The Farmer Mom

Hi there my beautiful friend,

I see you Momma, holding things together, even when at times holding things together means momma is falling apart, yet you still do it.  “I see you..,” says the Lord, “…I want to remind you that I chose you, for your husband, for your child(ren), I chose you and made you for such a time as this.”  You are not alone my beautiful sister, deep down in the trenches, climbing that mountain, fighting the current of the river, being hit wave after wave in that vast ocean, out there in the desert thirsting for a refreshing sip of water, taking cover from the storm, or praying for rain in your season of drought.  New things are coming.  What the Lord has started in you, He will finish.  Keep moving forward; keep putting one foot in front of the other.  If and when you start to stumble, hit those knees and crawl, and praise God while you’re down there.  It’s the prayers we confess down on our knees, in the really trying and challenging times, which open us up, humbles us, and refocuses our eyes on the Lord.  Relish that time on your knees with the Lord momma, because I think we can all agree that motherhood and wifehood keeps us busy and we don’t get that time with the Lord that we wish we did.  Do not be anxious or fret about it, the Lord sees you.  He sees you elbows deep in dishes, because your family was blessed to eat another meal prepared by your hands.  He sees you lost and overwhelmed in the piles of laundry that were made dirty by those precious tiny hands and feet, or that hard working man of yours.  He sees the toys scattered through the house, the cold coffee on the counter, snacks smooshed on the floor, and dirty shoes piling up by the door.  Then, He looks at His precious daughter, doodoo bun on your head, yesterday’s makeup under your eyes, if any at all, looking somewhere between hood and homeless, holding your crying child cutting teeth, or the child who just needs some extra mommy time, or the one who is just as stubborn and strong-willed as you, or your husband (they get it from somewhere), who just needs that tough heart to heart.  The Lord is smiling upon you and your family.  He is so proud of you and everything you do, no matter how big or small, in raising up this future generation and being your husband’s helpmate.  You are doing a fantastic job!  In fact, YOU are the woman for the job!  God chose you for such a time as this, to raise those babies, and love that husband of yours, no matter the challenges of the season, just love them.

Give yourself some grace momma, and sprinkle it on your kiddos too.  We can’t do it all, ALL the time.  You need rest.  Settle in with some coffee or some hot tea and read a book, whether you’re in the tub, sitting on the couch during nap time, hiding in your closet, or outside enjoying the glorious sun.  Maybe you’re a dancer (like flopping around in your socks in the kitchen dancer) and you just need to crank up the music and have a fun dance party with the kids.  Let them see you cut loose and relax; I promise they’ll start thinking of more ways to see momma like this!  

Maybe this all hits you right in the feels, or maybe you’re coming out of a really difficult season.  Maybe you find yourself in a new and unfamiliar place, and its daunting, yet exciting.  Wherever you are, whether you’re tilling and preparing the soil, planting, watering, waiting on the rain, enjoying the growth in the sun, weeding, or harvesting, God sees you.  What we sow down here, we will reap up there.  We are being changed from glory to glory.  Graves will bring gardens.  Mountains are moving.  Waters are parting.  Water is being turned to wine.  Take a sip of that sweet grace, and enjoy the journey.  We don’t get redoes, just this individually unique life.  Whatever test you’re facing or battling, allow God to be glorified in the weak ugly moments, so this test can become your testimony.  God will finish what He has started.  You will see later what He is doing now.  Lay it down at His feet sister, and let go, and let God!  God has plans to prosper you, to give you hope, and a future.  Lean not on your own understanding, but acknowledge His presence and work in your life, He will lead your way, and you and your family will be blessed.  Take this time to review your strengths, your purpose, and the gifts God has given you.  Remember who the Giver of those gifts are, and to whom much is given, much is required.  There are people around you who need to hear your story, who need to hear how God has never forsaken you, how He has never left you, how He has provided your every need.  They need to hear about your unbearably painful, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking moments and experiences, and how God used those things in your life to bless you with the most beautiful future after those faith testing times.  You never know just who may be in the same rut, and needs a life line to God, through you, your words, and your raw honest truths.  God will lead people to you that He needs you to minister His love unto, if you are willing to say, “Send me!”  I promise, the harvest of the blessings that come when you step into your rightful positon of spiritual authority in God, you will be overflowing with joy and love, YOU will be that tree planted by the river that flourishes no matter what season you’re in.  

I pray you know your worth, that you know how precious and beautiful you are.  I pray you know your purpose, your gifts, and your talents.  I pray that each woman reading this and myself can discern when we are stepping into comparison and allowing the enemy to rob us of joy when we become more focused on someone else’s gifts and purpose and lose track of our own.  I pray if you’ve forgotten or do not yet know your strengths, and gifts God has given you, and that God starts to bring people into your life that can feed those gifts and water you and help you grow into that beautiful part of your spiritual walk with your Heavenly Daddy.  I pray you realize how important of a roll you play in the lives of the little eyes watching you every day, I pray they see its okay to set boundaries and know when enough is enough, metaphorically or literally.  I pray they see how courageous you are, and I pray that they are allowed to see their momma give herself some grace, and enjoy right now.  Time is fleeting, we know this.  The days are long, but the years are short.  We’ve all heard it.  Something I didn’t hear until about a year ago was that “the wise think of death constantly.”  Losing my dad has really put that into perspective.  Things that took place before his death or diagnosis… Would it have been different if we kept that mindset?  All we have is today.  Fear not for tomorrow, for today has its own evils.  If it doesn’t matter in 5 years, don’t waste 5 minutes on it.  Let go and let God.  Love them where they are (whoever may be unlovable at times).  Jesus First, Grace Always.

I pray God surrounds you with “your people.”  Your people are going to be the ones who water your soul and want to see you grow.  If you have people in your life that talk down on you, discourage you, or make you question your worth, they are not the people for you sista girl.  I pray God removes these people from your life and mine, no matter how painful it is.  They’re not called growing pains for no reason.  If you love these people, which I am sure you do, love them from afar, set healthy boundaries, and pray for them.  I want to see you grow and FLOURISH into the beautiful woman God has created you to be.  God will send people to you who will encourage you, love you, help grow you, and just walk with you through this (not always so) beautiful life.  THOSE are your people.

May God bless you, may His favor be upon you and your family, and your children, and their children, may He shine His face, His grace, and His mercy in every part of your life.  Amen