Construction Zone: Imagination at Work

Where else, but in the eyes of a child, can magnetic alphabet letters become the main ingredients of a chocolate cake? In the world of make believe, anything can become anything! Just this morning I enjoyed the finest delicacies of my imaginative girls: hot dogs and beans (also known as cooking spoons) and chocolate cake (also known as magnetic letters).

"Mommy, whatcha want?" "Chocolate cake, please!" "Okay!" I sat down and ate happily. Then I helped by tapping into my God-given imagination: I found a few balls in their toy box that served as eggs, maracas that served as mixers and pretend coins that became butter before our very eyes.

God gave us our imaginations to do just that: Imagine that something that is not, as though it was. This imagination is what helps us to propel our faith and cause that which cannot be seen to manifest itself into our present day and future. God enjoys it when we meditate on His word and imagine it coming to pass in our lives. If we can see ourselves healed, delivered, free, rich, etc, then we are. Using our imagination allows God to show us things we would not have ever seen had we not took the time.

I have learned that the television can squash our imaginations. I am not saying that television is bad but sometimes it can cause us to turn off our minds and accept whatever we see. When I turn off the TV and pull out the toys, I have noticed that my girls' imagination starts to flow. And, believe it or not, God can show them things that they have never seen before!

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!