Hi Friends! I am so excited you’ve decided to join me in reading through Seasons of a Mother’s Heart!
As I mentioned in the introduction to this Book Club, Seasons of a Mother’s Heart is a book I read through each and every year – often twice each year – as I plan our school semester.
It is just the encouragement that I need to keep on keepin’ on in this crazy, chaotic homeschool life.
So let’s jump right in to Chapter 1!
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Rejoicing in the Springtime
In Sally’s 10 Years Later – Reflection on Spring section, she describes how she had a hard time being able to fully rejoice and live in the Spring season.
In addition to having too many activities to make us “busy”, she tackles the idea of rejoicing in each season as a choice.
This quote really resonated with me:
We have to see these times of transition as a gift of life, not a season to be endured or even just passively experienced. (Clarkson 27)
I am certainly in a season of Spring that I’m not all too tickled with. I’m in a new phase of parenting, a new phase of homeschooling.
A new phase of life. And I’m not sure I like it.
But it is completely my choice whether I rejoice in it as gift from the Lord, or sulk and be miserable.
This section prompted these questions:
♥ What do I need to discard in my life that is distracting me from what He offers?
♥ Is there anything that is making me too busy?
♥ What are three things I can rejoice over right this minute?
Celebrating Life
The meat of Chapter 1 in Seasons of a Mother’s Heart is celebrating the life that God has given us. But what does that really mean?
Choosing to be thankful and learning to be content.
Ouch. Those can both be really tough for me!
Don’t you love it when a core theme seems to pop up in everything you read and every Bible verse you lay your eyes on?
That has been the case with me lately in being content and thankful.
We’re reading through Exodus and Numbers in my Bible study, analyzing the many ways the Israelites grumbled and complained. Also, we’ve been looking at how God responded to their constant complaints.
It’s been eye opening, to say the least.
I don’t find it a coincidence that the first chapter of this book deals with those same two issues!
Choosing to be Thankful and Content
I’ll be honest: I struggle with being content.
Whether I’m discontent over my lack of time alone (oh I can really get bent out of shape over this one) or our money being tight or a personal, private desire that I’m never going to receive, it is my choice to be discontent over those things.
I have come to understand, after much struggle, that I will spend the better part of my life adjusting my expectations to life’s limitations rather than having my expectations fulfilled.
Yet this is the first step on the road to finding true contentedness – learning to accept those limitations as a normal part of life. (Clarkson 36)
Sally hit the nail on the head for me: I react poorly to having to adjust my expectations.
I want what I want.
But that’s not what God has called me to do. He’s called me to pour myself into my home, my husband, and my children. And that requires me dying to myself each day (and hour!) and trusting in His plan for me.
Even if that means I can’t think with the constant “interruption” of ‘Mama! Mama!’
Instead, I should be very grateful for that sweet voice that is “interrupting” my thoughts. I should adjust my expectations.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20, ESV
Journaling and Prayer
During this Seasons of a Mother’s Heart study with all of you, I’m journaling and praying as I read through each chapter.
As I read through the ‘Thoughts on the Living Word’ section (page 41), I recorded a few of those questions/tasks in my journal.
♥ I made a list of those circumstances that God is using to help me be content.
♥ I wrote an enormous list of those people and things I am most thankful for. I’ve read over it several times this week, when those feelings of discontent cropped up.
♥ I prayed for the Lord to change the selfishness in my heart, which is ultimately the crux of my own inability to be content.
♥ I prayed for God to continue to grow these beautiful, special relationships I have with my children. I want my heart and actions to reflect His love in me when I interact with my children.
What About You?
So tell me: How did the Lord speak to you this week as you read through Chapter 1 of Seasons of a Mother’s Heart?
What Bible verses did you ponder over this week?
What themes did the Lord bring to your mind over and over again?
Please leave your comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts on Chapter 1!
Also, if you chose to blog about Chapter 1, please leave a link to your blog post in the comments.
I’m so glad you’re reading along with me!
New Book Club at Mama’s: Seasons of a Mother’s Heart
I was convicted by the following words: “When I pout instead of being joyful, grumble instead of praying, or complain instead of giving thanks, I am in effect telling God that He is mishandling my life and I don’t care for the way He’s doing His job (Clarkson 35).”
The thought of my insignificant self proclaiming that He who made me is mishandling my life?! Rough thought, but yet…I do it all the time. The fix? “I can choose, by faith, to see God’s hand within any and every circumstance of my life (35).”
Linsey, YES I highlighted that line about pouting, too! Ouch.
Every time I pout about doing the dishes AGAIN or vacuuming or fill-in-the-blank, I should be giving thanks.
That’s so hard, isn’t it?? I love the fix, though!
Thank you for reading along with me! 🙂
Hi Moms, Fun reading along with you.
Lauren, I enjoyed reading your response to chapter 1 and how you are using what Sally has pointed out in the scriptures as a springboard for your own ideas. Your website seemed to be down yesterday for awhile. Also, I didn’t get an email for this new blog post as I usually do. I just typed in your web address so it’s not a big deal for me , just thought you might want to know.
