She Opens Her Mouth with Wisdom

I'm still in Austin -- was planning only a few days, but when I was needed for a project, I stayed a few days longer. Then, I was leaving on Thursday, but my precious son, in a stance that reminded me of him as a little boy, said, "Mommy, would you please stay for Mother's Day? I want to take care of my girls!" Like he was as a little boy, I couldn't resist those eyes or plea. But, then, to my utter surprise last night, in walks my crew from Frisco. Oh, the tears that came. My sweet Ryan and Shawntel surprised me by asking them to join us for Mother's Day weekend! So here I am all wrapped up in love this morning the day before Mother's Day.

One of my greatest joys in life has been to be a mother....to my own children AND to those God put into my life "to mother". Nothing is so dear as the results of a hug or a word of wisdom I shared with someone who needed that hug or word. It is so unique and special how God designed a woman’s heart to love and nurture tenderly and teach wisely.

Leaving home at 17 to marry, I sure needed my mom's wisdom. Besides washing clothes and cooking tips, I needed her wisdom about sharing life with a man. I remember when I wanted to run "back home" to her because of what seemed to be the biggest "spat" EVER. I'm so glad she wouldn't let me. She reminded me that I HAD left "home", and my new home was with the man I loved and "this little spat would pass". And, it did.

Then, one year later, our son was born and I needed her even more. The times he was sick (and, the times I got sick), the times when, as a couple, we hit a rough patch and life seemed so out of control, the times when I needed her voice to comfort me. In God’s sovereign plan for motherhood, He gave me a mother that was my mentor, my best friend and my confidant. And, not only did He give me my mother, but He gave me the dearest mother-in-law EVER. God also gave me other older women in age and in faith (and continues to do so) that have come alongside and loved me “like a mother.”

After these many seasons of my life, watching and learning from my resilient, strong, and determined Mom during the time of my daddy's long illness, and then as a single mom after he graduated to heaven, to my own learning to be Mom to my children and to other young women, I can assure you that God has special plans for women. He gave us life to give life to others. God's plans for us ensure that we are "mothered" and that we "mother".

Do you still have your Mom with you today? Treasure her. If not, treasure her because she gave us YOU! Tomorrow will be a day of celebrating moms, but perhaps we might consider being “like a mother” to those who need a mentor. Just maybe we are the answer to someone's prayers.

I honor all the beautiful and selfless ladies that "mother" those around them with God's love and with His wisdom that encourages and blesses them.

Proverbs 31:26 "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

She Needed a Hero So She Became One

A dear friend who is going through some really tough times sent me a private message after I had said to her “You are your own hero -- you + God = courageous and strong, mighty woman of God!” She replied: Is that ok, to be your own hero?” The following helps explain my response to her:.

If ever we needed our sisterhood, we need it today. To have friends that encourage us, cry with us, rejoice with us and pray for us is worth more than silver and gold. I do that a lot on Facebook. When I see friends’ photos of their child’s wedding, I rejoice with them. I celebrate with my friends when they celebrate the accomplishments of their family – the school wins, graduations, awards, baby births, and anniversaries. I also love it when friends are bold enough to ask for prayer.

This photo says “She Needed a Hero, So She Became One!” I’m so proud of my friends and those women I don’t know, who aspire to be strong, resilient, determined, tenacious women and who say “I can do this. I can survive this. I am an overcomer. I am powerful – not because of my own abilities and my own self-talk – but I am powerful because the Greater One lives in me. (1 John 4:4) I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)”

I learned very quickly, after I became a widow, that I had a choice to make. I could whine and I could wallow in self-pity because I didn’t have my hero to lean on or give me advice on important decisions, or to repair something around the house. I could have thought “I need a hero to see after me!” If I stayed in that mindset, I would have never realized all I could do on my own. Now I know I am a woman of wisdom. I daily purpose to be powerful, passionate, positive, and, above all – peaceful. Rarely do I call out for help from anyone, but I also know my limitations. So when my daughter asked what I’d like for my birthday and since they live nearby, I was quick to say “Coupons for around-the-house jobs” (see photo). And, that's what they gave me. Yay!! I'll definitely use those coupons!

