" Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
John 15:2
As a life-long-learner, I love to listen to an informative podcast to encourage my motherhood or sainthood. Recently, a sermon by Bishop Robert Barton, pierced my heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:14). He profoundly stated true statements that contradict a selfish society and my own self-ego:
1. LIFE IS HARD
2. YOU ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT
3. YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL
4. YOU ARE GOING TO DIE
5. YOUR LIFE IS NOT ABOUT YOU
God blessed me with three little healthy, energetic and wonderful children under the age of five and I am humbled daily. Nothing like a bunch of bodily fluids (spit up, poop, pee, etc.) and a watershed of endless tears (tantrums, demands, whines), to cut down the pride and selfishness soiling your soul. And I am FULL of selfishness and pride with my frequent horrid thought of “why can’t these little brats just leave me alone?” Yes, my God-given purpose and vocation, in my weakness and impatience, I become exhausted of being needed. On such grumpy days, I long for self, responsibility by just sleeping, eating and relaxing on my own schedule beholden to none. As a wife and mother, I am daily burdened by their needs, and wants while also attempting to be healthy physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally to carry such a precious and often delicate load. Even my own body serves my family thus truly contradicts the popular slogan “My body my choice.” My body feeds our baby, comforts our toddlers and loves my husband, truly a living sacrifice. Honestly God broke me down with three children to realize how I need to grow up and live out these temporary truths which lead to eternal glory. So with any other millennial in need of personal growth may we internalize:
1. Life is Hard- His Burden is light (Matthew 11:30)
2. You are not that important- You are His child (1 John 3:1)
3. You are not in control- God has a plan and a purpose for you (Jeremiah 29:11)
4. You are going to die- As a life-long-learner, I love to listen to an informative podcast to encourage my motherhood or sainthood. Recently, a sermon by Bishop Robert Barton, pierced my heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:14). He profoundly stated true statements that contradict a selfish society and my own self-ego:
LIFE IS HARD
YOU ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT
YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL
YOU ARE GOING TO DIE
YOUR LIFE IS NOT ABOUT YOU
God blessed me with three little healthy, energetic and wonderful children under the age of five and I am humbled daily. Nothing like a bunch of bodily fluids (spit up, poop, pee, etc.) and a watershed of endless tears (tantrums, demands, whines), to cut down the pride and selfishness soiling your soul. And I am FULL of selfishness and pride with my frequent horrid thought of “why can’t these little brats just leave me alone?” Yes, my God-given purpose and vocation, in my weakness and impatience, I become exhausted of being needed. On such grumpy days, I long for self, responsibility by just sleeping, eating and relaxing on my own schedule beholden to none. As a wife and mother, I am daily burdened by their needs, and wants while also attempting to be healthy physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally to carry such a precious and often delicate load. Even my own body serves my family thus truly contradicts the popular slogan “My body my choice.” My body feeds our baby, comforts our toddlers and loves my husband, truly a living sacrifice. Honestly God broke me down with three children to realize how I need to grow up and live out these temporary truths which lead to eternal glory. So with any other millennial in need of personal growth may we internalize:
Life is Hard- His Burden is light (Matthew 11:30)
You are not that important- You are His child (1 John 3:1)
You are not in control- God has a plan and a purpose for you (Jeremiah 29:11)
You are going to die- raised to eternal life (1 John 5:11)
Your life is not about you- you are a living sacrifice, this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1)
With such a seemingly negative mantra playing in my mind on repeat like a broken record, I’ve experienced a daily grace and freedom from ego- God sustains and controls while tenderly providing a daily divine substance of forgiveness and d grace. The humility of my own ego shrinks my ridiculous thought of self-importance and rightfully sets me as a speck in His vast universe (He must increase, I must decrease JOHN 3:30). So I let go and embrace my littleness, cherishing little moments of connection to my little ones while trusting in an Almighty big enough to carry my smallness.
As a life-long-learner, I love to listen to an informative podcast to encourage my motherhood or sainthood. Recently, a sermon by Bishop Robert Barton, pierced my heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:14). He profoundly stated true statements that contradict a selfish society and my own self-ego:
LIFE IS HARD
YOU ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT
YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL
YOU ARE GOING TO DIE
YOUR LIFE IS NOT ABOUT YOU
God blessed me with three little healthy, energetic and wonderful children under the age of five and I am humbled daily. Nothing like a bunch of bodily fluids (spit up, poop, pee, etc.) and a watershed of endless tears (tantrums, demands, whines), to cut down the pride and selfishness soiling your soul. And I am FULL of selfishness and pride with my frequent horrid thought of “why can’t these little brats just leave me alone?” Yes, my God-given purpose and vocation, in my weakness and impatience, I become exhausted of being needed. On such grumpy days, I long for self, responsibility by just sleeping, eating and relaxing on my own schedule beholden to none. As a wife and mother, I am daily burdened by their needs, and wants while also attempting to be healthy physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally to carry such a precious and often delicate load. Even my own body serves my family thus truly contradicts the popular slogan “My body my choice.” My body feeds our baby, comforts our toddlers and loves my husband, truly a living sacrifice. Honestly God broke me down with three children to realize how I need to grow up and live out these temporary truths which lead to eternal glory. So with any other millennial in need of personal growth may we internalize:
Life is Hard- His Burden is light (Matthew 11:30)
You are not that important- You are His child (1 John 3:1)
You are not in control- God has a plan and a purpose for you (Jeremiah 29:11)
You are going to die- raised to eternal life (1 John 5:11)
Your life is not about you- you are a living sacrifice, this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1)
With such a seemingly negative mantra playing in my mind on repeat like a broken record, I’ve experienced a daily grace and freedom from ego- God sustains and controls while tenderly providing a daily divine substance of forgiveness and d grace. The humility of my own ego shrinks my ridiculous thought of self-importance and rightfully sets me as a speck in His vast universe (He must increase, I must decrease JOHN 3:30). So I let go and embrace my littleness, cherishing little moments of connection to my little ones while trusting in an Almighty big enough to carry my smallness.
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