The Big Little Things

I was on the computer yesterday and my daughters were playing in their room. I heard one cry out in pain and come into the room where I was, with her sister following. "Sorry, Summerlyn," Samaya said, "do you want me to pray for you?" And then she commenced, in her own way, to pray to God for her sister. I watched in amazement.

But why was I amazed? Isn't that what I want? Don't I want them to learn that when they have a problem they should pray first? Yes, this is what I want them to do but I didn't think it would catch on so quickly. I thought it was a little thing to pray with them for healing when they hurt themselves, or pray with them at night before they go to sleep for rest and protection, or pray with them in the morning when we wake up and are having a rough time getting it together. But that which looks like a little thing in God, is a big thing.

There are a lot of big little things that God desires us, as mommies, to teach our children; asking forgiveness of the offended, and of God, when we hurt someone else; learning to share those things that we really don't want to give up; and choosing to be kind even when others are not. They all seem like little things because we are teaching it to little people. But they are little things that are big things in the eyes of God!

Help is Not a Four Letter Word!

It's 9 am. I have already helped my husband prepare for his trip by finding documents and files that were hiding from him. I have changed Summerlyn's diaper and helped Samaya on the potty. I got a banana for the crew since no one has had breakfast yet. I have ironed the girls' clothes and helped them put them on. I have created a spreadsheet of profit and loss for the business. And now I am cleaning the bathtub so my husband can take a shower with out being grossed out. (It's amazing how dirty two little girls can get!)

In my moment of solitude (since no one wants to help me clean the tub) I asked the Lord "What would you have me to write on the blog?" He said to me: Help is not a four letter word.

Wow! How well our God knows us! Many times as we do what we, Mommy Maestros, are charged to do, it could feel like a curse. But God is letting us know that it's not. It is a blessing to help and serve others. I know, I know, it may not feel that way sometimes. Especially when it seems that everyone in your home can do nothing for themselves and they recruit you to help them. But that's what Mommy Maestros do. When we were formed by God, we were formed as a help meet - a help to God and to our family.

What are the rewards of being a help meet? I don't think we will truly know until we are standing before the throne of God. But here in the earth, there are little rewards. The smile you receive from your toddler as you fix his favorite toy. The kiss and hug you get from your husband as you hand him his dinner plate. The little voice of your 4 year old that says "Thank you, mommy!" when you help her put on her shoes when she just couldn't seem to do it herself.

The smiles, hugs and thank you's may not compare to what God has in store for us in heaven as we lay down our "life" for our family and help them. But they are nice tokens to hold on to when the days of being a maestro are hard and long. Keep them close to your heart and let them encourage you.

And remember,even if your child doesn't say thank you, or if no one notices that you've cleaned the toilet, God always does!

Who's Building Your House?

Unless the Lord builds the house, it's builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

As I sit here this morning, during my normal prayer and study time, God has asked me a question: "Who's building your house?" That's a good question.

A house can be many things. Literally it's the place in which you live. But I think there is more behind it than just my literal house. If I know my God, He is anything but one dimensional.

So what other houses are there? Well, I discovered that a house could be anything you build in which you find comfort or in which you dwell. Not physically but emotionally or figuratively. Your house is your life; what you do and why you do it.

I have more than one house. They say confession is good for the soul so, here I go: What I eat and what my schedule looks like are my houses. As long as I have something good to eat (good, not healthy!) and I know what I will be doing for the next 8 hrs, my "house" is beautiful! But we all know that is not how we are to live.

Don't get me wrong, I believe God wants us to have a beautiful house. But, He wants to be the one to build it! A beautiful house is only truly beautiful when it's built on God's instruction and guidance. How do you think Solomon built that temple? Without God's instruction, I am sure it would not have been nearly as beautiful.

What does it look like for God to build your house? You must prepare by asking Him first for direction and instruction. He will tell you the materials and tools you need. He will give you the specifications for the house. And if you will need another hand or two to get it done, He will provide that as well. We just have to trust Him.

So, as I build my menu for the family meals every week, I first ask Him to guide me in making it nutritious and delicious! As I work out my schedule for the week, the day or even the next hour, I have learned to acknowledge God first for direction and instruction. "What do you want me to teach the children today, Lord?", I ask. This is what allows my house to be built by Him and not me.

As the maestro of your home, you are charged to guide the instruments (the entities of your home and family life) to perform in harmony. But how can you do this if you don't have the score that was written by God? I can guarantee that if we are presumptuous enough to write our own score, we will NOT be able to keep the instruments playing in harmony.

Now, my question to you is this: Who is building your house?

Wish I Could Be Part of Your World

"Look, Mommy, look!", Summerlyn says as she jumps in the air, tucks her legs under, and lands on her bottom, giggling.

"Look, Mommy, look!", Summerlyn says as she shakes her hips and cocks her head as if she is showing me her rendition of the latest dance craze.

"Look at me, Mommy!", Summerlyn says as she sits back and kicks her legs in the air while simultaneously punching with her left arm. I turn my head and watch her. When she has completed her move, she smiles. My heart grows with love a little more.

What our children want most is us, their parents, to be a part of their world. Ariel, the Little Mermaid, longed to be a part of the human world and she got her wish...but it cost her her life - Singing!

For us to be a part of the world of our children, it will cost us our life, too. But God calls us to lay down our life for a friend. (John 15:13) To be a successful Maestro, we have to have intimate knowledge of our instruments. One of which is our children. We cannot expect to be any good at bringing harmony to our home if we don't know what is in the hearts and minds of our family members and in this case, our children.

When you take a minute to enter into your child's world, it speaks volumes of love an respect to them. You, essentially, are saying "I love you!" "I care about you!" "I want to know you!" which is affirming and empowering to your child. And most importantly, it builds relationship between you and them. Besides, isn't that why we have chosen to become a Mommy Maestro?

I know there is so much to do to manage your home but the next time your child says "Look, Mommy, look!", or "Come'ere, Mommy!", hang up the wash cloth, put down the broom, stop writing the overdue grocery list and give your undivided attention to your child. I promise you will be rewarded with a loving smile!

Oh, Lord Jesus, What Have I done??!!

It was all a blur. I am not sure what happened. I think my husband said that maybe we should NOT have the girls in daycare for two days a week. What? Did I hear right?

Yes, I heard right. So, I dropped the girls off this morning at daycare for the last time. When I told the Assistant Director that it was their last day, I cried. I don't know why but the tears kept coming.

I think my spirit was saying "YES! This is exactly what you need: full-time mommy-hood!" But my soul was screaming "Wait, wait, that happened way too fast! Can't we talk about this first? Can't we first be sure that we're sure this is what we are supposed to do?"

But I am sure; as sure as I am going to be. God has been encouraging me and equipping me from the day He put the desire to be a SAHM in my heart two years ago. My soul (a.k.a. flesh) hadn't yet submitted to it completely but, frankly, I don't think it every will. For that reason, included in the plan of full-time mommy-hood is my prayer time first thing in the morning. This is when I am to pour out to Him any frustrations, uncertainties, or worries. You know, cast my cares upon Him and take up all of His promises and joy. I have to get that stuff off of me to make sure I am free from the cares of this world and ready to attack the day with my little ones with expectancy and energy.

A tired, worried, and distracted mommy + two needy toddlers = disaster.

Wow. What a step of faith. I feel like I need to say to the Lord, just like my girls say to me: "Look, Jesus, look! Look at me! I did it!"

"Now, I'm trusting You."