I woke up this morning wanting some Paleo Brekkie Cookies, a recipe I have not had in about a year. It's really quite tasty and nourishing but for some reason I forget about it and that's just a sad story that needed a happy ending. Yes, I baked them! I halved the recipe and added bluebs because I have been on a blueberry kick the last 2 days. Here is the recipe should you like to try making them yourself:
http://thekinkycoconut.blogspot.ca/2014/03/strawberry-brekkie-cookies.html
Please note that they are not an overly sweet treat, kind of baked good. These are my grab and go breakfast item, especially on my way to exercise or when I am late for work. They are about energy without the high sugar spikes, think healthy with a scrumptious taste.
This picture sums up how happy I am that this horrendous week is over. I have been feeling so overwhelmed with everything that is happening and not going right that I am ecstatic to bid farewell to the first week of May. It has been a big week of disappointments and frustrations; leaning on God, my man, and my son, have kept me going. This morning felt like a turn it around kind of day, I woke up to an e-mail from my sweetheart that was a daily devotional and an awesome sermon series on Mothers by Alistair Begg.
Today I listened to: The High Calling of Wives and Mother's, and it was so uplifting.
Here's the link if you want to hear for yourself, or you can read below for the condensed notes version I took.
https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/high-calling-wives-and-mothers/
It was about responding to God's grace, the high calling and sacred privilege of being a mother, and the confusion of contemporary culture.
I particularly enjoyed the, "That which is allowable is not necessarily valuable." And the, "We need to be taught how to love, not the superficial that society offers but the transformational from God."
Alistair Begg went on to speak of the Privilege, Priorities, and Potential/Purpose of motherhood and focused on Titus 1:5-15
Privilege - In the face of a confused culture, a world view that undermines the role of mother's.
-Being a mother is an infinite choice by our creator, not by happenstance.
-The role of a wife and a mother is clearly defined in the bible. Titus 2:3
-Society demeans and marginalizes the role of mothers and all they do in a home. Squander for the idleness of materialism. What really matters is asking one's self, "How well have I invested the years so far? And, "What will my children really remember?"
Priorities -Reverent, decorum, not loose, not slanderous.
-Teaching what is good.
-Self-controlled & pure
-Kindness
-Subject to husbands, the roles God gave are not negated by the quality of being as
brothers and sisters before God. Men honor, help, and affirm your wives.
Potential/Purpose -It is so that no one will malign the word of God when they see the Biblical
example of a home, a family, a mother in the real.
-The practical effect of such living will be so the word of God is not maligned.
-God's way is perfect, a light unto my feet.
It is never too late for a refresher course in the mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, biblical, God-given love.
I know that in modern times the idea of mothers submitting to their husbands and tending to home and mothering as focus, are not always the most popular and can be viewed as downgressing to women. I would like to state 3 things before anyone jumps to judgement.
Firstly, I am a feminist and no, I do not view feminism as a dirty or undermining word leading to deviant behavior. I believe in equal work for equal pay, equal opportunities in education, work, health care, maternity care, and life. I believe in the radical notion that women are people too and that having organs and attributes that differ from my male counterparts does not diminish my abilities, make me less capable of rational and intelligent thought, nor should it put me in the position of being perceived and treated as less than a first class citizen; with rights and decisions about my being and body dictated to by males. I firmly believe that when we as a society finally come to value, cherish, respect, and treat women with the dignity and kindness that is deserved, then the world will truly be a better place.
Secondly, I was raised by a stay-at-home mom for the first years of my life and truly respect and appreciate the good this did in my life. I loved coming home to my mom, to a house that was a home because of all the effort she put in to making it that way, to the smell of fresh baked goodies, to a hot lunch, fantastic snacks and dinner. Feeling good that I was not alone when I arrived, that I had my mom to talk to about my day, pester with questions, help with homework, and that took me to all my extra curricular activities and competitions or special events. It's a part of my childhood that I actually cherish and value, even more so than some because I recall friends who did not have the luxury because finances dictated that both parents had to work. However, this was much more rare in my youth because most of the kids I knew did have stay-at-home moms and it was not seen as being less than another but rather as a boon to a families stability. Was it perfect? Of course not but it did leave an indelible mark and I have discussed with my Poppa Bear that if we were to have a child, that I will be a stay-at-home/work from home mom. I stated this first, I brought it up first, I stated it and opened a dialogue based on my experience. I felt it was important for our child, our relationship, our home, and his happiness, as well as honoring the role God created me for. I don't feel it would be a burden but rather a blessing. I will also say that at this point in my life, not having more children does appeal to me but only because I had my son so young, struggled so hard as a single parent, and had a very difficult time raising him for numerous, valid reasons. I long for a sweet little babe, but I also long for quiet evenings and the get up and go at the drop of a dime life one can enjoy when children are all grown. Whatever comes, Poppa Bear and Mama Bear will face with grace, kindness, and grateful hearts, together.
Lastly, I was a single parent to my wonderful son Devon, whom I give God thanks, was given to me.
I struggled in ways I would not wish on anyone, I worked 2 & 3 jobs, traveled long distances on public transport, worked long hours, was never paid a salary that allowed us to do more than survive with very few extras, and had very little help.
I thank God for the help I did receive because without it we most certainly would not have gotten by. I know the toll constantly being away from the home took on my son. I understand all to well the impact of being forced to leave your child in day cares, with sitters-some of whom turn out to be a great disappointment, and to not be able to be there for important moments in your childs life. To feel your heart break when your child begs you to stay or spend just a little bit longer mommy and being forced to say I can't as tears well in your eyes. The stress, hurt, and fear when your child starts to act out and misbehave because they need you and you cannot be there no matter how much you want to be and know that you should be. The choice between meals, not being evicted, and being able to pay bills or being the parent(s) a child truly need, is heart wrenchingly painful and is a direct product of how far we have strayed from biblical teachings and the natural order of things.
I don't care if that's a statement people despise and want to lash out about. All I care about is being honest in more than just how I/we feel, about what is intellectually, morally, and Biblically obvious.
Children need two healthy, stable, kind, righteous, and loving parents, and a community reflective of those values to support and help. There's no getting around this, no rationalizing, no half-way measures, no angry rhetoric to try to bully change. There are fundamental laws and a needs hierarchy for every one of us. God's design and high calling is not a curse, pain, irritant, or something to dismiss and devalue; as modern society would like us to believe. It is about balance and the gift of life bestowed upon us as mother's, father's, families, as stewards, of the generation and future to come.
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