Before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Galatians 1:15
I am a mom (or a mama - to be more correct) to two wonderful kids. I am a wife to a wonderful, supportive, loving husband. I have a challenging, exciting and energizing career. I have an extended family who also loves and supports me and help to keep me grounded. Something inside of me still yearns for something more.
What is that more, you ask?
Someone to do the laundry? Someone to cook dinner? Diapers? Tele-portation so we don't have to commute?
All of these things would be fantastic, but what I really often need is a little bit of mama to mama love and support. For all of the love that my far flung family and friends can provide, they just can't replace the more intimate comfort of a conversation over dinner with other moms who experience all of the same things I do. That is what MOPS gives me.
The reason that I keep coming back to MOPS is because it creates a safe atmosphere of other women who support and love one another and share their faith. With the backdrop of craft projects and valuable speakers we are able to further build our personal relationships with God while also learning about times others' relationships have flourished or fallen. It is in these times that we are all able to be at our most vulnerable so that we can build each other back up in Christ. It is in these times that we find ourselves in helping one another.
Give yourself grace. One of the mentor moms said this at our leadership retreat recently and it has become my new mantra and something I associate strongly with MOPS. Grace can be defined as "the free and unmerited favor of God." Giving myself grace to me means giving myself the space to be less than perfect - while striving to shine the light of the Lord in all that I do. It means letting myself fail some days so that the next day I can come back stronger than ever. Above all it means remembering that God loves me and supports me and stands with me through my best days and my worst.
The women of my MOPS group are there to remind me to give myself grace every time I see them - and even the times that I don't. And I am here for them. This is what MOPS means to me, and why it is so important to me.
Dear God, thank You for bringing MOPS into my life when I needed the guidance and help. Thank You for helping me understand that I am worthy of Your love and grace. Amen.
Kate
The women of my MOPS group are there to remind me to give myself grace every time I see them - and even the times that I don't. And I am here for them. This is what MOPS means to me, and why it is so important to me.
Dear God, thank You for bringing MOPS into my life when I needed the guidance and help. Thank You for helping me understand that I am worthy of Your love and grace. Amen.
Kate
