A Moment with M.O.M.: M.O.M.’s Mailbox- Do you get discouraged?

Thursday, September 2, 2010

M.O.M.’s Mailbox- Do you get discouraged?

Question: I am a reader of your blog and a facebook friend too. I noticed how you’re always saying, “you’re blessed.” You always seem so happy it makes me wonder if you ever get discouraged.

Answer: Okay, I have to tell you your question makes me giggle! Not because it’s a silly question but because you’re right. I get this question in real life as well. So please don’t feel that it’s only an “online” issue. In fact, I *think* I might have even answered this question on the blog somewhere before.

I will confess that I am more of a positive person than what others might be. I am always trusting that whatever is happening, God is going to use it for His good. I trust people until they prove otherwise instead of waiting for them to prove I can trust them. I love others, even when they don’t act very lovely. I enjoy the simple things and don’t even dream of the “big” dramatic events in life- I think they’re way overrated. I believe the best in a person not because I have faith in them but because I have Faith in what God can do in them and through them. I approach each day as if it is a fresh start, because it is! I don’t take any moments for granted because I know, from the pain of life, how quickly our moments can be taken from us.. I would rather live in a tent (and I have) with my dear Joe and children than in a palace alone. I would rather feel my body ache because of my chores than live selfishly striving to be pampered and lazy. I guess what I’m trying to say is that each day I choose to put my attention on the Lord and the goodness He has in store. Even in the trials and pain of life we can find JOY that can transform our thoughts, speech, life choices and homes. It is in this JOY that I have discovered my secret of being “happy”. Would you like to know?

Okay, I’ll tell you and not keep you waiting.

I have discovered that Joy is not based on my circumstances it is a result of my position in Christ! It isn’t dependent on how much money is in the bank account. It isn’t based on how big of a home I have, how nice of a car I drive, how well dressed my children are or how many dinner parties I’m invited too. JOY is a fruit of the Spirit and should be seen in each of our lives! I have taught my children that we have JOY when we live as God would have us by putting Jesus first, Others second and You last. “You” is always striving to throw disorder into the group. However, if we put our needs above others we just get a scrambled word puzzle: “JYO”. If we put others before your personal relationship with the Lord the same thing happens: “OJY” JOY will always escape us until we live daily in the order that God has established. The ONLY way we can have JOY is to walk in obedience to the Lord and live our life under His leadership. Then our fruit will be evident to all!

Do I ever get discouraged? YES! and when I do, I have others I know will pray for me and not let me stay there. I also say as David did, “Oh, my Soul why are you downcast? Put your hope in God.” Often, and I do mean often, this “pep talk” has went on between my flesh and my Spirit! I thank the Lord that He is stronger than my carnal flesh and JOY soon invades me!

I pray that my life always bears the fruit of JOY!

With much love,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

2 comments:

Heather HartSeptember 2, 2010 at 2:03 PM
This is EXACTLY what I needed to read today!!! Thanks so much for posting this, and answering this question! And thanks to whoever asked it! I too am mainly a positive person, but am having a very discouraging week. This has really helped me. Thanks again!
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Sherry @ Lamp Unto My FeetSeptember 13, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Wow! This post was so encouraging to me! Needed it today!
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Real Moments in my Home!

I purchased a butterfly net for my children since we are having a delightful time watching them this fall. As Matthew ran out the front door he exclaimed with great pride, "I'm the BUTTERFLY hunter!"

As I cleaned out my purse, Sammy and Matthew sat on the bed watching as I went through each item. I found skittles at the bottom of my purse, a cheez it, nickles, dimes and pennies, lip gloss, receipts and more. Sammy said, "Mom it's like another world in your purse!" That child makes me smile!!

Ezekiel just informed me that making my coffee everyday should count as school work... he thinks it falls in the chemistry section since he is mixing coco with my coffee! lol!

