September 2, 2015
Happy Birthday Fearless Mom!
“…Teach the older women to …teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children…”Titus 2:3&4 NIV
Happy First Birthday to Fearless Mom! This wonderful ministry, exists to encourage and equip and empower moms of all ages and in all stages, and begins its second year in just two weeks. And all moms, young and old realize the importance of that very first birthday! While it true that the infant stage diminishes in light of amazing accomplishments in the first year, it is also true that the second year promises to produce new wonders and adventures. And this is undoubtedly true as Fearless Mom embarks on its journey of its second year…Yes! How we love two year olds! Well done Julie Richard, our Fearless Leader!
The first year was truly amazing as moms who participated in the ministry shared their exciting stories and testimonies of how the No Nonsense, Common Sense Parenting ministry literally changed their perspective of their parenting opportunity. Many have shared that often, they would walk into the doors of the church on Wednesday mornings feeling discouraged and defeated because of a challenging morning, or week, or a stage in the life of their child. Then, they would leave feeling encouraged, empowered and equipped to march on and to not give up or give in, knowing that this crazy, wonderful, awesome mom-job is really tough but believing beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it is absolutely the best job ever and totally worth it!
I Lost My Shirt!
I think that I mentioned that I love Fearless Mom and as a mentor mom, I also love the job of being a cheerleader to the young moms! And, I love my FM jade-colored tank! A few weeks ago, I misplaced it. Actually, I lost my shirt…I looked everywhere…in drawers, in my hanging clothes, in my suitcase, in the laundry room, and I declared, “I lost my shirt!” The pile of laundry beckoned me back one more time, and there I found the jade colored tank. As I retrieved it from the growing pile of laundry, I shook it out and read the words on the front of my shirt… “She Laughs…” Proverbs 31:25…
…She Laughs…
As I held my shirt, thankful that it had been found, I thought of why she, why I can laugh…And honestly, I laugh at myself all of the time, way more than I used to. For a portion of a life-time, I took myself so seriously, too seriously. And now, I just chuckle at me, at life… when I lost my phone in my own home over fifty times in the last months, with the ringer turned off! And then, it became a game to find it! I laugh!
I laugh now as my body is becoming pear-shaped and my lipstick and eyeliner are crooked most of the time. I laugh that I make very frequent root touch-up trips to the salon. I laugh now as I am reminded that recently, I inadvertently grabbed “nursing bras” at Target and threw them in my basket, confident they would fit. And then, I tried to persuade the young woman at check-out to try them, saying to her, “They look so comfortable!” And I laugh remembering the incredulous look on her face which clearly said, “Lady, are you for real?”
Yes, yes, I am for real! And my own family can attest to that! And I can laugh at the days to come…”She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25
Young Moms Can Laugh Too!
Yes, and because I have been there, I can encourage young moms to laugh, not because they do the silly things that I do (no, they are not there yet). Rather they are changing the world, they are changing the next generation, they are loving their precious ones…often at their own expense…Yes, they can laugh!
They can laugh without fear of the future because they know that they are secure when they live life together, with other moms who seek the wisdom which empowers them to do their best! When, the world wants to scream a “message of fear” at new moms, toddler moms, teen moms, empty-nesting moms, grand-moms…they can truly laugh in the face of the faulty message. They laugh because of the counter-message of Truth which speaks with authority…with assurance…with encouragement…with credibility…with love. And that is what Fearless Mom offers to every mom …to every grand-mom because…
Fearless Mom is founded on and because of who our loving Father God is. It is founded on and because of the Savior Jesus Christ who embodies the perfect love which speaks Truth, Hope, and Promise into the mom heart. It is founded on and because of the Holy Spirit who guides and navigates for us as we embark and travel on this amazing journey. Fearless Mom is founded on and because of God’s wisdom, the inerrant Word of God.
The truth is that everyone who participates in Fearless Mom, every age and every stage, is navigating in a place where she has never traveled. Every day presents itself with new and unexpected circumstances…every age and every stage, for the young moms and the mentor moms. The FM ministry resonates with women because it speaks the Language of God’s Love, and His Hope, and His Promise, which translates into every heart…Hmmmm, I remember now…mom-hood was His idea!
We Can Laugh Because…
The truth is that we mentor moms have been the recipient of the same encouraging, empowering, equipping messages and we, too, have been changed by a community which offers a safe, judgment-free zone, and which cheers us on as well, no matter what age or what stage. Yes, the FM Leadership Team and our Titus Table are all devoted and faithful as we choose to do life together. And together, we can laugh without fear, enjoying this amazing journey, because we are strong together, anchored in God’s Word.
And I Laugh Because…
Some of the sweetest surprises for me on this journey, are the messages of encouragement I receive from these young, busy moms…Remember, that we mentor moms are farther down the road, and we are navigating new waters and new territory, places of life where we have not traveled before. I adore my sweet young momma friends who take their time to text or to call…to cheer me on…my daughter, my daughter-in-love, and my precious FM friends, ( No wonder I love to pretend that they too are my daughters…) Did I mention that I love doing life with these women?
Fearless Laughter
So, once again I wish Fearless Mom, a Happy First Birthday! Well done Julie! No doubt, God placed the vision into Julie’s heart many years ago, but in His amazing, perfect timing, the ministry was officially born one year ago.
As the days are passing quickly and little ones are walking through the doors of their schools, and younger ones’ back-backs are waiting, packed and ready, for the first day of this year’s Fearless Mom…I too look forward to taking my seat, together, in community with moms who desire to be the Fearless Mom their Heavenly Father called them to be. And, that includes the Fearless Grand-moms as well!
Until then, I will wear my wonderful FM tank…and be reminded that I, too, can place my hope and my confidence in the Truth of my loving God, and I can laugh without fear of the future because, I am a Fearless-Grand! After all, mom-hood was His glorious, wonderful, precious idea!
Abundant joy! Be Fearless!
