Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV
As busy moms who are on the go, it’s sometimes easier for us to toss an endearment or command back to our children than to pause our steps, help them with their needs, or show them we care. But have you ever noticed it’s when we do something that they truly take notice?
The times when you know that they really need to be the ones to clean their rooms, tie their shoes, or complete an assignment, but you step in to help. The appreciation that follows shows that they do hear you but just needed an extra boost to complete the job.
Olympian Derek Redmond, a British sprinter, finished a race with his father literally holding him up and walking him across the finish line. After sustaining an injury midway through the race, it was clear that Derek wouldn’t make it alone. His dad left the stands and helped him complete the race. It has become a well-known moment and action in Olympic history.
We may not be running any races with our kids, but some emotional highways extending our love. Moments like this show that our actions take on far greater meaning than we could ever imagine and will outrun anything we could say in a moment where words may fail us (or them).
Still, when it comes to simple tasks, sometimes we feel it’s easier just to do them ourselves. Out of weariness, we may be tempted to take matters into our own hands because we’ve already asked our kids to do it a dozen times, with no result.
But here enters the idea of partnering with our children. Love poured out all over them. What a beautiful posture to walk through life with our hands interlaced with theirs rather than locked. To guide our children rather than clenching our fists and standing on the basis that they need to take responsibility. Locked hands don’t lead to open hearts, do they?
Our hands are really symbolic of the work we do—not just the daily offerings that mount up over the years, but also the lasting impressions we make as moms. Do you give encouraging remarks to your child as you work together? I like to think that what our children remember is not just what we said we were going to do for them, but what we actually did. The times when our help was a real stretch.
What about you? When have your actions spoken louder than words to your children?
You are . . . an Encourager
You give your children the drive to go further. They warm themselves by your love and the ways you’ve not just spoken words but created actions behind those words. You think of creative ways to show them they matter to you, and you are there to help. You have offered well. May you receive more than you could ask or think from the many ways you have poured out.
About the Authors:
Blythe Daniel is a literary agent and marketer. She has written for Proverbs 31 Ministries, Focus on the Family, Ann Voskamp, and Christian Retailing. Her agency markets books and represents books to publishers. The daughter of Dr. Helen McIntosh, she lives in Colorado with her husband and three children. She and McIntosh have written I Love You, Mom! and Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters.
Dr. Helen McIntosh (EdD, Counseling Psychology) is a counselor, speaker, educator, and author of Messages to Myself and Eric, Jose & The Peace Rug®. Her work has appeared in Guideposts, ParentLife, and HomeLife magazines. She resides in Georgia with her husband Jim. They have two children and five grandchildren. She and her daughter Blythe Daniel have written I Love You, Mom! and Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters.
Connect with Blythe and Helen:
Facebook: blythe.daniel;
Facebook: helen.b.mcintosh;
Instagram: blythe.daniel;
Instagram: nannie_7777;
