A MESSAGE FOR MOTHERS...

I love this picture of me and my “promise”.  My daughter is just that, “MY PROMISE”.  My husband and I prayed for her before she was conceived after losing a child before her.  I had always made assumptions that I could have kids and frankly took it for granted, however I came to realize what a true honor, blessing and tremendous responsibility it is to be a "Mom". 

God instructs us to “raise our children up in the way they should go and when they are old, they won’t depart”.  However, God never said that raising children would not be without its own challenges.  Despite it all, my two daughters are by far the greatest gifts God has ever blessed me with and am forever grateful. 

This picture reminds me that our kids are watching, and they are taking notes.  Sometimes it may not seem like it and they may not always do it quite the way we would do it, but they are modeling in their own way and with their own flavor as they chart their own path and build their own testimony.  Our job as parents is to stand in the gap, watch their backs, fight for them in the spirit and cover them in prayer, as they MARCH AHEAD into their  destiny.  And through it all, to be reminded that God loves them even more than we do, and He has got a plan for their lives (Jer 29:11).

To every Mother out there…do not be weary in well doing, in due season you will reap a harvest, if you faint not.  Keep standing, keep praying, and thanking God in advance for what He is doing in the lives of your children.  He has got you and He’s got them too. 

I absolutely LOVE this quote.  It sums up the way we should live life.  So many people silently suffer from procrastination, giving themselves 1001 reasons why they can't.  Whether it is due to feelings of self-doubt, a lack of confidence, or fear of failure. Their hesitation prevents them from making any move at all.

But the question I have for you today, is who does that serve?  We often make the assumption in our mind that there will be a next time.  There will be a tomorrow, that will afford us the same opportunity as today, but let me remind you of the reality...no one is promised tomorrow.  We can't move through life, assuming there will be a "next time".  Instead, we need to challenge ourselves to give it all we've got today.  

Remember, yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised, but today is a gift, and you have an opportunity to make a decision to rePRESENT.

I'm amazed at how often we can look to external people and things to build our confidence.  Whether it is our friend group, the number of followers on social media or our financial status. The reality is none of those things alone can give a person true genuine confidence.  They can bring you temporary satisfaction that will at some point fade.

The challenge with placing our confidence in external things is they are often things that are fluid, and that can be snatched away in an instance.  

Placing our confidence in the hands of our friend group can cause heartache when and if circumstances change.

When we place our confidence in the number of friends and followers on social media, we know how that goes. The trends change and who and what is hot today, finds it's self on the "not" list later.

Lastly, when we place our confidence in things like our financial status, our titles, and our assets, the reality is all of those things can be lost in an instance.  

Did you know October 17th is National Body Confidence Day?  I bet some of you didn't know there was such a thing, which led me to think about how many people really struggle with confidence when it comes to their body image.  

I'm sure if I were to ask you to share three things you would change about yourself if you could, most people wouldn't have a problem coming up with a list of more than three.  I've been guilty myself.

We spend more time with ourselves than with anyone else, and we get to see the parts of ourselves that no one else gets to see.  As a result it is very easy to see and become obsessed with every flaw and area of imperfection.  

Often times as we transition from household our mirror to a world filled with filtered photos and messages through the media and marketing, that paint the picture of perfection; it is easy to have our self-image and body-image take a big hit.

Well sweetheart, take the pressure off yourself starting today.  Perfection isn't real.  Even for those people you perceive to be "perfect", I guarantee you there are things even they wish they could change or improve about themselves. 

Instead of striving for "perfection" strive for progress in becoming the best you. I encourage you to begin to fully embrace the skin you are in.  That doesn't mean that you won't put efforts towards being the healthiest you can be in mind, body and spirit; but it simply means to re-examine your motives and methods and begin to embrace yourself along every step of the journey.  

Question:  What can you stop, start or continue when it comes to loving the skin you are in?