Tag: Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day

Kathie Phillips

This past Mother’s Day was special for so many reasons. Here are a few highlights:

The morning began with a handmade photo collage given to me by my daughter, Kennedy.  The collage was a mix of pictures of her as a baby and as a teen; many of the pictures were of the two of us.  It is one of the most precious gifts I’ve ever received.  My son, Daniel, gave me a Starbucks gift card.  He really knows how to speak my language (hint, hint).

Once we arrived at church, we did last-minute prep for the busy morning ahead.  Because there were six (6) children being baptized, we presented each child with a handmade prayer shawl (I’ll share the back story on this in another post – it’s a really cool story!)  In addition, we had our elementary children join us in the Worship Center during the baptisms.  Not only did they witness the baptisms, they were able to accept the charge given by our Senior Pastor to be a good example to the children being baptized and doing their best to help them know and follow Jesus.  It was such a special thing to have the children join us for this special milestone event.

I should also mention that our Senior Pastor’s sermon talked about the importance of Children’s Ministry in our church and following through on the commitment during baptisms and dedications to help parents raise their children to know and love God. It was a very compelling sermon, encouraging people to get involved and serve in Children’s Ministry.  While Pastor John was speaking, photos scrolled through on the screens of our volunteers and ministry in action.  It all tied in together so beautifully. We were even blessed to meet people moved by the Pastor’s words who signed up to serve in our ministry!

Also, we had a mini recruiting campaign that asked for a few good men to sign up to serve in our ministry as a Mother’s Day gift to the moms.  Well, we wanted to give a small token of appreciation to the men who signed up.  Here’s a pic of what we offered them:

We filled a plastic tumbler with individually-wrapped Lifesavers candies and then tied on a gift tag with curling ribbon.  A simple gift that all of the men appreciated – some even cracked it open before leaving the building!

After such a wonderful day at church, our family gathered together and enjoyed good food, fun (including games with a cash prize!) and fellowship – and a few gifts.

Overall, it was a great Mother’s Day from beginning to end.  I’m so thankful.

How did you spend your Mother’s Day?

 

My Mom, My Greatest Teacher

Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day!  As I have gotten older and become a mom myself, I have grown to appreciate my own mom more and more. What’s not to love about her?  She is deeply rooted in her faith, loved and respected by her family, loyal to her friends, dedicated in her volunteer service and ministry, just to name a few.  I am so honored to be her namesake (although she is Kathy with a “y” and not “ie” like me!)

I have had wonderful teachers over the years but I know that hands-down, she was the greatest teacher I’ve ever had.  She would disagree, but I think she missed her vocational calling!  She should’ve been a teacher.  But aren’t all moms teachers?  I think when we’re in the trenches, dealing with day-to-day survival, we moms can forget that we are teaching our children – teaching them how to walk with the Lord, how to resolve conflict, how to be in relationships with others, how to do laundry, how to get the best deal, how to enjoy life.

When I think back to the many lessons that my Mom taught me, here are a few that instantly come to mind:

  • Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate.  Growing up, we celebrated everything – good grades, awards, milestones, holidays, you name it.  To this day, my Mom still takes the time to celebrate the big and the small.  This is a tradition that my children have grown up with as well.  Get used to it, kiddos – we’re celebrating everything!
  • Make family a priority.  No one or no thing, absolutely no one and no thing, came before family.  Family is everything.  One area where this was particularly evident was in my sibling relationships.  Sibling fights were not allowed in our house.  Yes, we had disagreements, but at the end of the day, reconciling with one another was non-negotiable.  Which leads me to my next lesson learned…
  • Our home is a safe place.  The world is full of negativity and strife.  Put-downs, teasing and other hurtful actions were not allowed in our home.

As an adult, I’m still learning from my mom.

  • Take time for you.  Take time to pamper yourself with a trip to the salon or to get a manicure.  Buy a new shade of lipstick.  Treat yourself to that new blouse.  Don’t neglect yourself while you parent.
  • Nurture your marriage.  Date your husband.  Get away for a long weekend.  Show him respect and teach your children to do the same.
  • Pick your battles.  Save your energy for what really matters.

