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Monovision Moms

How’s your vision? I have noticed that being a mom can cause a certain type of blurred vision. No, I’m not talking about the bleary eyes you feel after many a sleepless night—either up with a baby or waiting on (or worrying about) a teen. It’s more than that.

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A Mother’s Work is Never Done

Have you ever had one of those days when your “to do” list feels so daunting that you want to climb back in bed and hide under the covers? If so, you are not alone because, as the old saying goes, “a mother’s work is never done.”

This Easter season, I am contemplating the difference between "do" and "done." As in, the daily work that we DO to keep our families on a good footing in this world (errands, appointments, chores, etc.) and the work that Jesus has already DONE to assure our good standing in eternity.

Mom, Have You Let Yourself Go?
Mom, Have You Let Yourself Go?

There are certain images that come to mind when we think about women who have “let themselves go.” Maybe stretched out yoga pants or unkempt hair. But that is not the picture I have in my head as I pray for the thousands (millions!) of moms who I know are hurting and exhausted out there. Women who have “let themselves go” to the bottom of the priority list as they tend to the needs of their families during these crazy times in our country and in our world.

As I ask Jesus how He would want to encourage these women in our midst, I am reminded of the age-old advice that we hear from airline flight attendants. “Be sure to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” Indeed, I recall the Biblical stories about how Jesus would wake early in the morning to pray in solitude before setting out to heal the sick and share the Gospel. He was tending to His own needs so that He could meet the needs of people around Him.

A Mother’s Day Gift That Changes Everything
A Mother’s Day Gift That Changes Everything

A moment I will never forget. I had spoken at a women’s event where I knew no one. I was seated at an empty table (my thoughtful hosts had made sure I was first in line at the buffet), wondering who God might bring to sit next to me. And then I saw her, a lovely young mom who made her way slowly to my table, clearly having some mobility challenges.

She began to share with me what Mom to Mom had meant to her that year, how it had helped in parenting her daughter. Then she paused. “But the biggest thing I learned, Linda—by far the most important—was how much God loves me. Really loves me. Even me, with all my struggles and challenges.” She paused, and then continued. “And you know, Linda, when you get that—really get that—it changes everything.”

The Marriage Mirror: Is That Really Me?
The Marriage Mirror: Is That Really Me?

It was only day two of our honeymoon and we were already having an argument that brought me to tears. We had been poking around a jewelry shop in a picturesque town and I remarked that I didn’t see any jewelry that I liked because the pieces looked coarse and unrefined. Once we left the shop, my new husband informed me that I had been rude to the saleslady because I criticized her merchandise. I thought I was just expressing an opinion. I wailed, “You care more about the feelings of that shopkeeper than you do about mine!”

“Even Christian Boys [Girls] Can Be Sad, Mommy”
“Even Christian Boys [Girls] Can Be Sad, Mommy”

“Even Christian boys can be sad, Mommy.”

This long-ago heart cry from my then 4-year-old son rings in my ears. As I was tucking him in bed one night, he was feeling very sad because his grandparents, who had been visiting from across the country, had just left. “Yes, Bjorn,” I said. “Even Christian boys can be sad.” Girls, too.

I am writing to tell you all, my Mom to Mom friends and sisters, that this girl is really sad right now. Sadder than I have ever been. The reason (as summarized by our son Lars in a text to the family on the night of November 14, 2021) is this:

When We Set Our Expectations Too Low
When We Set Our Expectations Too Low

Expectations. That word feels heavy, doesn’t it? We often think of the word in a negative context when we tell ourselves to “reset expectations” or “let go of expectations.”

But God has been speaking to me about expectations lately and instead of lowering my expectations, the Spirit has been encouraging me to raise my expectations – about what He can do.

All Things New
All Things New

Which camp are you in when it comes to “new” things? Do you get excited for new adventures, or do you prefer a comfortable routine? Does your heart quicken at the thought of a trendy new outfit, or do you gravitate toward your reliable, broken-in jeans?

Have We Forgotten How to Be Together?
Have We Forgotten How to Be Together?

Oh, no! I realized that the in-person church service our family planned to attend this past Sunday morning would be starting in ten minutes and we were still in our pajamas, enjoying a leisurely family breakfast. I had forgotten that the church service meeting time was one hour earlier than the online church service that we had been accustomed to attending during the pandemic. My brain had not yet adjusted to our new in-person schedule.

A Tale of Three Chairs
A Tale of Three Chairs

When I think of my father, three chairs come to mind.

Rather ironic, because my father was one of the busiest, hardest working, most productive people I ever knew. A Bible scholar, college professor, and author who also served as interim pastor in many churches, loved to travel and teach internationally, and, even, for a few years, raised a vegetable garden on the side. Not a person who sat around a lot. But even so, there were three important chairs.

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