Butter

When we stumbled onto a primitive butter press in my Grandma's cellar, it conjured up all kinds of images for me....mostly of my Grandma pressing big mounds of butter with a pretty flower design. When we took it to the nursing home, she instantly recognized the press, saying that she and Mrs. McQ (her neighbor) would make the flower impressions on 1 pound of butter.

Where am I going with this....

This past weekend I had the honor of offering a short devotional at my sweet friend's baby shower. She has two boys, both brought across the world into their mom & dad's arms here. Frankly, I have no advice to give because I feel like I am in the trenches of mommyhood right alongside her. But I do know of the best guidebook in the whole world...God's Truth, the Bible.

Deuteronomy 6:5-8 is a favorite passage of mine and I memorized it a couple years ago to remind me of what my requirements are in bringing up my boys.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols to your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

Let's break this down in practical mommy terms and I will share what I think God is speaking to me:

1) I am to IMPRESS these commands on my children. Much like that butter mold, the harder I press, the deeper the mark.

In order to impress them, I need to talk about them:

2) When you sit at home....when we sit at the dinner table, when we have family time.

3) When you walk along the road....when we are walking to downtown DG or just around the block, share God's amazing creation and handiwork.

4) When you lie down...each night spending time tucking in, praying with and speaking quietly to the boys. Some of my best talks with Tman are during this time-he feels free to share his heart.

5) When you get up...Before your feet hit the ground, talk to God about your day. Better start than coffee.

Hopefully, this encourages you. It has been a busy but wonderful weekend. The boys fell into bed exhausted from sun and playing in the sprinkler. My neighbor brought over a beautiful bouquet of red & white peonies in a pretty vase-she remembered that they are my favorite flower.