HE TOLD ME I AM THEIR WATCHER.
My ministry is THEM.
This is no small thing.
Their bringing up is about so much more than a proper education
or memorizing the books of the bible.
.
It’s about teaching their souls to have one foot in heaven
with the other in peoples’ hearts.
Showing them God’s beauty in the things of art and creation and food and life.
So they can be His kind of well rounded.
.
I see their wonderment at the things of Christmastime
their thrill at the thought of GIVING
and know that teaching them about less,
breeds life in the darkest places of their fallen-before-life souls.
.
I want them to know fun and love and that their skin costumes are temporary.
That this matrix life will let them down over and over
but that it’s ok.
And it’s meant to be.
And it will make them His warriors.
.
I watch them.
Over them.
And am humbled by the job.
THESE AMAZING WORDS: “It’s about teaching their souls to have one foot in heaven with the other in people’s hearts…So they can be His kind of well rounded.” ~You’ve just perfectly summed up our priority parenting goal. Holy smokes, girl, you are some kind of wonderful! Your babes are blessed to have you warrioring for them, and we are blessed to hear His words through you!
Merry Christmas, Arianne!
These words are powerful. You have summed up our parenting goals in such a beautiful way. I am so encouraged in seeing this “way of parenting” re-emerging in our modern day.
Thank you so much for sharing. I am leaving encouraged knowing that I am not walking this road alone with my family.
Merry Christmas!
Ari…
How did you do this? In sparse but beautiful words, you’ve nailed the essence of parenting. I…love…this…post!
(and its author 😉 xo)
God has been reminding me of this very thing of me and parenting my children. Your words helped solidify it for me. I means a few changes in our house to allow me to do and be this better. Thank you.
Jen
This is no small thing…..beautiful reminder.
fantastic … had to click over to be sure, but yep – carefully written, heart-stirring words poured out on the page – I knew it was you. Thank you for this beautiful reminder of our missions as Mothers.
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“I am their watcher.” I got chills when I read this. The first thought I had was “If I’m going to be someone’s watcher, I better be sure someone is watching me!” I know for me that parenting helped me discover and deepen my own faith. I think that is true for many parents. And our children see this. They see our faith. It permeates their lives in ways we don’t always see or understand.
Lovely post. Thank you.
I agree, watching, nurturing and teaching those little souls put into our care is a precious gift…as well as a tremendous responsibility….in the day~to~day tasks of living this can be momentarily forgotten. Thank you so much for the reminder!
Warmly,
Tracey
x0x
I loved this post and your portrayal of motherhood. They are words I need to hear as I transition from the mission field/work place to full-time mothering here in the US. Truth be told, I’m terrified. Doesn’t seem to make sense that I’m confident when leading a staff team and serving as the director of a sizable organization… and overwhelmed when I see these two precious souls looking to me to guide them and knowing He has entrusted me with that role.
Your quote is going before my eyes for the next few weeks… because it’s such a great reminder of the mission of motherhood: “It’s about teaching their souls to have one foot in heaven with the other in people’s hearts…So they can be His kind of well rounded.”
What a beautiful portrayal of God’s mandate to us mom’s. My heart agrees with your heart and I cherish the wonderful daily opportunities I have to sow into my little ones the love of Jesus. What an awesome reminder you gave us moms that this is our temporary home and our job here is to raise up those God has entrusted to us with an eternal perspective and love for Him and others. Thank you!
I love this. I had been asking God what he wanted me to do this time last year, and he let me know that being home with my kids and teaching them his way and making our home a sanctuary for my family is what he wants….so that’s exactly what I’ve been working on! It’s wonderful to see how things have improved.
Sanctuary, that’s IT. That is the prayer I pray when I’m in my nephnieces homes. A peace prayer; that the kiddo’s feel a sense of calm & secure. I will start using the word “Sanctuary,” in my prayers.
Lord, help us all! Truly, it “takes a village.”
just an auntie,
Reese
Oooh, I absolutely LOVE this post! Thank you so much for writing this…amazing. 🙂
This is my first time reading your work. i like it very much. and, from another mom, thanks for the reminder.
From one privileged “watcher” to another…..thank you.
It’s so cool to see mama’s who get it! Not everyone does.
If you could see the lost ones I encounter day in & day out (in public high school)
it would twist your heart forever.
My heart hurts because of it. I pray you see a little of the reward of being a good watcher. <3
One foot in heaven with the other in people’s hearts. Oh, girl , that’s so GOOD. Miss you…
“It’s about teaching their souls to have one foot in heaven
with the other in peoples’ hearts.”
I. Love. This.
Beautiful! You are so right on with this post. This job of parenting should humble and should excite. It’s an amazing gift and definitely “no small thing.”
I LOVE this line: “It’s about teaching their souls to have one foot in heaven with the other in peoples’ hearts.”
Thank you for this post.
Oh you are so right about this one! While it is important that we provide for our children and make sure they have food, clothes, shelter, education, the real job (and I know the first part if really ‘physically’ difficult) comes with raising emotionally and spiritually secure adults who contribute to this world with the gifts given to them by God. This part actually is much more emotionally and mentally exhausting but is OH, SO IMPORTANT! I have 4 kids ages 17-29, so I speak from experience, and not all of it successful, at least to my eyes yet, in this world. We shall see what God and the future still holds!
Keep on watching!
Bernice
http://livingthebalancedlife.com/2010/six-steps-to-a-saner-christmas-part-2/
Arianne! What a master craftsman of encouragement you are! Just a small space of lines packed with such meaning and inspiration. Being a mom is overwhelming because I feel like everything I do/not do could mold them one way or another. God help me. Yes, I feel humbled too. So enjoyed this.
All I can say is ditto.
My whole heart-story bundled up in the eloquent words of my darling friend.
–S.S.
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