I’m starting to lose track of my age as I am getting older. I think its because, to plainly put it, I just don’t want to get older. When I was younger, I was so eager to hit the double digits like 15 (for my quincenera) 18 (graduation), 21 (legal age), etc. Now, I’m wanting time stop so that I can enjoy my babies longer. I wanted to share a few things that have been in my heart lately. Over the past few years, I’ve come to analyze my life in different areas, because life can pass you by without ever really knowing your purpose.
Motherhood is a season that you’ll never really leave, but I do believe that the description of it changes over the years. Just when you think you’ve got it all down, your kids change and therefore, you have to learn to understand them all over again. The way you disciplined them at age 3 will change the way you discipline them at age 8. As a parent, it’s important to evolve so that you can understand them better and know how to have a relationship with them. Now that my boys are 6 and 8, I am starting to have a relationship with each of them in different ways. For example, Asael (my 8 year old) loves for me to give him a kiss on the blacktop before he goes to his class. Whereas, Judah (my 6 year old) he isn’t having it, and is totally embarrassed by my kisses. I’m learning to understand what makes them happy, sad, angry and how to love them in ways that best fit their needs. Thank goodness I still get them to cuddle with me on the couch.
Just like motherhood, my relationship with God is a season that I’ll never outgrow, but it has changed over the years as well. It has changed for the better, where I understand His word more and have grown closer to Him. I grew up believing in God, but never had a close relationship with Him until I got baptized at the age of 16 and my life has never been the same since. I believe there is no other name but Jesus and He is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit all in One. I have strong values and morals that won’t ever change and I’ll continue to teach those same things to my children. But, within Christianity believers, there are different standards (non biblical rules) that people practice and should be respected. While I do have my own standards, I’ve come to realize that mine won’t always look like someone’s else’s in the church and that’s okay because we each have the right to make our own choices. We’ve all judged someone else at some point in our lives, when we’ve seen others having convictions that don’t align with yours. But the truth is, even with those who have strong convictions, will have someone looking down on them. It’s inevitable. I think it’s important to serve and worship together, even if our standards are not exactly the same. At no point should we show the love of God by embarrassing or talking bad about one another because that is not showing God’s love. I’ll be honest and tell you, it’s happened to me before and its not a good feeling.
As a mother of 3 little ones that are living in a time that seems to be progressing, I have had a great desire to take more time in teaching them the word of God. With all that comes teaching them about different areas. Many look at the outward appearance of a person and believe that reflects their heart but, I want to show my children the love of God on the inside because modesty is a reflection on how you treat others who have nothing to offer you. I want to continue teaching them to love and serve people because that’s how you show His love. One thing I probably don’t share often is how I love to serve at my church. It is something my children have seen Adam and I do since they were born. It’s not something we can teach them unless we are living it daily. Our purpose is to teach them the importance of going to church and more importantly having a relationship with God. The Bible says "for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10). He equipped us with special personalities and skills so that we might be able to make an impact for His kingdom while on earth.
There will be times in your life that people will hurt you with words or actions but our purpose for living for God is not for others. Our salvation and our walk is our own and personal and may not always look like others. That is what I will continue to live out and show my children.
