“Mom, when I’m a growing up, I wanna be a mommy just like you” Bryce Avary, age 4
Posted on 28. Mar, 2012 by jhanneken in Family | 2 Comments
This simple statement melted my heart. A few years ago, we were at a prayer service and one of our friends asked me, “what do you want” and without hesitation I said, “I just want to be a mom to my girls”. At the time it was just Gloria and Bryce with us and we were busy. Too busy. Every night seemed to fill up and I was feeling weary. We were extremely blessed to be surrounded by friends and family who were more than willing to spend time with our sweet girls, but I was beginning to feel family time falling further down the priority list. When Kenzi came roaring into our lives, I knew things HAD to change. And while we’re no longer on the frontlines of full time-local church-youth ministry, we are still busy, but in a great way. Some days are filled with laundry, dishes and other menial tasks, but I have to remember that I’m teaching the girls essential life skills. There are other days where we laugh, draw, sing and dance. I cherish the freedom we have in our lives now, not just freedom with our time, but freedom to follow Jesus as He leads. As much as we love children’s programs like AWANA and Sunday morning kid’s church, we also love bringing our girls into worship to sing and dance with us. We love teaching our girls to read and count, but we also love teaching them how to love people like Jesus. This is evidenced as we go and serve the homeless each month. Gloria & Bryce love passing out forks, napkins, desserts, and offering their prayers. I never thought God would call me to motherhood, but He did and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Take a minute today and ask earnestly, what is God calling YOU to do? Let us know if we can pray for you, and keep us posted on what God is doing in your lives.
What a blessing your encouragement for mommas to embrace their call is. All too often we’re told that once we’ve raised our children then we can really set out filling God’s will for us and that leaves women to miss out on the most critical mission our Lord may have placed before them. If He has blessed you with children He has made His primary call for you clear. Thank you for rocking the role and helping other moms to know that the role is valid, important, and beautiful (even in the midst of laundry and dishes)!
Good work Karena! Glad you’re finding joy in it and prioritizing Jesus in their lives. It’s so easy to think that school or manners or sports are the things that they should REALLY be learning, with Jesus on the side.
Glad you’re happy and content with more family time. It is so hard to put it first sometimes and so easy to get busy.
We love you guys!!!