A Wise Father

By Carin LeRoy –

One afternoon the doting father of a new piano student walked in to observe his daughter’s piano lesson. Since I inherited her from another teacher, I asked her to play a few songs to assess her skills. Along with missing several notes, she also lacked counting and rhythm skills. To get a better grasp of the fundamentals, I asked the father if he’d let me put her into a different book for review.

“But she does very well, and she’s learned every song in that book. I’m not sure we should do that,” he said. “Do you really think that’s necessary? I’m just sure she will blow right through the other book.”

I had my doubts.

Our discussion went on for several minutes as he showed full confidence in his daughter’s knowledge and abilities. He questioned why I felt she needed review. The love and pride he had for his daughter and his belief in her talent was evident as we carried on our conversation. Reluctantly he agreed that we could go back and review.

As I began to think about how much that father loved his little girl and the confidence he had in her skill, I was reminded of how our view of truth can sometimes be flawed. Our perspective can be different from reality, and our love and lack of understanding can skew truth. I am thankful that we have a Father in heaven that never lets His love for us get in the way of what He knows we need. As He desires change in our lives and growth in our spiritual walk, He purposes to help us learn those lessons—even if we perceive it as unnecessary or painful at the time. As we gain understanding of what He teaches, we will emerge as stronger, more confident and mature Christians that He can use to impact others.

Let’s be thankful today that we have a wonderful and wise Father who knows exactly what is needed in our lives.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that You are my Father and I am Your child. The truth of what is needed in my life to grow and mature is never skewed by Your love for me. Thank You that You have full understanding to teach me. Help me to learn all that You desire for me.

“Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4, 5 NIV).

Stinkin’ Thinkin’

By Aubrey Spencer –

Not long ago, I introduced my son Oliver to one of the great joys from my childhood—Zig Ziglar. If you don’t know of him, he’s a motivational speaker who (years ago) created music for kids with positive messages. His songs were all about succeeding in life, making good choices, having great attitudes, being a winner, etc. I loved my Zig Ziglar tape! I honestly think it’s part of the reason I turned out to be such a crazy optimist. Even as a kid, I loved being positive, and Zig Ziglar knew just how to “pump me up” with inspiration. Our family listened to his tape, See You at The Top, over and over in the car when we took road trips. I knew every line of every song. Songs like, “Don’t Kick the Cat,” “Goodbye, Mr. Mediocrity,” “Don’t Be Flaky Like the Biscuit,” “Stop the Stinkin’ Thinkin’,” and “Dr. M.Y. Self.” Makes you want to borrow my tape, doesn’t it?

So, the other day, when we were on a small road trip, we gave Oliver his first Zig Ziglar experience. It was great! My first time to really pass something from my childhood on to my child. Something with meaning, hope, optimism, and worth. And, you know what? I’m pretty sure he liked it. I suspect he’ll be singing the words before long, just like his mommy!

The motivational blast from the past got me thinking—it’s really important to me to begin, even this early on in his life, to fill Oliver’s mind with good things. I want him to be positive even when times are tough. We all go through times like that at some point. Times when discouragement sets in. Times when people let you down. Times when the future is uncertain and the present is unbearable. Times when it would be easy, even understandable, to fill our minds with bitterness and negative thinking. But, instead of getting bogged down with the injustices of life, I choose to fill my mind with Christ. With His love. With His promises. And, with His power. As I heard one time, we need to focus less on the mountain and more on the Mountain Mover! Jesus is able. I’m going to fill my mind with that thought. And, if that doesn’t stop stinkin’ thinkin’, I don’t know what will!

PRAYER: Father, help me to focus on You and the things that draw me closer to You. Fill my mind completely with Your goodness and with the hope I have in You.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love

By Jarrod Spencer –

Most of you will remember the slogan the Peace Corp used many years ago, “One of the toughest jobs you’ll ever love.” When I was young, I thought that the Peace Corp would be something enjoyable to do. Maybe it was a desire to help people, which has been my focus much of my professional life. So, maybe I wasn’t too far off.

However, I believe there is another job that could be one of the toughest jobs that you’ll ever love—the job of being a mother. No matter how many children she has, her love continues to multiply. Her willingness to go the extra step never runs out. Her desire to nurture never loses its passion. Her tears never dry up.

I watch mothers more now that I am married and have my own children. I observe one of the best mothers each and every day. As I grew up, I was immature and oblivious to the real sacrifice that comes with being a parent. Now that I am a parent, and my wife is a mother, I understand much of what goes on in being a mother, based on observing my wife.

