"Train up a child in the way he
should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart
from it."
Proverbs 22:6 nasb
I want to introduce you to my sweet friend,
Lindsey Bell. We met at the "Called
to Write" conference in Girard, Kansas, several years ago, and then
ran into one another at the "Heart of America
Christian Writers' Network" conference in Overland Park, Kansas. We've
stayed in touch ever since.
Lindsey Bell is a stay-at-home mother of
two, minister’s wife, avid reader, chocolate lover, and the author of Searching for Sanity, a
new parenting devotional with practical applications.
Have you ever
looked at your beloved children and wondered, “What in the world am I doing?
Why did God trust me—of all people—to raise them?”
There
are lots of posts about how to encourage a new mother. I ran across one the other day that
listed 100
great ideas. These posts are vital. (After all, do you remember how
stressful and difficult those first few weeks were after you brought your baby
home from the hospital?)
These posts are certainly
necessary, but sometimes I wonder…what about those of us moms who don’t have
babies anymore? Those of
us whose babies are five…or ten…or twelve? There aren’t a whole lot of posts
about how to encourage these women. Regardless of the ages of their children, ALL moms need encouragement.
How to Encourage the
Not-So-New Mom:
1. Help her in a practical
way
When
you’re at the grocery store, call her and ask if you can pick up a gallon of
milk or something else for her. When you’re chatting at her house, help her
with the dishes or some other household chore. Do her laundry. Buy her a candy
bar.
2. Watch her children (for
free)
All
moms need breaks—new moms as well as seasoned moms. By offering to watch her
kids, you’re giving her time to herself, time for a date with her husband or
boyfriend, or time to run a necessary errand. This is a gift every mom would
enjoy.
3. Write her a note of
encouragement
Moms
of seven-year-olds aren’t dealing with postpartum depression like new moms
(unless, of course, they have a seven-year-old and a newborn).
Nonetheless,
they still struggle and need encouragement at times. Write her a note to tell
her she’s a great mother. Remind her you’re thinking of her. Encourage her with
Scripture.
4. Pray for her
The
struggles might be different for a not-so-new mom. Instead of worrying about
her baby who refuses to sleep, she might worry about her child who refuses to talk
to her anymore. Instead of breastfeeding nightmares, she might worry about
having “the talk” or sending her child off to middle school.
Whatever
stage of life she is entering (or in), pray for her. Then let her know you did
so.
5. Let her vent to you
Motherhood
is hard. There are days, of course, when it’s beautiful and wonderful and all
you ever expected it to be.
Then
there are other days that make you wonder what you’re doing wrong.
When
these days happen to her, let her vent. Don’t offer advice unless she asks for
it. Instead, let her open her heart to you without fear of judgment.
Let’s Talk: What
encouraging things has another mom done for you? What would you add to this
list?
Motherhood is
the most difficult job many of us will ever take. Searching for Sanity
offers moms an opportunity to take a breath, dig into the Word, and learn from
parents of the past. In short devotions designed for busy moms, this book uses
the parents of the Bible—both the good and the bad—to inspire today’s mothers.
Leave a comment to be
entered to win a gift card from Lindsey for her blog tour contest!
Increase your chances
to win by following Lindsey’s Searching for Sanity blog
tour (dates
and sites listed at: www.lindseymbell.com/searching-for-sanity)
You
can find Lindsey at any of the following locations:
Her
blog: www.lindsey-bell.com
Her
website: www.lindseymbell.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/LindseyMBell
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/AuthorLindseyBell
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/LindseyMBell01
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