Hi everyone! Today I'm excited to share a guest post written by a friend of mine, Hally Franz. I met Hally several years ago while attending my first writers conference. She was so sweet to strike up a conversation with me - especially because I probably had that "deer in the headlights" look about me throughout the conference!
Hally is sharing a devotional about one of my favorite topics: motherhood. Enjoy!
Hally is sharing a devotional about one of my favorite topics: motherhood. Enjoy!
If I’d have had my way, I’d have ended up living in a city rather than the rural community where I was raised. If the Lord had 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’d have no children. How many of us, as kids, expect our lives to turn out a certain way, and find it’s nothing like what we wanted? It’s far better.
When I was young, I didn't want children. The physical aspects of the ordeal were appalling to me. And, 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 produces a perfect child. I thought it very likely that 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 got older I grew out of those thoughts and eager to have children of my own. Over time, 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.
When I was young, I didn't want children. The physical aspects of the ordeal were appalling to me. And, 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 produces a perfect child. I thought it very likely that 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 got older I grew out of those thoughts and eager to have children of my own. Over time, 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!
“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).
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!
“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).
Hally Franz is a former high school counselor, who is now a freelance writer and church secretary. She is a wife and mom of two teens, a faithful band and cheer booster, a 4-H leader, and an enthusiastic book club member. Hally writes about family, faith, relationships, parenting and more at her blog: Bloom, Bond & Build. Visit her there at: http://bloombondbuild.com/