Girls start out caring and nurturing. As they grow, they enjoy playing house and being “Mommy.” Girls already understand that some of the roles a mother takes on include caring for the house, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children.

When the woman becomes a mom, she becomes even more sacrificial. It is a 24/7—365 sacrifice. She will do anything for her husband, but if her husband does not love her back, that may fade away. However, for her children, that love (usually) never fades. She will get up in the middle of the night to make sure her child is fed or changed, stay up until they fall back asleep, then get up when needed, despite the lack of sleep she’s had.

There is no retirement from being a mother. It doesn’t matter if you go to bed at night or your children move away from home, nothing says retirement to a mother.

AUTHOR QUOTE: Thanks Moms for all you do. Without you, we’d be in trouble. Thanks for taking on the toughest job you’ll ever love. Happy Mother’s Day!

PRAYER: Father, thank You for mothers! Thank You for my mother and thank You for my wife who is blessed to be a mother. May You replenish all mothers as they sacrifice for their children.

Then She Became a Mom

By Jarrod Spencer –

She always dreamed of becoming a mom. She played Barbies as a child, anticipating the time when she became the young woman Barbie represented. She took care of Cabbage Patch dolls like they were children of her own, looking forward to that special day—the one when she would have a real baby to feed, burp, nurture, change its diapers, etc.

As she matured into a teen, she was called on to take care of other people’s children. By the time she was a college student, she had developed a special knack for connecting with kids. She showed and taught them what it was like to own their own faith. Kids were drawn to her. They respected her. Adults admired her. She had a personality that people, young and old, were attracted to.

A few years later, she married. She cherished and adored her husband. Anticipated the day when they would become parents. That anticipation grew and grew, but as the months, then years, passed with no baby, questions were raised. “Why am I not able to have a baby?” After several years of praying and hoping, the optimism waned—almost vanished.

Then, after several years of trying, praying, and hoping, a pregnancy test revealed two lines! Could it be? Finally, she found out what many other women get the chance to experience—the feeling of carrying a baby.

Through the next several weeks, she praised God over and over, while praying for the safety and the health of the baby.

Then Oliver came into her life—a beautiful, blue-eyed baby boy. The answer to her many prayers. She took to being a mother as if Oliver wasn’t her first. He is a gift from God, but more importantly, he was given a greater gift—being blessed to be raised by the mother who had waited years for his arrival. All the waiting was worth it, and it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving woman other than my beautiful wife.

PRAYER: Father, thank You for giving my wife children. She is such a great mom. Continue to use her in mighty ways as she serves in the office of Mom.

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Proverbs 31:28 NIV).

Magic or Muscle?

By Hally Franz –

If I would have had my way, I’d have ended up living in a large city rather than the rural community where I was raised. If the Lord would have liked my plan, I never would have gone into education; I’d be a clinical psychologist today. If I had known better than Him, I wouldn’t have had children. How many of us, as children, expect that life will turn out a certain way, and later find it’s nothing like what we wanted? It’s far better.

When I was young, I didn’t want children. First, the physical aspects of the ordeal were appalling to me. Secondly, I was terrified about how my offspring would turn out. I had this idea that raising children was like roulette, strictly a game of chance. I viewed parenting as something outside one’s control, where a swipe of a magic wand may produce a perfect child. Or, more likely, I could pull a silly looking and simple-minded rabbit-out-of-a-hat kind of kid. Even worse, I’d end up with one under an evil spell, who’d give me years of heartache. I’m not a risk-taking sort of person, and it all seemed too uncertain for me.

Fortunately, as I grew older I got past those thoughts and couldn’t wait to have children once my husband and I married. Over the years, I’ve learned that being a mom is much more about muscle than magic. Moms come in a variety of personalities and styles, but the best ones know there’s no getting around the work.

Ambitious moms are eager for their children to get the tough teacher even though they know they’ll spend more hours at the kitchen table as their children survive that year of homework. Conscientious moms recognize that getting “help” from their little guys on housework takes twice as long; they do it anyway to instill in them a work ethic. Tireless moms attend an excruciating number of concerts, sports events, programs and plays as their children explore areas of interest and hobbies. Christian moms pray with and for their children, and they attend worship. They know this gives young people a sense of purpose and faith for a lifetime.

There’s nothing mystical about parenting. Kids sometimes look silly and often aren’t perfect, but we do have an impact in how they turn out. Blessed be the moms who put in the time, the energy and the prayer!

PRAYER:  Gracious God, encourage diligent moms as they go about the work of raising servants for You. Guide them, give them wisdom and restore them daily.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV).

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