~ What Kind of Nest are You Making?

A mother's care for her little ones ~ providing a nest of safety

Sunday was such a glorious Lord's Day, remembering Him, the very One who put the sun in the sky.  There wasn't a cloud for miles and of course, it was Mother's Day.


We had the opportunity to go and visit my husband's parents at their home during the afternoon, sit on the porch and let the girls run around their property with some new friends. As they ran into the playhouse, they noticed something incredible ... and brought it to show me :)


A robin had chosen the playhouse as the perfect place for her nest, and a home for her soon to arrive babies. The girls were memorized ~ they kept talking about the beautiful turquoise colour of the eggs and counting how many there were. The colour was truly stunning and we were all amazed at the way she had put her nest together. The effort she had put into making it the ideal home was incredible, and visibly noticeable.


Why would a robin choose the playhouse? they kept asking. I explained then, and again on the way home, that she knew that was the perfect place to keep them safe and warm and out of danger. 


Isn't it amazing how the robin wants the best for her little ones, providing for them and keeping them? Well, isn't that how all moms and parents feel? We want to provide our children with a safe place to grow and be nurtured, so when it's time for them to 'spread their wings' and learn to fly from the nest, they are prepared and ready to face what is all out there.


How much more does He, as our Creator and Master, want for us? He provides as no other can, giving a nest of safety through the direction in His word. Some see those directions as 'rules' or that they are there to ruin our fun .... but is that what we do as parents when we set down guidelines? We are doing it because we know what our children can handle at different points of life; we know them so well because we have been hand chosen to be their moms! Doesn't He do that as the Heavenly Father ~ gives guidelines and direction because He knows what is best for us? Of course! That is what love is! 


The robin loves her babies before she lays the eggs ... you can see that in her preparation of the nest (the home) she makes. What kind of 'nest' are we making for our family? Are we making it a place where our children feel safe and secure, knowing that they are loved no matter what they may do?! 


May our homes/nests be places where our family is priority, our children feel loved and people feel welcome! That is my prayer for the kind of nest I want to make!

~ The Sorrow of a Broken Spirit

Yesterday, I witnessed the broken spirit of a child ... my child. 


One of my favourite mothering/parenting books is 'Shepherding the Heart of a Child' by Ted Tripp (and as a side note I highly recommend it if you haven't read it!). In that book, Tripp talks about how there are certain times the will of a child needs to be changed/broken ~ for instance in a safety issue, something that is not age appropriate, and so on. We need to be able to change their will but do it in such a way that it does not break their spirit.


Yesterday in the express check out line in our local Wal Mart, my oldest daughter was inspecting a bag of chocolate candy. She was trying to feel how big the pieces were and then put the bag back. The lady behind us bent right down and with a finger pointed in my little one's face and loudly said, 'If I payed for that bag of candy and all the pieces were squished, I wouldn't be very happy.'


OK ... obviously my first instinct as a mother is to give this woman a piece of my mind (and maybe something else!) but I chose a soft answer and just said 'ok mam.'


But then there was the moment where I felt this little hand in mine and looked down to see tear filled eyes looking for some consolation. I put my arm around this first born of mine and held her tight against me and told her not to worry.


But her eyes... those blue eyes that are always sparkling... were suddenly dimmed. You could see the embarrassment on her face and in her actions ~ people were watching her and she just wanted out.


It was then that I fully saw what breaking the spirit can do. It can cause people to doubt themselves, who they are and their worth to those around them. I saw how for the rest of the afternoon she just wanted reassurance that I loved her no matter what anyone said to her. Her little sister did a good job by just saying 'that lady was just a little crusty...don't worry!'


I must admit that even writing about this, brings tears to my eyes. Just picturing looking down at her and watching the very joy that she had just had, vanish. 


May I be a mom who can help change the will of my children without breaking their spirit!! Oh, I have failed many times .. but there is a new resolve in me to make sure that my girls know their mom is their biggest supporter, encourager, cheerleader ... you get the idea!! 


Their little spirits are thriving on our love, support and encouragement. 


~ just some thoughts today that will hopefully encourage you as they have me ~