The Beginning
"The burden comes from The Lord". I first heard those words many years ago when a seasoned pastor preached his first series to a church in need of vision and leadership.
Little did I know the impacts and influence it would have on me several years later.
For the first time in many years, I have the gift of time in my schedule. Upon moving to California in the summer of 2013, my once-daily routine of homeschooling my five children (four boys-18,17,17,11 and one girl 14) was altered. My eldest son began college and my second son enrolled in high school in order to continue in the JROTC program he started in Hawaii.
Due to the fact we were new in town, we were not participating in a homeschool co-op either, which had also been a weekly occurrence for the past four years.
Needless to say, I was eager to begin something anew and began seeking the Lord as to how best use my time. Throughout the past few months, He has revealed to me, piece by piece (not my preferred method of planning :), his plans for me.
Encouraging women in their role as moms brings me joy. After attending a Wholehearted conference (Sally Clarkson, itake joy.com)in Southern California in 2011, I led my first MOM's group (Mission of Motherhood) with six women in Honolulu. A pregnant woman in church asked several times when I was going to start another book study. After several interactions with her, a second MOM's book study began, in her cozy kitchen, in June 2012. Two of my children cared for the little ones, three feet away, blocked by a three-foot gate, with lots of crying. At this point, the hostess of the group was a new mom to an eleven month old, struggling with whether or not to work or stay home.
After completing Sally's book The Mission of Motherhood, the group continued
meeting weekly. Our gatherings included other book studies (To Train Up a
Child, Michael Pearl, Created to Be His Helpmeet, Debi Pearl), discussion and prayer, as well as the occasional mom's night out to celebrate birthdays. We gave baby showers, brought meals after one of them gave birth, collected money to support those in financial need, as well as celebrated Christmas with a cookie exchange. My first brunch was held in May of 2013, in honor of Mother's Day.
Last week, during my first trip to Hawaii since moving, The Lord blessed me with the opportunity to gather with them-ten moms and twelve little ones (plus two in the womb), enjoying fellowship and breakfast at a favorite restaurant. The group, is now facilitated by one of the original MOM's members.
Earlier this month I hosted brunch for a group of moms from my new church in
Southern California. In case I needed further assurance this is His will for me, Carissa, a mom who,was part of the Honolulu group (recently relocated back to CA and we go to church together) who attended the brunch in Hawaii last year, showed up at the one in California, along with her daughter and three-week old son!
Several people have suggested I start a blog-yet, I believed the lie, "Who would want to hear what I have to say?" While visiting with my former pastor in Hawaii, I mentioned what the Lord has been showing me, along with my reservations (what if nobody reads it?). He wisely shared the secret to his longevity as a pastor: "I preach to an audience of one". That confirmed to me that I am to go forward with this-sharing my heart for moms via a blog.
So... Here I am today-excited, nervous, eager, vulnerable. May you be blessed as you follow the Lord's command to raise your children in the fear and admonition of The Lord.
Pattie
