Mothering Like It All Matters and a Giveaway in Honor of Denise Sproul

How quickly a mother's vision fixes on what doesn't matter. Whether your daughter has the most stylish pair of jeans or haircut. Whether your son gets the latest technological wonder. Whether you have the biggest house on the block or the best homeschooling curriculum.

Wrapped up in the mix of our everyday decisions is the truth that our focusing on what doesn't matter matters. It all matters. 

It's the wise Mama who remembers that each of her decisions, each smile she gives when she's grumpy, each meal she cooks when she's too tired, each sacrifice she makes when she's tempted to pursue her own "dreams," each moment she slays self and lives out the gospel before her family, each look in the eye she gives her children instead of the classic "back turned and uh-huh" response, matter. They shape her family today and families for generations to come. And in ways I don't understand, they matter for eternity.

And yes, it's all by His grace. 

Denise Sproul, wife of R.C. Jr., is with Jesus now, and Doug Phillips reminds us that she's now free from pain and full of joy and waiting the resurrection of the dead and "the reunion of her dear R.C., children, and loved ones in Christ."

He also offers this sobering exhortation, which I remind myself of every day and which is at the heart of so much of what I post here. 

"Tonight, stop and take a really good look at your spouse. Next, look at each of your children. Look really, really long and hard. Take a moment and thank God for every whisper of a moment that God has given you with them. Thank God for the little kisses offered, the stories told, the tickles dispensed, the games played, the readings shared, the silent moments cherished, the victories experienced, the losses endured, the kind words presented , the songs sung, the glances exchanged. These moments not only count for eternity, but they will be remembered for the next billion years after you leave this minuscule moment in time called “life.” Every moment with your loved one matters. Someday they or you will be gone. Every conversation matters. Every kind deed in the name of Christ matters. It all matters." 

(Read the rest here.)

If you're already mothering like it all matters, praise God. Pray you won't lose your focus and get sidetracked by the schemes of Satan, the temptations from the world, or your own flesh. Keep yourself humble before the LORD by remembering every thing you do in your mothering to honor Him is because of His grace.

If you're not mothering like it matters, then make changes. Start on your knees in repentance. Cut the stuff out that's keeping you from living out and speaking of the gospel to your children.

Denise's children are remembering good things about their Mama. They are rising up and calling her blessed, not perfect, but blessed. None of us knows how much longer we have to mother like it all matters, but while we still have another breath, it's never too late.

"But do little ones forget? I suppose the events that we best remember in advanced age are the things that happened to us in our earliest days. At any rate, I have shaken hands with gray-headed men who have forgotten nearly all the events that have intervened between their old ange and the time of their childhood, but little matters that transpired at home, hymns learned at their mother's knee, and words spoken by their father or sister have lingered with them. The voices of childhood echo throughout life. The first learned is generally the last forgotten. The young children who heard our Lord's blessing would not forget it. They would have His countenance photographed upon their hearts and never forget His kind and tender smile. " ~Charles Spurgeon 

Mamas, let's ask ourselves.... 

What will my children remember? 

Will they remember authenticity or hypocrisy?
Will they remember smiles or frowns?
Will they remember kindness or harshness?
Will they remember patience or frustration?
Will they remember joy or despair?
Will they remember trust or anxiety?
Will they remember peace or strife?
Will they remember forgiveness or bitterness? 

Will they remember the life-changing love of Christ and the gospel lived out before their eyes? 

Help us, Lord, remember that they will remember, and let them remember Your love and grace and mercy.

We're blessed to have Denise's parenting wisdom set before us in a book she wrote called Tending Your Garden. 

I'd love to bless one of you with this treasure of wisdom. It can be for yourself or for another Mama or Mama- to- be. Just leave a comment letting me know you'd like to be entered. US only, please. I'll draw the winning name on January 6, 2012. That gives everyone plenty of time to enter and share the word even in the midst of this busy season.

And please remember the Sprouls in your prayers.

Much love,
Trisha