Three Things with Abigail

"I'd been thinking of the winter as a horrid, wet, dreary time. Now I can see other things-crisp and sparkling days, long pleasant evenings, cheery fires. Good work shall be done this winter. Life shall be lived well."

~ A.A.Milne. (author of Winnie the Pooh)

"Life shall be well lived..."

I like that - really like that.

But I do think it takes intentionality. And planning. And a purpose greater than ourselves. And with help other than others around us; more than just a fight and a will and trying to live "life well." Because I know we can't do life well in our own strength.

When I dig my heals in, grit my teeth, and really try - that's when things fall apart.

But when I lean on the Holy Spirit trust in God acting on His promises in His Word and the still, small voice in my heart, that is when I can live life well.

That is when God whispers in the early morning Bible times my greater purpose, ideas for mothering, for reaching the hearts in this stage of my daughters.

I have found that every year is a new stage. Of course.

Sure, I've been an eighth grade mama before, Anna was one just four years ago. But I've never done eighth grade with Abigail and her own 'things'. So every year is new.

Right now on my heart is the whole concept of mentoring.

My mothering has obviously changed over the years. It used to be one on one, naps and highchairs, singing and reading, playing and cuddling - it used to be teaching them how to get along, setting up fun in the playroom, sitting with them for hours and hours every day as they created imaginary worlds in our playroom.

I loved those hands on days. Loved them.

Recently (in the last year) I've been praying about how God would have me serve my daughters in their new phase. Of course there are still meals and laundry, teaching them, etc. But as I felt my role shifting I wanted more than ever to have a my mothering be with intentionality and purpose.

And that I think is where mentoring began.

With Anna mostly. Because Anna will be leaving, and I will have four years with Abigail still home.

But this weekend in my Saturday morning prayer time I felt led to help Abigail have some sweet time with me. Away from her weekend homework. A time to listen to her heart and pour into her with life-giving words.

So we did three things

1.  We baked

2.  We walked and talked

3.  I read to her

And in those three simple things we created a day that both our hearts needed; a new rhythm of sorts. One fill with things we can always come back to. This is us. This is what we do. Our home is calm, our home is peaceful. It is full of sweet music and not shows on. It is not plugged in but it is tuned in to each others hearts. 

More than ever, these days it is so important to cling to the things that matter. To look into their eyes. To affirm them with life-giving words so that they can one day go into the world knowing they matter - especially to the only One that matters. 

And that is a life that is lived well. 

"...I can see other things-crisp and sparkling days, long pleasant evenings, cheery fires. Good work shall be done this winter. Life shall be lived well."