Every mother has tough days. Some mothers though are walking a mothering journey I can’t begin to understand. Perhaps the father of their children is violent and abusive. Maybe the child they have waited for is born with disabilities so severe, even their life span is shortened. Or their perfectly healthy child is suddenly diagnosed with a life threatening illness.
I can’t even imagine what that is like. Even having watched people walk that road, I can only begin to imagine the pain of those experiences. Although every experience is different, sometimes hearing from someone who has been through traumatic times and come out on the other side, can give you the energy or hope it takes to get out of bed and face what today holds for you. When the person sharing their story understands the support God can provide, I think the sharing could be the most impactful.
I was intrigued when offered the chance to review the book Kelly Tough: Live Courageously by Faith
One of my favorite parts of working with teens is helping them discover the gifts God has given them to serve Him. Unfortunately, many parents tend to fumble a bit in this area. Either they push their child in the direction they think the child should go or they don’t discuss it at all in hopes the child will figure things out in college.
by Carol Christen. This series has been around for decades now, but really helps focus those who have no idea what to do with their lives.
Gardens are one of the best tools for teaching kids about God. The plants themselves hold lessons from Proverbs, parables and other places in scripture. Working in the garden can help kids practice lots of godly characteristics from patience to “working as if working for the Lord.” The resulting produce can be used to serve others in lots of ways.
by Karen Newcomb. Even though I was raised with a very large one half acre garden in our yard, much has been forgotten over the years of living in inner cities and suburbs. This book fills in any gaps for those who have forgotten things and has everything a true beginner will need to know to succeed.
Being a mom is a challenging job. There usually isn’t a training program or quarterly reviews. You may get an occasional complement on how well your children behave, but it’s usually two seconds before they have a melt down in public. On good days, it’s easy enough to convince yourself you are better than average and on your bad days, you probably feel like you belong in some secret mother Hall of Shame.
by Sarah Marshall Perry. Perry, a mom of three children has her hands full. From having her own autoimmune disease to raising three children – two of whom have a host of disabilities – to dealing with the serious illnesses of her extended family, Perry has had a motherhood journey that would bring many of us to our knees.
If you have watched your child write his first research paper or study for an important exam, you have probably noticed some time management issues. There are so many more interesting and fun things to do than to spend several hours studying or writing weeks before something is due. You may have resorted to constant nagging or cringed as your teen flipped into panic mode at the last minute.