One thing I read that stood out to me (and I can see you also underlined some of it) was this:
“My sinful heart might try to counter that it is the lousy circumstances that have forced me to wander outside of God’s will, but that’s just rationalization; it is my response to my circumstances that moved me out of God’s will.”
Yep, I catch myself doing this a lot. Blaming why I became irritated and stressed on the difficult behavior of a child or someones careless comment or the fact that everyone is vying for my attention at the same time. Life is life, stuff happens–that is a given. Yet, I am responsible for my reactions to the circumstances I am in. I really want to make a habit of looking to God for the strength to choose the right way–realizing that it is a “choice” to be content and thankful and not something that just happens because everything around me meets my expectations of what “should” be.
This chapter has inspired me to actively look for ways to enable myself to choose contentment and thankfulness. I’m realizing that at least some alone time every day is an absolute must for my mental well-being. This is a limitation that I have accepted about myself and even have started to see it as a good limitation (still learning that limitations aren’t necessarily handicaps or negative) and an opportunity for growth in many ways. If I’m not being a good steward of my mental thought life and well being, it shows up in my parenting and other relationships. Being in the Word daily is a must for me but I also like to fit a few minutes of other activities that I enjoy– when ever I can (lots of times its after the kids are in bed) drawing, stretching exercise, slowly learning piano). It’s a way to keep my brain awake and alive. I have 6 children under age 6 and with the quick pace of their arrivals I’ve often been caught off guard by how very quickly I can feel depleted if I am not actively doing things to fill up my spiritual, emotional and mental tank. It has been a “major” adjustment period for me. I’m so grateful though because all the difficulties are bringing me closer to the Lord.
Oh Veronica, that was so beautifully written!
I can relate to you on so many levels. I am also a person that needs a bit of alone time each day for my own mental well-being. I don’t need Girls Night Out or a day of shopping…just a few minutes to think my own thoughts, uninterrupted each day.
However, you’ve helped me look at that with fresh eyes. I always see it as a limitation, but you’ve brought a different perspective to the table.
Thank you for that. I am SO glad you’re reading along with me and the other moms! What a blessing this study has already been!
xo, Lauren
I forgot to say –
While I don’t have 6, 6 and under, and I did have 4 kiddos, 5 and under for awhile.
It is an unbelievably busy time of life, but I’d go back to all of mine being little in a second. It was a time when things were more simple. 🙂
You are a very blessed mama, indeed!
Wow, thanks so much for all of the encouragement! It means so much to me, especially coming from a mom who has already been through this stage. I so wish I could see it as simple :p— I know I probably will someday looking back on it though. It’s good for me to remember not to wish this time away and to enjoy it for what it is. Our family will just trade the challenges (and blessings!) we have now for different ones later, so that “someday” stage when they are bigger won’t necessarily be easier but just different. Constantly reminding myself that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. This chapter helped me so much with getting a fresh perspective on being content!
My book FINALLY came today!! Going to start catching up and will be ready to post on Wednesday:)
Oh YAY!! It won’t take you long to catch up!
Good morning,
Working on catching up and now have completed the intro and Chapter 1. As I mentioned before, I have read this book once, about a year and a half ago. I thoroughly enjoyed it then.
BUT…..it is interesting to see how much I have grown in the Lord since my previous reading. I am finding (already) that God is brought me to a deeper insight.
The biggest line that spoke to me (there were many but to narrow it down…) “But I do know that we are a family now, today, this moment, and I can celebrate each minute as it unfolds. It’s my choice.” (Clarkson 39)
I thought I was a pretty content person. But now, I realize that I do do a lot of grumbling (chores, interruptions, uggg – their squabbling A.G.A.I.N, etc.), but a change in attitude to thankfulness changes those to “I am thankful that I have been given a home to clean.”, “I am thankful that there are little ones still in my home that want my attention, as too soon they will be up and gone to start their own lives”, “I am thankful that I have more then one child to………”(Ok, I admit…..still working on that one). But you get my point.
It is so easy to see when I sit here in the hour before my girls get up. Amazing how quickly I forget though when the day begins again. So I have been praying to have the Lord convict me when I start to grumble and bring forth the verse that Sally mentioned 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18, and to “celebrate life – the life he has given to me (Clarkson 33)
Thank you so much for this study. Lovin’ every minute of it. Will now work on catching up on Chapter 2!
My book finally arrived so I am working to catch up! Many things spoke to me in this chapter. I am struggling to find contentment through a difficult situation we are dealing with currently, so I am really trying to keep this chapter close to my heart right now. Sally’s reminder in this chapter that Paul learned to be content in his circumstances (Phil 4:11-13) has really helped me refocus my own thoughts. She says, “His {Paul’s} quiet, honest testimony is a forceful reminder that contentedness is never a gift or a given, but rather a learned condition….It isn’t some kind of supernatural salve that I can ask God to apply to my heart, but a learned condition of depending upon God.” I think I have been waiting for some supernatural, ethereal sense of contentment to settle on my heart and been disappointed when that hasn’t happened, but Sally’s words have helped me realize that even Paul had to learn to attain contentment in difficulty.
Another take-away for me came from the “Family Application” part of the “My Life” section. Planning a special celebration that we build up to throughout the week sounds like a great way to keep the joy in our home even when circumstances are difficult.