Sitting here tonight, Thursday, with my feet tucked into a kneading, vibrating, heating foot massager. I won’t be alone tomorrow so I thought I better write tonight. The grandbabies will be hanging out. My place will be anywhere but seated behind a computer of any kind.
Go.
There was a time my only place was as a mother running around in confused circles, pretending they were perfectly formed shapes of my life. A time that I thought control was my middle name.
I’ve been put in my place since those lala days of unintentional cockiness. Today, I confess, I’m pretty delighted that my children survived. Though I’d love nothing more than to say that with some amount of tilt to my nose, I can’t.
The truth is, I declare that victory with my head bowed in deep admiration, and humble gratitude for a God who never left my side. Who saw me through the pains, trials, battles, losses, failures and successes of parenting.
I drop tears for the disappointment I was at times, and thank him for the discipline He gently used, on me. I let out a deep sigh of relief for His mercy and forgiveness.
I had this distorted idea that I had to be better, than who or what, I don’t know, just better.
I thought if my children were in church, dressed decent, learning memory verses and Bible stories, taking part it in this ministry and that ministry, hanging out with the other kids all doing the same thing, then I was succeeding.
I’ve learned, success isn’t measured by how much we do in church. No. Success is written through the life we live in being the church. That’s our place folks, to be the church.
How we parent, what our kids are doing, if we write on a Friday or Thursday night.. it’s all meaningless..
God has put each of us in our place-to be the ‘the church’, if we aren’t living from that prospective, we’ve missed the point.
Stop.
I invite you to visit the website of Kate Motaung for full details and rules (well the one rule).
http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/
All are welcome and invited to take part in joining women around the world for Five Minute Friday! You will be given a prompt word then simply take five minutes of your day to write a heartfelt, authentic message (no need to edit) using that word!
I like this line: Success is written through the life we live in being the church
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Than you Annette! We are the church.
-Lisa
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I appreciate your wisdom here…as a mom of three still at home, I need to hear this! From your neighbor #40 at #fmf.
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Thank you Sarah! Blessings to you and your family.
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Lots of wisdom here. I think control used to be my middle name too 🙂 And I love this: “Success isn’t measured by how much we do in church. No. Success is written through the life we live in being the church.” Your new site looks great!
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Thank you Lesley. It took way too long for me to learn certain leggings asking the way, I’m writing on it. Thanks for the site compliment, man is this going to take forever!
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I am right there with you thanking God that my children survived my attempts at parenting and didn’t need a therapist to do it. They turned out great so I might not have messed them up too badly. Thanks for sharing. FMF #65
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Ha! I have one in counseling. But it’s not by nothing I did or didn’t do, took me awhile to get that. Thank you!
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Great essay, Lisa. Lately I have come to realize that success is not the arrival; it’s the road.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/08/your-dying-spouse-348-other-side-of-me.html
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Thank you Andrew!! Love that.. Success is the road!
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I read your post Andrew- though for some reason it wouldn’t let me comment over there- it said I had illegal characters in my username? Maybe I don’t know my own name? I will be praying for you, you are a true inspiration!
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