A Mother's Heart

I've had the opportunity to spend some extra one-on-one time with my middle son this past week, and it's been a terrific experience. We went on a "date" to see a movie together. He has helped me with my coupons and with the grocery shopping for the family. Today we made a game (later post) and spent some time in the kitchen cooking up a new family recipe.

My oldest son is away enjoying some one-on-one with my parents (it'll take about 3 weeks for him to recover and realize that the world doesn't  Actually  revolve around him), but in the mean-time, I have more of "me" to share with the other two boys.

Individual time with each child has always been on my list of priorities, but life gets busy and before I know it too much time has past  since I last enjoyed a "mother and son date". It's an important tradition for me to keep up with. It gives me a chance to get a feel for what is really going on inside their little heads- which is  always an interesting  adventure in its own right!

It also provides the perfect opportunity to encourage each child and point out special or unique traits and gifts that I personally enjoy in each one of them. Our time doesn't have to be fancy. I can't always make arrangements to have help with the other kids. Sometimes, I will even just let one of them stay up later than anyone else and we'll do an art project or craft together. Other times we get to actually go out on a little date.

The important thing is for me to be able to totally focus my attention and soak up the "intentional moment" we have together.

I recently purchased the ebook by Brooke McGlothlin (just $5.95) called "Warrior Prayers"  and plan to participate in the 21 day challange to pray the Word for my sons. I do pray for my children, but this is a commitment to pray specific scriptures to meet their individual needs and impact their lives, and to keep at it for 21 days straight. That's what I like to call "petitioning God"!

I am excited to be a part of it! I am getting a head start by spending time with each son on our dates to get a closer look at where he is RIGHT NOW, at this stage and time in his life. Don't get me wrong, I spend every day with my children (ha! I don't even send them off to school, except for a couple of classes here and there) but this is a deeper, more in-depth look into our relationships, into their relationships with their Creator, and at the possibilities for their futures.

I am amazed as I watch God work in their lives. It blows me away to see how He leads them into greater understanding than I would have thought possible (for their ages).  It is the coolest thing ever to watch these young men of mine develop a genuine "relationship" with Christ and to know that He is shaping the desires of their hearts. I am so thankful.

If you have boys in particular- I encourage you to check out this information. I encourage you to commit to training a generation of young men who will lead their families and others down the road less taken. They can change the world, these little men of ours!

*Of course, the little women are just as important- this particular information is geared toward boys and for the mothers of boys- so please don't take it any other way! I believe the information is relevent for all of our children.

 For me, the focus here is to change the hearts and minds of a nation of men- and to bring the fathers back into the role they have all too often neglected. It has to be done one child at a time, and in this case- one little man at a time. As mothers, we can bring His favor in the lives of our children, and in doing so- we can turn our nation back towards God.

Mothers of boys- Will you join me?