I asked my friends through social media the following question:  What’s the best advice your mother (or mother figure) has ever given you?  Here are some of their responses:

“Be stronger than you look.”

“Let go and let God.”

“Trust God, be faithful to my husband, be dedicated to my children and be committed to my family and friends.”

“Sometimes you win the battle but lose the war…and some battles are just not worth fighting (win or lose).”

“When I became a mom, I asked my mom what the driving force behind her mothering style was and she said, ‘I made up my mind to love my kids for who they were, not who I wanted them to be.'”

“Always be sure to thank your people (at the church I pastor).”

“It’s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed!”

“It doesn’t hurt to say ‘Hello’ to someone.”

“Pursue your calling now.  What’s growing up got to do with anything?”

“Look people in the eye.”

“Always wear a little lipstick.”

“Give people grace; only God knows what’s going on in their hearts.”

“Don’t base your life on ‘what if?'”

“Remember who you are.  You are a child of the King.  You were bought with a price.  Because Jesus lives in you, then within you is hope, and peace, and all that is good.”

Now it’s your turn…What’s the best advice your mother (or mother figure) has ever given you?  Share her wisdom below!

 

Mother’s Day Prayer for Moms in Every Season of Motherhood

Kathie Phillips 4 Comments

Last Mother’s Day, I heard the most beautiful prayer for moms during our Mother’s Day worship service.  What made this prayer unique is that it covered moms in every season of motherhood as well as those who longed to be mothers.

The prayer was written and shared by Debbie Schmidt, our Pastor’s wife.  She has granted me permission to share it with all of my readers.  I have also placed a pdf copy under the “Free Resources”——> “Parents” ——> “Downloads” tab.  You can find it here.

I pray that it will be a blessing to you and the moms in your sphere of influence.  Enjoy!

Mother’s Day Prayer

Our good and loving God, we thank you today for mothers, for grandmothers, for great-grandmothers, for aunts and neighbors and every wise and kind woman you have put in our lives. We are grateful for the many ways they have nurtured us.

We pray today for the mothers in our midst and ask for your blessing on them.

We pray for expectant mothers and thank you for the joy and excitement of new life. We ask for your protection over these mothers and their babies.

We pray for mothers of infants, that you would give them endurance for the daily tasks of feeding, diapering and caring for their children. We pray that in the midst of these challenges you would give them times of joy and delight in the little ones you have brought into their lives.

We pray for mothers of young children, that they would have patience for the endless questions that come as young minds try to make sense of their world. Refresh them by your Spirit and help them model to their children the love they receive from you.

We pray for mothers of teenagers, that they would have the discernment to know when to speak and when to listen. Give them confidence that you are at work in their children and that you hold their children’s futures in your hands.

We pray for mothers of rebellious or wayward children, that as they pour out their grief to you, they would find hope and encouragement. Remind them of your love for their children, a love that exceeds even their own.

We pray for mothers who face special challenges, parenting their children alone or mothering children with disabilities or illnesses.  Give them an extra measure of grace. Surround them with a community that can support and love their children and them.

We pray for mothers who have lost children. Comfort them in their sorrow and use them in your kingdom to comfort others who grieve.

We pray for those who long to be mothers. Give them grace to receive the blessings of each day with joy and satisfy the desires of their hearts with good things.

We pray for our own mothers and ask your blessing upon them. Thank you for all the ways they have nurtured and loved us. Give us the words to express our gratitude to them.

Where our mothers have wounded or disappointed us, give us grace to forgive.

For every mother here who carries regret or guilt, we pray that you would meet her in that place of failure with forgiveness for the past and grace to move forward in your love.

Thank you, Lord, for the love of mothers. Their love feeds our souls and gives us a small glimpse of the overwhelming love you have for each of us.

In the name of your son, Jesus, Amen. 

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Ministry and Motherhood