Wonderful Counselor

One of my favorite scriptures about Christmas is Isaiah 9:6 -- “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I LOVE that Jesus is our Counselor!  Not only that, but he is a Wonderful (magnificent, superb, breathtaking, amazing, astonishing, exceedingly pleasing) Counselor.  Imagine...going to a counselor like that!  His counsel is completely true, personally tailored, always hopeful, cocooned in love, life-giving and energetic!  As moms, we are in daily need of wise counsel for our children...and ourselves.

When situations arise where we don’t know what to do, what to say, how to give direction or respond, Jesus has words of wisdom.  I remember countless times that I have been befuddled, confused, frustrated or at my wits end.  During those times, I turned to Jesus, my "Wonderful Counselor".  He knew exactly what my child needed, and what I needed.  And he does for you, too. 

He’s listening.  He understands.  His counsel is perfect.

(Additional scriptures: Isaiah 28:29b & Romans 11:33-36)

The Calling of a Mom

After Ruthi, my second daughter, was born, I remember thinking how different her personality was than our first daughter, Sarah.  Sarah was a bundle of energy, talkative (even before she could talk!), loved to be around others, and hated her naps.  She did not want to miss one stitch of life!  Somehow, I thought Ruthi would be just like Sarah!  I quickly began to realize that Ruthi, unlike Sarah, was very different.  She put more thought and focus into what she did, she observed Sarah a lot, she didn’t talk very much, and she enjoyed entertaining herself and being alone.  She even wanted to take naps!  I found that I needed to treat each daughter according to her personality.  It took different actions on my part to motivate each of them.  Each day I turned to Jesus for wisdom on how to be the mother they needed.

Being a “life-giver” means not only giving physical life to a human being by giving your body as a place of nurture, growth and eventual birth, but also giving life to the mind, soul and spirit of your child after she is born!  A mom knows her own child.  She knows what makes her child tick, the intricacies of her personality.  She knows how to stimulate her thinking and challenge her mind to learn, to discuss, and to figure out the challenges in life.  A mom knows how to enliven her child’s spirit—to make her laugh, to cheer her up, to teach her how to be kind and generous, and to experience satisfaction in life.  A mom guides her child in ways to find life for her (child’s) own soul, by being a living example of having “soul-life” herself.  It starts with your own personal relationship with Jesus, day-in and day-out.

“I (Jesus) came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”  John 10:10 (MSG)