10 million miles

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When I’m out for a run, the hardest moment comes when I’ve been running up a hill for, oh, way too long, and I just can’t go any further.

I’m 3 feet from the crest of the hill.

And I walk.

I know better. I was almost there! But I just couldn’t push myself one step further.

My high school cross-country coach used to hollar about running “through” the entire hill… over the crest and on.

He’d train us: we’d run hill after hill after hill. The whole point was to get up and over that hill, running all the way through.

On a good day, all it takes is a little endurance, and – ah – I’m up and over that hill… suddenly the legs loosen up, the heart rejoices, and the run succeeds.

So I find myself needing to run some hills regarding servanthood.

I can sprint through a whole day, serving, serving, serving (you know how it is, moms). A smile, some energy, a gentle heart.

And then, ugh.

I’m 3 feet from the crest of the hill.

And I just can’t take it any more. I stop short.

I lose patience.

Need time alone.

I demand affirmation from my husband, my kids, ANYbody.

And I never crest the hill.

The tragedy is that cresting the hill is what servanthood is all about.

I can serve, serve, serve with a smile on my face and a cute apron around my waist, but if I turn around and hand my family a bill, I turn my offering into hired-help.

Never demanding paybacks or praise is what makes servanthood, servanthood!

So, I look with eager eyes to the Servant of All, and ask, “Father, strengthen me with endurance, so that I may do Your will with zeal and diligence, and that I might not quit pursuing the deep things of God… Direct my heart into the patience, or endurance in which Jesus walked. Give me strength to follow through in my commitments to You and to fulfill my ministry calling when it is difficult.” (prayer from Prayers to Strengthen Your Inner Man)

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It seems to me, that when a young woman knows the correct answer to this pivotal question, she uses her time more wisely, and she gives more generously. She enjoys godliness with contentment, which is great gain! A young woman who understands the secret of true beauty will build her home with supreme wisdom and fruitfulness.

In anticipation of this universal question of femininity…(read the rest – and catch a glimpse of the girls! – at Raising Homemakers)

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1. Smile at your children today. That’s right: look ‘em right in the eye and smile your best and fullest smile.

2. Repeat #1 again, and again, and again.

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When a Mommy is home with her children all day, whining can truly be a deal-breaker! Even young children can learn how to think better about expressing their needs.

The next time your two-year-old (or twenty-two year old) comments only about a problem, let her know THAT is whining and ask her to come up the solution to her problem instead. A young child’s solution will usually require your help and attention, but you’ll be happy to grant his sweet request. An older child will realize that – (what-dya-know) – he can take care his own problem by himself. Presto-chango! No more whining!  We discovered this transformative concept from the book Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes in You… and Your Kids.

Here’s what I mean:

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I’m just five years into this parenting thing, but I can tell already that holding a consistent expectation of obedience creates a peaceful home full of healthy people! Though we really try to prioritize obedience here, we go through seasons where we aren’t vigilant about it and things quickly spiral out of control: without it, we all become selfish, distracted, unhappy whiners. With it, we learn how to love sacrificially, obey God himself, and study the peace of our family. I’ve grown to love obedience and am happy to continually return to it, so that it is a crowning jewel in our home.

Resources to check out:

Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes…in You and Your Kids! – Scott Turansky

Subscribe to the National Center for Biblical Parenting encouraging email updates (materials by Turansky and Miller)

Shepherding a Child’s Heart – Ted Tripp

To Train up a Child – Michael and Debi Pearl

(Oh, you never know the tidbit of inspiration that may come your way at 10 Million Miles… Subscribe today!)

I’ve said it a million times: nothing – nothing – has inspired my prayer life like having a husband and children.

I don’t know about you, but these days, I’m prayin’ all day long: from the constant whispers of, “Thank you, Father! She is adorable! You are a genius!” to the panicky, “Oh-yikes-oh-yikes-oh-yikes! She’s JUST. LIKE. ME. Help, Father!!”

A household of precious people and animals keeps a woman’s heart busy!

How quickly I have learned… (read the rest at Raising Homemakers!)

(Tomorrow, my daughters will share our “obedience song” at 10 Million Miles… Subscribe today so you can start humming it, too!)

That we have arms and eyes and hearts with which to hold love!

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This post links up with Heart of the Matter’s Student Photo Week.

(Oh, you never know the tidbit of inspiration that may come your way at 10 Million Miles… Subscribe today!)

Is it summer, beauty, youthfulness, flavor, or joy?

Whatever good is before you today, savor it full…

and your heart will well up in grateful praise.

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(Oh, you never know the tidbit of inspiration that may come your way at 10 Million Miles… Subscribe today!)