Showing posts with label Motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motherhood. Show all posts

Friday, August 21, 2015

Do They See You?



A good woman is hard to find,
    and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
    and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
    all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
    and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
    and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
    for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
    then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
    rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
    is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
    diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
    reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
    their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
    and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
    when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
    brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
    and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
    and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
    and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
    her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
    but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
    The woman to be admired and praised
    is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
    Festoon her life with praises!

                             -Proverbs 31:10-31 The Message


There is so much we can learn from the woman in Proverbs 31:10-31.  She has been taught on from many different angles and perspectives.  Jewish tradition holds that Bathsheba was responsible the passage in Proverbs 31, sharing her wisdom with her son Solomon. We have all heard teaching on her life from the viewpoint of what we “should” do.  I want us to look at her from the perspective of what we “can” do, and what our children need to see us doing.

You can find the rest of my post here at MichelleHight.org.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Regret Free Parenting: Raise Good Kids and Know Your're Doing it Right


Regret Free Parenting: Raise Good Kids and Know You're Doing it Right ,by author Catherine Hickem,LCSW, is a solid book that will give you additional insight to become the parent God created you to be. Mrs. Hickem has years of experience interacting with parents and children through such roles as a pastor’s wife, school counselor, and most importantly mom. She is the founder of Intentional Moms, a national ministry, devoted to supporting and strengthening mothers.

Written for mothers, this book will be a useful asset in your parenting library. Based upon the premise of parenting with the big picture in mind, Hickem arms you with tools to become the best parent you can be. The foundation of her wisdom is derived from God’s Word, of which God is the author, and He is the ultimate parent. As you read, you will learn how to become an intentional parent, and understand the necessity of being a healthy parent so you can have the confidence and assurance you are making good choices for your children.

I enjoyed this book. It is full of information that will help a mom at any stage in her parenting. That being said, I would recommend reading it with a pen in hand, to underline, make notes, etc. You will want to be able to remember where help specific to you is located, and find it easily. My favorite chapter was probably the last one where she spends a lot of time discussing God in our lives as parents. At the end of the book, you will find a Regret- Free Parenting Plan, as well as some additional resources to help you in your life as an intentional mom. Happy Reading!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Monday, December 28, 2009

Philippians 2

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:.......taking the very nature of a servant...."-Philippians 2:3-5,7

Selfishness. It is a problem today. Why? Because people don't have enough faith in God to get their needs met through Him. They don't know Him well enough. If they did, they would act like Him. Jesus was our example of how to treat others. He loved those He came in contact with. Why was it so easy for those He came in contact with to get healed? I think it was because they knew something about God already, and they believed in His love and compassion. Selfishness, Love, Knowledge, Healing.....it is all connected. My heart's cry is to see the Church look like the book of Acts, not just the Power of God demonstrated through the Holy Spirit. That is something everyone desires, but the Church also has to look like them and Him by the love they demonstrate. Faith works by love. Acts 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the templecourts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number DAILY those who were being saved." There is so much in this one passage, I could talk for a while. The overall theme though is the love and fellowship which resulted in miracles and the addition of people to the church. It wasn't hard for them to have the Word of God working in their midst.

I feel compelled to connect this to parenting since my blog is called My Journey Through Motherhood. As a parent, there is no room for selfishness. You learn a lot about yourself as a human being when your children are born. You find out how much of life is about you and not about others. When my son was born, I was totally hit with the realization of how much I think about me. My son had basic simple needs and I had no other purpose at that time than to meet those needs, because he couldn't. He still has needs, and now I have two more children who have needs. And I still find traces of selfishness within me throughout this journey of motherhood.