Honestly, there are times I think about how awesome it would be to have a hero again who I could go to for support and who would give me that extra hug, soothe my troubled soul, and boost me up with encouragement and compliments. But, I know I have God Who is more than enough. He is faithful to me. "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5. He lifts me up with His love. I may be alone, but I’m not lonely. He is for me and encourages me daily with His Word.

Still, there are times when it's up to ME to set me free. It's up to me to apply the band-aids to my body and my spirit. It's up to me to change the channel of "pitiful me" to "powerful me". It's up to me to do what King David did. "When King David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or mother or friend and it’s ME. I never leave me. I never forsake me. I don’t EVER let me beat ME up and I don't let me pity me. I put on my armor, pick up my sword and raise it high. I have come to realize I am my own HERO. Yes…..there are times when we need a HERO......and that's when it's up to us to BECOME ONE

She Needed a Hero So She Became One

The recent indiscretions of high profile men has been the topic of conversation lately. The good news is that women are “coming out of the closet” to reveal their stories that were hidden for years, for fear of loss of job or other consequences. They are stepping up to, hopefully, help other women stand up for making wrongs right. This post isn’t to express my opinion “on the news”, but it is to speak out on behalf of “sisterhood”.

Sisters, if ever we need our sisterhood, we need it today. To have friends that encourage us, cry with us, rejoice with us and pray for us is worth more than silver and gold. I do that a lot on Facebook. When I see friends’ photos of their child’s wedding, I rejoice with them. I celebrate with my friends when they celebrate the accomplishments of their family – the school wins, the graduations, the awards, birth of babies, and I also love it when friends are bold enough to ask for prayer. then I pray with them.

This photo says “She Needed a Hero, So She Became One!” I’m so proud of my friends, and even those women I don’t know, who aspire to being strong, resilient, determined, tenacious women and who say “I can do this. I can survive this. I am an overcomer. I am powerful – not because of my own abilities and my own self-talk – but I am powerful because the Greater One lives in me. (1 John 4:4) I am more than a conqueror.(Romans 8:37) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)”

I learned very quickly, after I became a widow, that I had a choice to make. I could whine and I could wallow in self-pity because I didn’t have MY HERO to lean on or give me advice on important decisions, or to repair something around the house. I could have thought “I need a HERO to see after me!” If I stayed in that mindset, I would have never realized all I could accomplish, on my own. Now I know I am a wonder woman with wisdom and I will be powerful, passionate, positive, and, above all – peaceful. Rarely do I call out for help from anyone, but I also know my limitations. For example, I needed help pulling down that heavy, high attic door in my garage to bring down my Christmas decorations. I knew I needed some “man-power” to lift those heavy boxes and bring them down for me. Fortunately, both of my sons and grandson were my heroes on the day after Thanksgiving.

Honestly, there really are times I think about how awesome it would be to have a HERO again, like I once did, who I could go to for support and who would give me that extra hug, soothe my troubled soul, and boost me up with encouragement and compliments. But, I know I have God Who is more than enough. He is faithful to me. "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5. He lifts me up with His love. I may be alone, but I’m not lonely. He is for me and encourages me daily with His Word

Still, there are times when, it's up to ME to set ME free. It's up to me to apply the band-aids to my body and my spirit. It's up to me to change the channel of "pitiful me" to "powerful me". It's up to me to do what King David did. "When King David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, David ENCOURAGED himself n the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or mother or FRIEND and it’s ME. I never leave me. I never forsake me. I don’t EVER let ME beat ME up and I don't let me pity me. I put on my armor, pick up my sword and raise it high. I have come to realize I am my own HERO.

Yes…..there are times when we need a HERO......and that's when it's up to us to BECOME ONE! Excuse me, I most end this post, because I need to get my 6' ladder out to repair my garage door opener!