD.
Mom! She won’t … MOM! He said … MOM!!!! They are …
Uh huh. That’s right. I’ve been listening in at your house. I know it well, it’s that home stretch of summer. The slip and slide, sidewalk chalk and park have lost some of their razzle dazzle from earlier this summer as far as your kids are concerned. Maybe playtime with the neighbor kids is getting a bit strained and you’re starting to hear, “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”
Oh, and kid’s are so very good at finding things to do on their own! Like the time my kids decided to try bungee jumping from the monkey bars in our backyard!
Here’s my suggestion for enjoying the last stretch of summer with your kids. There’s a lot you can do to keep your kids busy and focused, but I think it’s most important to maintain your own peace and calm. Believe me, it really is possible to cultivate a peaceful inner sanctuary within your heart and mind even when externally things may be chaotic, noisy and less than peaceful.
Claim a little slice of time in the day that is uncompromisingly only for you and the Lord alone. Moms, I know it’s hard to do – believe me, but it’s so worth it. Even if it means that I have to get up very early in the morning, my quiet time spent with God will sustain me and strengthen me all day long. Even if it’s only 15 minutes – do it!
Quiet time with the Lord, helps me to: maintain a sense of humor, see the wonder that’s always going on around me, stay joyful, be inspired and creative, and enjoy (not just sometimes endure) the role of mothering.
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Be encouraged!
~ Cathy
P.S. Pop in ThumbPeople’s “Words of Blessing” CD. It will really help create a special time for just you and God.
Wow! ThumbPeople is busy helping parents prepare their child to start school this fall while I’m preparing my son to start college!
I’m not even going to go there and say all the cliché’ things about how time flies when you’re raising kids (but believe me, it really does!)
What strikes me, is that while you’re preparing them for preschool and the first day of first grade, you’re also preparing them for the first day of middle school (Ouch! That was a hard transition for me – from that safe little elementary school with the sweet bulletin board by the front door with the apple tree or bright yellow school bus on it to that great big middle school building that didn’t have the nice lunch ladies who took turns watching the kids play at recess …) And, you’re preparing them for high school. And yup, I’ve prepared my son to leave home for college. (Perhaps better than I’ve prepared myself to have him leave!)
This time of year, our book “Thumbuddy Goes to School” is super popular with parents of young children. It’s funny that I’m relating to it as a parent of a college freshman.
As parents, we never should stop reassuring our kids that exciting things lie ahead, encouraging them to make positive choices and reminding them that they are very loved.
“For I know the plans I have for you.” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
God has some really great things in store this fall – for kids heading off to school and for their parents (even the reluctant ones) who are sending them off!
Be encouraged!
~ Cathy
P.S. Oh, and don’t forget that Thumbuddy will be at Eagan’s Market Fest Family Night this Wednesday, July 15 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Free gifts for everyone while supplies last!
Those fun and creative crafts and activities for kids always sounded so good when I saw them demonstrated in a magazine or on a TV show …
The kids were having a blast, the mom was smiling and relaxed, the backdrop of the beautifully decorated home looked really neat and tidy.
But gosh, when I tried the same craft with my kids, well … not so much.
The felt and feathers stuck to my kids fingers more then they stuck to the paper, the teeny weeny googly eyes were too teeny weeny and googly for my kids to handle, they wanted to eat the paste, use their markers for eyeliner, make soup out of the potting soil, and make splatter designs on the walls by slapping or yes, even jumping in paint trays.
I was not so relaxed as I tried to pry up the sequins glued to the kitchen floor with my thumbnail. My home was never neat and tidy!
But those craft projects were a great success! We spent time together. We all learned tons – well, maybe my kids just learned a little about self control, maybe some listening skills, maybe some fine motor skills were developed, they may have learned that cleaning up after a project was part of the project … But I learned to let go, to quit being so uptight, to see the world through the eyes and wonder of a child, to be more creative and to NOT always follow the directions and God developed within me the much needed patience I’d need for the parenting years yet to come.
God never wastes anything. He uses every little experience in our life to strengthen us and bless us. He’s always far more interested in the process then I am. I just want to get on with it and make the perfect “thing” while He’s busy perfecting the perfect “thing” within me.
So thank God while you’re scraping the dried glue from the crack in your kitchen table! He’s creating something amazing within you and your children!
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
Be encouraged!
~ Cathy
P.S. For fun crafts and activities for your kids (that you won’t have to scrape off your kitchen floor) go to Eagan’s Market Fest Family Night! ThumbPeople will be there from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on July 15th. Kids get to do a special Thumbuddy craft at 4:00 p.m!
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