In a discussion about NFP, a couple in our marriage prep course told us this:

“There’s also the fear of having a child before being ready. And no, God is not going to give me millions of dollars because it will help me prepare for the child. So don’t tell me that god will provide. He provided me with intellect, and abilities to survive and make something of myself. With my intellect, I will be using birth control.”

Well, if we all had to be “ready” to have a baby, not many of us would have children at all! 

It’s the beginning of September and for us school is in full swing.  I am typically a lover of routine and schedule, but it is such a big adjustment this year.  Last year we homeschooled some of our kids and so it seemed that things were a bit calmer in our house, and adjusting back to chaotic mornings, school drop offs and pick-ups at four different schools, and extracurricular activities have been tough for this mama.  In the morning it takes a good hour to get everyone dropped off and then again at the end of the school day.  Then my seven-year-old has therapy appointments most days after school and my 10-year-old has 2 hours of football four nights a week.  This doesn’t include my daughter’s music, drama, and work activities.  I am EXHAUSTED!!!  Any other mama’s feel this way? 

What can we give that’s more valuable than begging God’s blessings for others?

This is the second part of a series on being more purposeful about deepening our relationship with God through prayer.  The first part can be found here, and I recommend starting there.

The tears of the Mother gained the heart of the Son.

In book three of The Chronicles of Narnia, the classic fantasy series written by C.S. Lewis, we have one of the best spiritual allegories of Divine Providence offered by our Christian tradition. In “The Horse and His Boy”

This is the second part of a series on being more purposeful about deepening our relationship with God through prayer.  The first part can be found here, and I recommend starting there.

I stood on one side of the door and my daughter hid on the other.  I don’t yell or call names, but I sure can be mean.  It’d been a long day, my mind had been filled with anxieties about work, and my daughter had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Half an hour later I stood outside her room and knocked.  It was time to apologize.