Weekly Wildflowers #9
Weekly Wildflowers #9
Happenings, 3 Quick Takes, The Divine Truth of Motherhood
Friends,
I’m writing to you from a church conference room, the sounds of little voices drifting down the hallway reciting this week’s memory work, at my kids’ hybrid school. Periodically, the low hum of mingling voices is broken by the loud thudding of feet and excited sounds as students switch to their next class block.
For the past few weeks this has been my office, where ideas form, and words take shape. Each thought typed for you to read and ponder. It’s a role I never asked for but was called to, and a role that has continued to grow year over year.
Yet, as I sit here, listening to young minds share words of wisdom, learning the value of learning, I realize we all are on this path of growth if we allow ourselves to slow down, savor the information before us, ponder, dialogue, and sit with the wonder of our world.
That’s something I think is sorely missing in today’s culture - sitting and pondering.
I’m still working out exactly what that looks like in 2024 but I suspect for me it’s more time in the garden, long walks with the family, less comparing of blessings others have received (and I notice I haven’t), more fancy meals at the table, lit candles, good books, a steaming cup of tea - sitting and pondering the little beautiful moments that make up a life.
3 Quick Takes
This week in my Insta DMs I received a heartfelt message of relief from a new reader. Her relief was in the fact that I am a faithful Catholic with only 3 children, just like her. I read her words and knew exactly where she was coming from. Her question - had I ever struggled as she has? She wasn’t sure if she could even ask the question to a perfect stranger but so great was her need for reassurance, and finding someone else like her, that she asked anyway. Her situation, very similar to mine, in that she is constantly around faithful Catholic families with 6+ children. It’s beautiful, no doubt about it. Still, it weighs on your heart when you know you have not been granted this blessing of more children but desire it anyway. I shared many things but I also shared with her one of my favorite prayers for surrendering what I’m struggling with, the Prayer of Abandonment. I love this prayer because you can return to it again and again, as you need to, to continue to surrender yourself to God’s will as you learn to let go of that which you are clinging so tightly to.
I recently joined a Well Read Mom group. So far we’ve only had the preliminary meeting to just talk, catch up and see what the year holds for us. I have to say I am so excited about the idea of having accountability with my reading. I’m one of those people that gets about 100-150 pages into a book and then gets distracted, sets it down, forgets it for about a month, while picking up a new book to read that I might actually finish. So this will be a good situation - I think. The only caveat is that I actually have to stay focused, and some of these books will be long! Still, it is promising and I always love an excuse to get together and talk with friends. If you haven’t heard of Well Read Mom click on the link and you can read about their mission, their story and what this year’s book list will look like.
Recently Joanna Gaines and her husband, Chip, announced they are not allowing their kids to have social media until 18 years old. To say I jumped for joy a bit is an understatement. You see, a while ago now, my husband and I decided on a couple technology rules for our kids. No phones until driving and then once driving, it’s most likely going to be a dumb phone. We also wanted to wait until they were 18 before social media became an option. I remember fondly my childhood free from devices, calling friends to meet, sending letters in the mail (and receiving them!) and we had to make some real tough (not that tough) choices to preserve that kind of childhood for our kids. Do my kids still have access to technology - yes, they play some video games, and we watch movies/tv shows, but its all limited and has a designated time and place. Overall I know this is a personal decision, but I strongly believe that we don’t yet know the full extent of what unlimited phone access and social media does to a developing brain, though were getting a better idea and it’s not pretty. If you want to read more I can recommend these two books - The Opt Out family, and The Anxious Generation.
Devotional Corner
Anointed. Powerful. Dignified. Imago Dei
Words that speak to the divine Truth of motherhood, of homemaking. And more - we are Craft masters, gatekeepers, and shepherds of souls.
If we take the eternal view of our roles, we begin to see why we often feel so defeated isolated, and under attack.
It’s because what we do MATTERS - the daily grind, the diapers, the toilet cleaning, the meal making, the blessing, the counter wiping, chauffeuring, hug giving, prayer saying, all the tears, the pain, the joy, the everyday little ins and outs - all of it.
Not with perfection but with grace and dignity.
We are shepherds of souls, the kind of shepherds who sit up late at night comforting a friend in their grief, or laughing uncontrollably together at an inside joke. Who step into hard places with love. The shepherds who kiss boo-boos, wipe butts, and share their stories of deep acceptance even in defeat.
We are Anointed to lead our children to God, to show them His Love and Glory. Anointed to raise them up in righteousness that they may not stray from Him but be a light that leads others to Him.
We are Powerful - We hold the next generation of life in our very bodies, and in our hearts. In this role we step into cooperation with God Himself, and that is no small thing!
We are Gatekeepers - sheltering our children, our families, our communities. We provide the safe spaces for roots to take hold, leaves to be broadened, soil to be enriched and fruit to be born.
We are Craft Masters. Holy women from all walks of life who bring experiences of joy and grief, intimately entwined. Who show the deep meaning of love and sacrifice, imitating our Lord Jesus with their lives. We may clean the kitchen and cook meals with such skills but it is the love in our lived experiences where our craft truly shines.
So ladies, step boldly into your roles and know your worth. God in His wisdom knew exactly what these roles would be, their value, and the adversity we’d face in owning it. Don’t let a society which is fixated on the latest and greatest distract you from the Truth of what has been and will always be - God’s Glory.
Discussion Questions
This section is a starting off point to help you go deeper with topics discussed above.
Take a moment to think about your motherhood, your role as homemaker. Whether you work from home, work at an office, or stay home fulltime - we are all homemakers and mothers. Think about what areas you are proud of and what areas you feel need improvement, then offer both to God in prayer. Ask Him to show you how He sees your motherhood, your role as homemaker. Write down what you prayed about and come back to it in a week and pray about it again.
What lies have you taken to heart around your motherhood, around homemaking? Maybe that it’s not that important, or that someone else can do it better than you? Maybe you believed its all too mundane to really matter? Maybe you believed that you have no value if not earning money? Maybe you believed that you’re not capable of caring for a home well? Whatever the lie is, I encourage you to renounce it - “In Jesus name I renounce the lie of _______ that has kept me from living my vocation as mother and homemaker for the Glory of God.” Consider writing this on a sticky note and putting it on your mirror to pray daily.
Quote of the Week
One thing is certain: When the time has come, nothing which is man made will subsist. One day, all human accomplishments will be reduced to a pile of ashes. But every single child to whom a woman has given birth will live forever, for he has been given an immortal soul made to God's image and likeness. - Alice Von Hildebrand, The Privilege of Being a Woman.
Which Season is your Favorite?
It seems I am in good company! Honestly though, I used to be a much bigger Spring fan, but as we’ve moved South I’ve found Fall is my favorite. My guess is that in the North you find yourself yearning for Spring by about March, even though it’s still 2 months away, but in the South you are ready for the Summer heat to cool off so gladly welcome the Fall. Either way, this was a fun chart to see, so thank you for sharing!
This week’s poll.