I hoped to be able to say that my first full year as a Mom was a breeze. Instead, I can say that I have spent more time broken and in prayer than ever before in my life. True parenting is not glamorous, wonderful, or even fun. (There may be moments of this, but not most of the time)
Some days I stand in awe of the child that God has placed in my life. Some days I am dumbfounded by his past, and how he has come to be the person that he is. Some days I want to cower in fear of what could become of his future, instead I cling to the knowledge that Christ has taken over his heart, and that God is doing a mighty work in him. I would be lying if I said that there weren't any moments when I literally became red with fury. There were times that I wanted to run and hide, and moments of frustration when I couldn't use the restroom without someone banging on the door to ask "What's for dinner?" There were the phone calls from the school counselor that left me speechless.
Somehow: in all of the madness of sports, church, discipline, healing wounds, meeting 1,000 friends, birthday parties, and EVERYTHING else: I never once thought, "I wish I could turn back time and choose something different." In all of the frustration and craziness that came to Elton and myself when we became parents, we wouldn't change it for the world.
I see the damage that can be caused by an absent or irresponsible parent. I see how insecurities can spread like cancer with one misplaced word. I can attest to every statistic out there about how children who come from a broken home struggle.... Just last month I spent an evening ROCKING a ten year old, because he needed the closeness that I could not provide when he was an infant.
My heart now shatters every time I see a child going through it.
With all of that, I just want to say:
Thank you to every mother out there who spent hours in prayer for her children.
Thank you to every mother who gave up the nights of being with her friends in order to spend time with her babies.
Thank you for saying "No." on occasion.
Thank you for investing God's Word in your children.
Thank you for refusing to let anyone eat until someone offered to say the blessing.
Thank you for loving your husband.
Thank you for turning teaching moments into life lessons.
Thank you for rules and guidelines.
Thank you for honoring God with your life, and leading by example.
And, thank you for simply being there.
The Woman Who Fears the Lord
10 [d] An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself[e] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[f]
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself[e] with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[f]
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
