On facebook a couple of weeks ago I asked who had read Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. And I followed that up with who liked it and who didn't like it so much.  The majority of those who spoke up seemed to absolutely love it, but there were a couple who didn't agree with it so much.

To start off this little mini-series on Shepherding a Child's Heart and Instructing a Child's Heart, I want to share with you just the main points of the books - concepts and such.  Then I'll move into my take on the good, the bad, and just useful stuff to have stored away for if the need arises.

I'd love for any and all of you reading to chime in with thoughts, and takeaways in the comments, as the ways of parenting are so vast and unique.

I want the best for my kiddos. I want them to get along with other kids so they can be respected and feel part of the group. I want them to know how to listen and interact so that other kids will want to play with them. Isn't that a major desire for moms?

This desire causes me more stress than is necessary  because I want my kids to have figured out these social expectations as soon as they have had one experience  I know that sounds absurd - I have been on this earth for decades and still don't always behave correctly to always fit in with the group. Granted I've finally found a group I feel good about me in, and am not playing a part, but that isn't the point of this... All the pressure I put on me and my kids to be accepted by this broken world - that is the point.

I don't think any mom could ever forget that moment when she first saw her new baby. I can remember each ultrasound picture clearly.  And then the moment they first say "Mama" from their crib - priceless.

That is a form of love that can't just be defined in the dictionary, right mamas?

It's something different - it's a present, a gift from One who loves more than we could ever imagine or describe.

I'm doing a feature on this love of mamas and the God who creates today over at Simply Helping Him and would love for you to check it out!

There is so much to being a mom, isn't there?  I mean the job description is quite long.

If you were to look up a job on some career search site there would be a section that described the expectations that the employer has for this future employee.  You following me?

Imagine what it would look like if the job opening was for a mother?

Fridays for me a chance to just write, and not worry about anything else - and thanks to Lisa-Jo I don't even have to come up with a topic!  If you're stuck for an idea, check out Five Minute Fridays





Bare

Last year I discovered Lysa TerKeurst and her ability to share how she can become unglued over life's everyday moments.  I was hooked.

It is just so easy to become unglued over the daily stresses and challenges, isn't it? And to read how someone is learning to lean more and more on God instead of giving in to every single unglue-able moment was refreshing.

One of my daily goals with my boys, or rather a goal my husband and I have, is to pray every night before bed.  When we first made this a goal I figured it would be super simple and easy. I couldn't have been more wrong.

You see, the actual "praying" concept, super easy. The process of getting my son to focus on prayer, and praying in a proper manner, not so easy. Do you know what I'm saying?

It never fails that around this time during winter I feel that the sun will never really come back - sure I get little glimpses of it now and then. In fact when I try real hard I notice it more, but as winter continues the energy to put in that effort to look for the sun starts to wane. So with all this in mind I figured it would be a great day to add a little sunshine to the day!

Writing is a break for me.  Life can be so full - the dailies take over and before I know it the day is past. Did I even do anything else? That is why I include play time with my boys and reading books to them on my dailies! Well for me it works...

So committing myself to this space to write, is a chance to for me to breathe in the middle of my crazy life. Which is why I try to link up weekly with Lisa Jo's Five Minute Fridays - if you are feeling the need to take a few minutes to breathe, check it out!



Afraid

The month of February always feel like the real start to the year to me - no rushing into from the holidays, no let down as the new year starts - just another month in which to learn, and grow, and be.