Reaffirming my Why and Nurturing the Soul

Yesterday was one of those days!   After 13 years, most of you know, God blessed me with a third daughter.  I hope you enjoyed the picture sent via my letters.  It has been so much fun! 

​But yesterday, I was feeling under the weather and doubting my purpose as a writer.  In short, I was discouraged!  Why am I even doing this?  I asked myself.

You know -writing as a means to encourage moms.  I blubbered about it to my teenage daughters.  My husband came home from work (with roses), and I blubbered about it to him.   Am I really making a difference?  Why do I continue to do this writing thing?  But ... softly and quietly the answer always comes.

My Why

In one word ... Motherhood.  

Motherhood is my mission.  Recently I have been writing the 5 Steps to Successful Planning Series.  In it, I talk about finding your life's mission.  I shared that when you ask God and seek for your mission, you will know it when you cry.  

Years ago, I was doing just that.  "God, what is my mission?"  Then, the one word came ... motherhood.  I cried.  I knew that my purpose was to not only embrace the nurturing of my children, but also to encourage others to do so.  And how important it is!

"The family has always been the cornerstone of American society. ... each of us remember that the strength of our families is vital to the strength of our nation." -Ronald Reagan

I believe this with all of my soul!  The strength of the family is the strength of the nation, and that is why motherhood is so important.  With or without praise and appreciation, your job, yes, even the little mundane tasks, makes all the difference.    

And so, I reaffirmed my purpose.  Even if I only reach one mom, I will choose to be faithful to my reason -my why!

To encourage those in the high office of motherhood!

Do you know your why?  If so, don't let discouragement keep you down.  Keep going.  As a mother, you are making a huge difference -you are the strength of this nation.

How is this possible?  The family unit is the smallest unit of order.  Think of it as the support beam in a large house.  Just as a house without a support beam will not stand, so is the nation without your strong family.​

Nurturing the Soul

The other part of this discouragement is that motherhood is tiring! 

Yesterday, I was tired.  So tired that I felt weary in my bones.  It is possible!  So, after giving my sweet baby Adeline the second bath of the day, I had my own bath!  Refreshed this morning with new hope, I wanted to encourage you, as a mother, to take some time out to nurture your soul as well.  Don't let too much business in.   

I wanted to share a few ways and resources, outside of my family's kind listening ears and roses, that do just that.

#1  Read a good book.  I enjoy reading Moments with Mother Culture, an encouraging blog by Karen Andreola, and her book, "A Pocketful of Pinecones."  I also enjoy Simply Charlotte Mason for Sonya's practical homeschool planning, advice, and solutions.

#2  Take a hot bath!

#3  Have a mom's day out -for shopping or whatever you want!

#5  Go outside. Walk. Take in nature.  I know no other friend that soothes the soul better.

Also, consider the words in the picture above.  This advice, by Charlotte Mason, is good for children and mothers.  

Be sure that your children (or you) each day have:

  #1 Something or someone to love

  #2 Something to do

  #3 Something to think about

What is your why?  How do you nurture yourself?