After reading our proverbs for the day the children will tell me what verse they liked and what it meant to them. Today, Sammy was extreamly excited to share and raised his hand saying, "Pick me! Pick me! I know what my favorite verse was." "Okay Sammy, what was your favorite verse?" I asked. He replied, "My favorite verse is the one that says: Let no man throw a frog at his brother." The entire family started to laugh. I instantly read through the text again to see what might have sounded like that to him. Finally, I said, "Sammy, I can't find what verse you are talking about." He remained confident and said, "That's the way I heard it." When I told Grandma about it she said, "Well you know that is kinda biblical.. frogs are a curse so what Sammy was saying is: Let no man throw a curse at his brother." It's a good thing we always discuss what we hear in our Bible study.

As Matthew approached his fifth birthday he seemed disappointed. When I questioned him he said, "Momma? Can't I please just skip five and be six?!" I replied, "No... you have to be five first. Why don't you want to be five?" After a pause and with a discouraged countenance he said, "Because five is odd and I don't want to be odd Mommy!"

After all the children had their dentist visit Samuel began explaining how he had such good results. He said, "If you want to be like me all you have to do is only brush your teeth sometimes... the rest of the time... EAT THE TOOTHPASTE"

Bekah walked in while Matthew and I were working on his addition flashcards. She asked, "Matthew what are you doing?" "Doing my Plusing," He replied. I said, "You mean doing your addition" With confidence he turns to me and says, "Yes, that's it's middle name."

Bethany was helping Josiah look for beef cattle online when she came to me and said, "Momma, they had these really sad looking cattle that were super skinny called 'Commercial Cattle'. Momma that's all they would be good for - there wasn't enough meat on them for anything else." My Beth is just too sweet!

Timothy and Elisha were talking about all the contents of the Ark of the Covenant. When Elisha told Timothy that God had put the 10 commandments in it. Timothy replied with confidence, "Well He had too so that Moses wouldn't break them again!"

After several trips to the emergency room with my Timothy. I said, "Timothy, you really must stop hurting yourself like this. Each time we go through that hospital door it's costing Daddy 100.00!" He sweetly replied, "Is there another way we can get in Mommy?"

As Ezekiel and I poured over the garden magazines we ran across the brussel spouts. Ezekiel had never seen them before and with excitment said, "Momma, Look! They sell bite size lettuce!"

As we prepaired to vacume seal our newly butchered chickens. My Beth-Joy said, "Mom I know we want to seal our chickens but I can't figure out how we are going to get that chicken through that skinny slot!"

Jed was about five years old when he ran out to the kitchen and met me with excitement saying, "Mom I think God made my wife last night! I counted my ribs and now I am missing one!"

Matthew and Samuel were playing when the girls and I overheard them and couldn't help but giggle. Matthew wanted to play house and have a baby but Samuel informed him that, "You can't have a baby, Matthew- you're only a 2T"

While driving I often lose cell phone reception with my Joe. I never realized how much the little ones were listening until one day I overheard them say, "Mom and Dad broke up again!" "No Mommy broke up with Daddy" replied Matthew. "No! It was daddy. He broke up with Mommy again!" Replied Sammy. As I listend I thought it was a good thing no one was ease dropping into their coversation- they would think my Joe and I had a pretty rocky marriage! LOL

While on one of our "girls days" Bethany was having a hard time falling asleep. Grandma encouraged her to count sheep. After a few moments of slience we heard Beths sweat voice say, "Thump" We all thought about it for a moment and then Grandma asked, "Beth what was the thump about?" "Oh, one of my sheep ran into the fence... that's all Grandma."

A Note From M.O.M.

Welcome to a Moment with M.O.M(Mother of Many)

Have you ever wished someone would answer your questions, pray for your requests and listen as you ponder, pray and pursue your duties as wife and mother? Well, then you've come to the right place! Please join me as I, Jeanette Wood, share my heart, real moments from my home and loving encouragement on heart issues and practical tasks alike. If you have a question please feel free to email me and I will respond as the Lord allows. I don't claim to have all the answers but I know the One who does. I love to share what He has done in my life with others so that you might glean some of the gems that I have learned over the years. Come, sit on my porch or walk with me through the pastures as we share the goodness of the Lord.
Because of His Love,
Mrs. Joseph Wood

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Thursday, September 2, 2010

M.O.M.’s Mailbox- Do you get discouraged?

2 comments: