September MOPS Coordinator's Article

I am the Coordinator for my church's MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) program, so every month I have a Coordinator's article in our newsletter.  This is something that is relevant to the time of year or the topic that day in MOPS.  Knowing that many of you in my audience are mothers of young children and many of you may not attend our MOPS program, I thought you may enjoy reading my monthly MOPS musings.  I'll be posting this every month after our meeting, so as not to give a spoiler for the upcoming newsletter for those MOPS attendees who are followers of my blog.  Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As a new mom, you rock your small child late at night, wondering why she isn’t sleeping for three hours at a time as all of the books state. Your three and a half year old has no desire to use the potty like all of your friends’ children seem to do. What’s worse is that preschool starts in two weeks and well, we all know that preschool and changing diapers just don’t mesh. Your two year old bit his sister. Again. And those time-outs that are supposed to cure every form of naughtiness seem nothing but humorous to your pint-sized patient.

Parenting is hard work! It is a journey filled with trials, tribulations, happiness, tears and sacrifice. Everyday, we moms sacrifice a little bit of ourselves for the good of our family. Our time. Our patience. Our energy. And often, our sanity. You may feel alone in this world of mothering, a lost soul amidst a sea of dirty diapers, whining toddlers and defiant preschoolers. But you aren’t.

Psalm 139:10 tells us, “Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” God is every where present.  He can see us always, even when we cannot see Him. He is holding our hand, guiding us through all of life’s choices and giving us strength through the trying times. He will never desert us.

This 2010-2011 year at MOPS we will be studying Momology: the Art and Science of Mothering. Through this, we will together see how mothering is both art and science.  It combines all of who we are—our Inner self, our experiences, our circle of support and our skills –to shape healthy and resilient children. It requires the scientific part of our brain to systematically determine which principles will work in our own family. And just as much, it requires an artistry, which creatively intertwines the very person we are to help clarify our decisions. Through Momology, as Psalm 139:10 reminds us, we will be guided by a God who will never leave or forsake us. A Father who has his gentle hand upon our shoulder as we encounter our daily struggles and decisions.

I am looking forward to beginning my first year as MOPS Coordinator. Already, I have felt the presence of God within our ministry in the form of a phenomenal Steering Team he has hand-picked; in the familiar and the new faces I have corresponded with all summer; and in the love and support I have witnessed between you, my sisters in Christ.

So, as you sit here this morning, whether for the first time, the 100th time, or as a mentor mom, know that you are not alone. Every woman in this room has had days when she feels as if she just will not make it as a mom. But she does. Every one of us has had moments when we go outside the norm to do what really is best for our own families. And then second-guesses it. Every woman sitting here has sacrificed sleep, patience and energy for the sake of her child’s well-being. We all probably have a few more grey hairs than we would have had if we did not have children. But we are all in this together. Most importantly, we have a loving, omnipresent God who is offering us his hand. So, go ahead and reach for it, knowing that in this crazy course of Momology, our God wants nothing more than to hold our hand tightly, and to ease our mind and our burdens.

Blessings!