busylilhomemaker.com

This past week has been hard…plain and simple.

Before I had children, I thought I knew it all.  How I would raise them, teach them, discipline them, love them.  Can I tell you a secret?

I knew nothing.  Absolutely nothing.

I cringe now when I see older people or younger people look at misbehaving children in public and frown or give a disapproving look.  I think to myself, c’mon, I’m sure that that was once your child (older folks) or, hey, if it isn’t your child today, it could be yours tomorrow (younger people with little ones).

I mean, no one tells you the heartache you will feel when it comes time to discipline them for the hard stuff.

For me, it was somewhat easier when they were younger compared to now.  When they were little, it was a matter of keeping them safe and training them to be obedient simply because Mom or Dad asked them to do (or not do) something.

Now?  It’s tough to look at your child and tell them that sin is a burden and have them understand that concept.

It’s tough when your child’s eyes fill with tears because they’ve been found out and you have to explain to them what they did was wrong and that they will have consequences for their actions.

It’s brutally difficult for my mom heart to feel my child emotionally pull away from me for a time as they wrestle with their own heart of disobedience.  (oh my…)

Walking your child through God’s Word to show them what the Lord expects from us…it’s both difficult and easy at the same time.  I am so thankful there is a standard other than “mine”!  Our heart for our girls is that they constantly return to the Lord’s standard for living.

We don’t want our girls living a certain way just because Mom and Dad lived that way.  At some point, they will turn from that because it doesn’t “work” for them anymore.  Walking with the Lord can be tough some days because our flesh gets in the way.  But, the Lord’s standard, His Word, is steadfast and true and never, ever changes.  It is Truth.

But, when the wrestling is done and the child comes to you and says they feel the burden is gone because they know they are forgiven and don’t feel that burden of “doing something wrong” anymore…that’s a blessing in my heart beyond what I can describe with words.

And oh, the hugs!!

In response to those words from my child, I said to her, “obedience is freedom Honey.  It may not seem like it at the time because obedience is hard, but it really does bring freedom rather than a burden”.

I am praising God today for bringing us (as parents) through a tough week.  I don’t write this so other parents out there will shake their heads and “cluck” their tongues and think poorly of my child (please, don’t). She is a sinner just like me and everyone else living and breathing and she is learning along the way.

I write this because I’m trying to write to the glory of God and to be honest.   It’s tough being obedient even as an adult sometimes, isn’t it?

It is for me.  I confess that.

Thankfully, the Lord has used my weakness to speak to my child’s heart and hopefully help her understand a life lesson that will stay with her for life.

I am thankful for my shortcomings.  My children can learn from them just as they can (hopefully) learn from my strengths.  The Lord uses it all, doesn’t He?

Blessings to you today Moms,

It’s finally here!

31 days…31 opportunities to bless your husband

What could you do to bless your husband today?

It could be an act of service…or a note in his lunch or on the bathroom mirror… perhaps a Scripture written on a note card placed strategically in His Bible… maybe taking him out on a date night in the middle of the week.

Each day in the month of May, give your husband pause to think, “wow, she loves me!”

Pray for your husband each day no matter what you choose to do for him.  That alone is the best thing we can do for our husbands, wouldn’t you agree?

I’m so excited about this challenge!  I hope you are too!

My hubby works so hard for us and so many days I forget to praise him and tell him how much I appreciate all he does for me and for us.  I truly don’t know what my life would be like without him and I don’t want him going through another day wondering if what he does makes a difference.

You can read about my inspiration for this series here.

Link Up on May 7th – Share Your Week

Share with us how your first week went on Monday, May 7th!  You’re welcome to link up after that too, but that will be the first day the link up will be available.

Write a blog post about what you did for your husband and if you’d like to share, tell us how he reacted to your efforts.

Please, do keep your posts family friendly!  Thank you.

Feel free to use the One a Day button on your blog (you can find it on my sidebar).

Can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do!

All my best to you,

I am linking up at Imparting Grace and New Nostalgia.

Hello Friends!

As some of you may know, I am an adoptee. I was adopted when I was 10 days old and had the most amazing and blessed childhood because my birth mom was gracious and loving by making the decision to give me up for adoption. I am so thankful she made the choice for life!

There is a wonderful ministry in my area called the Miami Valley Women’s Center and they sponsor an event called the Walk4Life each year in the month of May. This years’ walk is on Saturday, May 19th. The walk itself is only 2 miles long but we love to do it each year in honor of this ministry and the way they are helping women of all ages make a choice for life.

Image credit

The centers offer an array of services including pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, material needs for mother and child, mentoring for expectant women and men, abstinence education, a 24-hour Careline, abortion recovery, and many other services. Most importantly, they share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

All of these services are FREE. Since they do not accept any state or federal funding, their support comes directly from the community.

My daughter Julie and I did the walk last year, but she was the one asking for sponsors.

This year, I will walk with Julie again and I’m humbly coming to you, my readers, friends, and family, asking for sponsors for my walk.

The amount given isn’t based on the number of miles walked, but rather an amount that you may feel the Lord lays on your heart to give toward this ministry.

If you decide that the answer is “yes”, you can visit this Walk4 Life link .

Scroll down until you see “To Sponsor a Walker or Make a Walk4Life Donation click here” – it’s about halfway down the page on the right. You’ll be directed to another page where you fill in your information. In the second box “Account Information”, you’ll see a drop down box for “Purpose of Gift” – please choose Walk4Life. Under “Note”, please put my name, Susan Pardoe, so the sponsored amount is credited to me as a walker.

For those of you who see me in person, don’t hesitate to let me know you can sponsor me – I’ll have my envelope with me!

All sponsored donations would need to be received by Saturday, May 19th.

As an adoptee, the work that the Miami Valley Women’s Center does each day is close to my heart. I am thankful that women have a safe place to go to find answers and receive encouragement spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

There are many women in my church who volunteer at the various locations and any time I talk to them, they are just as blessed by serving as the women who come there for help.

Please, look over their website to see everything they do and the services they offer to women and families in need.

Would you please consider sponsoring me this year?

Thank you in advance for your consideration and if you feel you’re not able to sponsor me with a financial donation, would you please let me know you’re praying for me and this ministry? I would greatly appreciate that!

All my best to you,

The One a Day Series begins tomorrow!

Are you ready? Do you have your idea list written? Get ready to bless your hubby for the next 31 days! Hope you’ll join me!