Years ago I asked Ann, mother of nine children,
for her best parenting advice.
Hoping for a soliloquy, because I needed lotsa’ spiritual ammunition,
I was even prepared to take notes.
Never one to mince words,
she looked me in the eye and said,
“Pray about EVERYTHING!”
That was it.
She didn’t expound other than giving me the
example of potty-training, then re-emphasized,
“Whatever stage you are going through, PRAY!”
Moving to Washington in 2004 with six kids ages 2 to 18
gave us much to pray about.
The biggest heart need was for friends.
We all needed them.
It was especially challenging because I gave birth
to the first five kids in about 9 years, then had a 7 year gap,
then had Rebekah.
If another family had teenagers, they didn’t have toddlers.
The families that had toddlers, didn’t have teenagers.
We constantly, daily, prayed for friends for our children
and for ourselves.
We longed for friendship and fellowship.
Then I joined a home school co-op that was four blocks from my house.
Amazing, huh?
Another answered prayer for a woman who doesn’t like to drive in traffic.
It was even more amazing to meet two other families who had teenagers,
a 7-10 year gap,
and a little girl.
Girls who were kinda’ growing up as an only child
because her siblings were so much older.
Last year we had a Keepers At Home group with our girls.
Think Girl Scouts with spiritual purpose.
We enjoyed mother-daughter bonding as we
handsewed flower headbands.
(How-to blogged in this post.)
The girls celebrated their handiwork and their friendships.
The moms rejoiced in fellowship and answered prayer.
Our older children have moved onto college,
and some out of our homes,
but we will share the years ahead.
We still marvel at the Lord’s gracious Hand in allowing
divine appointments to cross our paths
so we could travel the journey together.
He is a prayer-answering God.
Whatever stage you are at with your hubby, your kids,
your ministry, your health, your circumstances,
the advice hasn’t changed since it was given to me over two decades ago ~
Thanks for the reminder. I always need your posts
That was some fantastic advice! Thanks for sharing. We also had a 10 yr old, 7 yr old. then a newborn and God has brought a few (very few!) families in our path which with to share our unique joys! Truly He is faithful.
Love your new look, so good to catch up wtih you!
Excellent advice! Thanks again for your wisdom.