2020.05.10 Mothers Day ~ Writing A Godly Story

WHAT CHARACTERISTIC, QUALITY, OR QUIRK HAVE YOU ALWAYS ADMIRED OR ENJOYED OR HAVE COME TO ADMIRE, ENJOY OR ABOUT YOUR APPRECIATE MOM?
LAUGHTER
RESILIENCE
FAITH
1 CORINTHIANS 11:1-- NIV
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
ESV
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
LIKE IT OR NOT—THIS IS WHAT OUR CHILDREN DO
THEY DON’T DO AS WE SAY… THEY DO AS WE DO…
THAT OF COURSE SHOULD BE A HUGE WAKE UP CALL FOR US AS PARENTS…
SO THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO MY QUESTION AND I HOPE YOU TAKE SOME TIME TO RESPOND…
WHAT CHARACTERISTIC, QUALITY, OR QUIRK HAVE YOU ALWAYS ADMIRED OR ENJOYED OR HAVE COME TO ADMIRE, ENJOY OR ABOUT YOUR APPRECIATE MOM?
SO THAT VERSE AND THIS DEVOTIONAL I READ A FEW DAYS AGO GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT ALL OUR LIVES TELL A STORY
YOUR MOTHER’S LIFE—IS TELLING OR HAS TOLD A STORY
THINK ABOUT THAT AS I READ THIS
"Restoration Year: A 365-Day Devotional" by John Eldredge
"May 3 KNOW THEIR STORY
Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! HEBREWS 13:1–2 THE MESSAGE
As you get to know people in your close circle of friends, it will be so helpful to know their stories and what has shaped them. You want to know who they really are. Where did they experience shame, and for what? Where did they experience being prized—and for what?
Because everything we say and do is being filtered through our way of seeing the world. Remember—whoever they are, they have a false self too, constructed to avoid rejection and win approval, often flipping from one personality to another based on, Just tell me who you want me to be, and I’ll be it.
The purpose of getting to know someone will show you which is the false self and which is the true self.
You were not meant to walk through life alone, so as you pursue friendships, pursue community, you will want to fight for their true selves to come alive, while being careful not to step into the traps of what the false selves offer.
You must know the things that have shaped them, and from there, friendships can be forged and community strengthened.
Do you know the stories of those who matter most to you? What makes them them?"
SO THIS DEVOTIONAL POINTS OUT MANY TRUTHS AND I’D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW
1—EVERYONE HAS A STORY—WE’RE LIVING IT
2—OUR STORY IS PART OF THE STORIES OF MANY OTHERS—PARENTS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, AUNTS & UNCLES, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND CERTAINLY THOSE IN OUR SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY
3—SPECIFICALLY ON THIS MOTHER’S DAY—DO YOU KNOW YOUR MOTHER’S STORY? DO YOU KNOW SOME OF THE KEY THINGS THAT SHAPED HER—BECAUSE OUT OF THAT—IS HOW SHE SAW THE WORLD
IF SO--- HOPEFULLY THAT GIVES YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO SHE WAS AND HOW SHE RAISED YOU
IF NOT—FIND OUT—MORE THAN LIKELY IT WON’T EXCUSE ANY WOUNDS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY HER—BUT IT WILL HELP GIVE YOU INSIGHT AND HOPEFULLY GRACE AND UNDERSTANDING AS YOU DEAL WITH ANY NEGATIVE EMOTIONS REGARDING YOUR MOTHER
WHEN WE FINALLY HAD CHILDREN I KNEW WE WERE GOING TO BE PERFECT PARENTS
ONLY TO COME TO REALIZE THAT NO AMOUNT OF TRAINING, PRAYER, OR EDUCATION CAN PREPARE YOU FOR THE DAY TO DAY RELENTLESS GRIND OF PARENTING…
AND IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING—NO WE WERE NOT PERFECT PARENTS
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU SHOULD HAVE OR COULD HAVE DONE THINGS DIFFERENTLY?
YOU ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES
EXPRESS YOUR SORROW
AND ASK FORGIVENESS
AND REPAIR ANY DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE, IF YOU’RE ABLE
YOU CAN’T GO BACK—BUT YOU CAN TAKE A NEW DIRECTION AS YOU MOVE FORWARD
SO EVERYONE HAS A STORY
YOU ARE WRITING A STORY EVERYDAY
WHAT KIND OF STORY ARE YOU WRITING???
WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO OUR ?
WHAT CHARACTERISTIC, QUALITY, OR QUIRK HAVE YOU ALWAYS ADMIRED OR ENJOYED OR HAVE COME TO ADMIRE, ENJOY OR ABOUT YOUR APPRECIATE MOM?
IMITATION IS NOT ONLY THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY—IT IS WHAT YOUR CHILDREN DO
I’M SO GRATEFUL THAT I’M LIVING LONG ENOUGH TO GET SMART IN MY CHILDREN’S EYES
AND TO SEE A BIGGER PICTURE OF WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE BECOMING…
I AM PROUD OF ALL OUR CHILDREN
AND AS PARENTS – ALTHOUGH IT’S MOTHER’S DAY—TELL YOUR CHILDREN AT LEAST ONE THING YOUR PROUD OF THEM FOR
WE ALL NEED AFFIRMATION – AND YOU’LL NEVER KNOW HOW DEEP OUR WORDS GO TO OUR CHILDREN WHEN WE AFFIRM THEM!
READ PROVERBS 31
THIS PANDEMIC HAS GIVEN EVERYONE A PROVERBIAL TRUCK LOAD OF LEMONS
SOME ARE MAKING LEMONADE
SOME ARE MAKING LEMON MERINGUE PIE
SOME ARE SLICING THEM UP AND PUTTING THEM IN OUR TEA…
SOME ARE JUST LAMENTING THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A TRUCK LOAD OF LEMONS
THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN—IS DOING GOOD THINGS WITH HER LEMONS
I PRAY YOU ARE ALSO!!!
WHAT CHARACTERISTIC, QUALITY, OR QUIRK HAVE YOU ALWAYS ADMIRED OR ENJOYED OR HAVE COME TO ADMIRE, ENJOY OR ABOUT YOUR APPRECIATE MOM?

BUT A STORY THAT IN THE END—POINTS OTHERS TO JESUS THROUGH ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THIS CRAZY JOURNEY—WE CALL LIFE!!!

WRITE A GODLY STORY!!! BY IMITATING JESUS!!! AND INVITING OTHERS TO FOLLOW!!!