Thanks
for being with us as we co-host for Make A Difference Monday, a place
to get intentional about starting our week focused on the positive and
dream up ways we can make a difference in the world.
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| Four generations of women in my family. |
Mother's day. This day brings a deep appreciation for my mom.
She is my safe person - the person I can call, sobbing, without a thought as to what she will think of me for breaking down, for freaking out, for momentarily just wanting to run away and go live on the beach of a deserted island.
She can handle my worst self and loves me anyway. She looks beyond my words in order to listen to my heart, and when she speaks, she speaks truth - even when it is hard to hear.
The beautiful thing is that my mom, as much as I love her, is not the only woman who mothers me, has mothered me, will mother me.
As I've found myself drawn into community with other woman of all ages, of all backgrounds bound together by a shared faith, I've come to realize that mothering is the compassion, the encouragement, the gentle correction women pour out on those around them.
It is the surprise delivery of a fancy coffee to my office during a horrible, terrible, no good week.
It is the music teacher in my daughter's school who knows everyone by name and quietly meets needs no one else sees.
It is the listening ear and then the wise words suggesting I hold my tongue and stand still and simply pray as a chaotic situation swirled.
It is being gathered into a hug so tight I can't breath as the tears fall over events beyond my control.
It is my son's teachers who rearranged classrooms and schedules and routines to help my then three-year-old succeed by giving him an extra recess or three that his little body needed.
It is my mother-in-law, a woman who pours out love over my children in a way that brings tears to my eyes.
I find myself surrounded by women whose words and actions speak of faith; they pour out grace and encouragement over those around them. They mother others, in the best possible definition of that word, regardless of whether or not they have birthed a child of their own.
And my family has been blessed by women such as these during hard moments. These woman are the very definition of church - the people, not the building.
It is in these quiet moments, these little gestures, this mothering, that my fellow women of faith change lives and the world.
In
this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets
its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body
we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds
our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off
finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we
find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and
marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and
be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing
ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. Romans 12:4-6
Make
A Difference Mondays is a weekly linkup designed to encourage and
inspire us to live each day on purpose—making a meaningful difference in
someone’s life in even the smallest of ways. Five women regularly
co-host this link-up. Read on to learn more about the vision, mission,
and how to link up!
Mission: Our mission is to provide a consistent gathering place for like-minded women to build online connections, share inspiration, and provide mutual encouragement and accountability as we seek to live intentionally and make a difference in the lives of those around us.
Vision: Every Monday we invite bloggers to link up any blog posts that encourage women to live life on purpose, including testimonies or goals from your own life, small acts of kindness or service, creative tips or ideas for showing consideration to others — the possibilities are endless. Our objective is to use our God-given time and resources to his glory!
Also, just a heads-up: the Make A Difference Mondays team has created a Facebook community group to stay in touch beyond the blog posts AND we also have a new #MADMlinkup group Pinterest board: Make A Difference Mondays Pinterest Board.
Mission: Our mission is to provide a consistent gathering place for like-minded women to build online connections, share inspiration, and provide mutual encouragement and accountability as we seek to live intentionally and make a difference in the lives of those around us.
Vision: Every Monday we invite bloggers to link up any blog posts that encourage women to live life on purpose, including testimonies or goals from your own life, small acts of kindness or service, creative tips or ideas for showing consideration to others — the possibilities are endless. Our objective is to use our God-given time and resources to his glory!
Also, just a heads-up: the Make A Difference Mondays team has created a Facebook community group to stay in touch beyond the blog posts AND we also have a new #MADMlinkup group Pinterest board: Make A Difference Mondays Pinterest Board.
An InLinkz Link-up
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