Bloom Where You're Planted

Motherhood is no easy task. There are huge joys and excitement and then there are days of exasperation and disappointment. I wouldn’t say that I was a career woman before we decided to have kids; I just know that I really enjoyed my job and truly tried to excel. My husband and I had decided that whenever the Lord gave us children I would quit my job and stay home. I truly looked forward to that day. Little did I know that month-end deadlines would turn into trying to looking decent and tidy house before Daddy gets home. My stack of folders I tried to remove from my desk was replaced with baskets and baskets of laundry. Long, boring meeting became lesson plans. This was my life.

God is showing me “Bloom where you are planted, Amanda!!” Right now, I am planted smack dab in the middle of motherhood. Though there are times of feast and famine in the Wagner home, my duties are to raise moral, truth-seeking, God-loving children. What am I doing with this short time I have with them? I have only 7 years of influence left in my son’s life. While I write that my heart skips a beat! I realize that I missed his first 6 years of life-therefore my husband and I will have only 12 years! Lord, help me use the most of these precious years to have my children planted firmly in their faith and sold-out to You alone.

This is will be my greatest accomplishment-raising my children. I need to put all my brainpower, perseverance, and patience into this HUGE opportunity, the same way I would at a promotion at a job. Granted motherhood is a thankless job, but isn’t that also the description of a true servant? Completely self-less, not looking for a pat on the back, concerned for other’s needs before my own.

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Mother Knows Best

Mother Knows Best…….

There’s not a week that goes by where the Lord does not show me a character issue that I need to work on in my children's lives. This week my daughters found themselves squabbling over a pencil, this was a new pencil to the Wagner household and was very desired. They both led into how each of them “had it first”, I quickly let them know that that information wouldn’t matter. My concern was for the selfishness showing in their hearts over a small piece of wood. I explained that I was seeing selfishness in their hearts and that we shouldn’t desire an item over another’s happiness, and that there is joy is giving the pencil to your sibling even if you feel you deserve it. After feeling quite successful in my attempt to make amends, I asked if one of my daughters in particular would be willing to give the pencil to her sister. She said simply, “I want that pencil, I need it.” I responded that I understood that she wanted it and may feel she needed it, but right now the best thing for her is to give it to her sibling. When I realized her heart was not changing, I went to her and calmly said, “You must understand that Mommy knows what is best for you. Right now, the pencil is not what is best. You are holding this pencil higher than pleasing God and letting your sister use it. When you keep telling me that you want it and need it, you are acting as if this pencil is the only thing that will make you happy. It has become an idol.” She cried, repented, and we prayed that God would show us idols in our heart and we went about our day.

Later that day, I found myself rethinking my conversation with my daughter. I immediately remembered something I have been asking the Lord to give to me for years now. There have been times of discontent that I have said, “Lord, I really need this. I want this. This is going to make my life easier and happier.” Yet, it has never happened. I then realized that Father knows Best. What I have been asking for is not good for me right now. He needs me content with what He has provided for me . I had also allowed my desire for something to become an idol in my heart. I can continue to pray for this request, however I now have a new perspective “Lord, in your time, if it is not best for me and you will not be glorified, I do not want it.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.”