How many children do you have? 6 living children plus some in heaven.
How old are your child(ren) OR how long have you been a mom? 17, 15, 13,11,8,6
Are you a mom of girls, boys, or both? I have 4 girls and 2 boys.
How has fierce faith driven you to intercede for, stand with, or fight against on behalf of you and or your family – in spite of what things looked like in the natural?
My life is built on my faith, and I would have said that prior to becoming a mom. However, faith has become integrally woven throughout my motherhood journey in many different ways. Faith has become the foundation for how I raise my children, how we handle schooling, and how we combat the lies of culture.
Fierce faith leads me to pray for my children, even when they seem to be doing fine. It tells me to prepare them for the lies of Satan by giving them a firm understanding of the Bible and apologetics as well. Faith tells me have those hard conversations so their information comes from a Biblical worldview and is not tainted by society. Faith pulls me to homeschool, even when it isn’t always easy.
For me, the biggest battle in faith happened after the loss of my twin girls in 2006. I wrestled with my own faith when God didn’t come through in the way I thought He should. I had to learn to trust, even in the hard. I had to learn that God was with me every step of the way and that He had a plan in the pain. My faith was forged in that fire.
In what ways has your faith been tested in Motherhood?
Nothing tests your faith like loss.
It doesn’t have to be the loss of a child or other loved one, but it could be the loss of a dream, loss of health, loss of life expectations.
As previously mentioned, the loss of my twins tested my faith like nothing else I’d experienced. There seemed to be miracle after miracle as I carried them longer and longer despite the high risks of infection or labor. I was expecting the great miracle of them living despite the odds. As one week turned to nine, I was sure they were going to bring great glory to God through their life.
However, God had a different plan in mind, and I just couldn’t understand how their deaths would be better than their lives. In time, I began to see how God carried me through that time. I realized I could not walk away from Him, because I needed Him and the hope He brings. I saw that just because I follow Him doesn’t mean I’m exempt from pain.
How have you coped with the loss of a child (before, during, or anytime after birth)?
Besides the loss of my twins, I’ve also had multiple miscarriages interspersed with my living children.
While we will have grief in this world, as followers of Christ we also have hope. It was that hope that helped me the most in coping with the loss of my girls as well as each miscarriage. I know I’ll see my babies in heaven someday, and that brings me such comfort!
A few other things that have helped me cope are the love, prayer, and support of friends and family. I was gifted some beautiful jewelry, ornaments, stuffed bears, and even a touching video in memory of my twin girls. I also read several books on grief and losing babies, which I found helpful.
How is the enemy waging war on Motherhood?
If you really pay attention, the Enemy is working hard to keep mothers from truly living out the calling of biblical motherhood. He uses grief, distraction, discontent, selfishness, wrong views of motherhood, and even busyness to keep us from doing what God has called us to do.
For me, grief was a big one, but it certainly wasn’t the only trap I fell into. I spent many years floundering while my children were young. I was certainly distracted by clutter, toddler tantrums, and trying to look like I had it together when I knew I was failing.
I forgot what the purpose of motherhood was and became lost in the day-to-day battles. I see that in many moms today. They are so busy trying to do all the play dates, co-ops, sports, art, and music, that they forget what God has called them to . . . or they’re too busy to notice they’re missing it.
Speak life to the mom who is weary and burned out.
Motherhood can be hard, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Knowing the eternal importance of Christian motherhood will give meaning and purpose to the day-to-day. You are pointing your children to Christ. You are the example that they see.
While that can be intimidating, it also can really help motivate you to let go of the things that don’t matter. You don’t need to keep up with what culture says you need to do. What is important to God? He wants you to teach and train your children in His ways. He wants you to lead them to Him. Don’t get distracted from that.
Also, it’s okay if you don’t serve gourmet meals, keep an immaculate home, or be involved in tons of extracurricular activities. If you are feeling burned out, it’s time to simplify as much as possible until life slows down a bit.
In the oftentimes unending demand of mothering, how do you keep Christ first?
Keeping Christ first is of upmost importance, even in the midst of raising our children. We can’t truly lead our children to Christ if we’re not heading His direction ourselves. So, how do you do that?
First of all, your relationship with Christ needs to be your top priority. As you give yourself to Him and spend time with Him, you will grow into who He wants you to be. God will be able to work more fully in and through you in the lives of your husband and children.
You may need to be a bit more creative, but it can be done. You could have verse cards around your home to meditate on as you go throughout your day. Maybe you’d like to just have an open Bible on the counter to read a bit as you go past. Another thing you can do is listen to the Bible as you clean or do dishes, or even play godly music in your home to keep you focused.
Abiding in Christ will in turn bear the fruit of the Spirit in your life. You will be more patient, kind, and understanding with your family. You will have a sense of peace and joy that only comes from God, even in the busyness.
What legacy do you wish to create/leave for your children?
My 98-year-old Nana died recently, and seeing the impact she left on our family and those who knew her inspired me to really think about the legacy I’m leaving. I want my children to be impacted by my faith so that they want to pursue God with their whole hearts. I want them to know how to grow in their faith, what to do when the storms of life hit, and how to see the lies that Satan and culture throw at them. I want them to go to God in prayer first.
It will be so rewarding to see the fruit of the years of investing in my children when they are grown. I’m excited to see what they will do for God, how they will raise their families, and what their relationship with God will look like. I look forward to pouring into the next generation as well as continuing to encourage my children in the Lord.
While my family is my focus, I also want to impact other moms to serve God in their motherhood. I want to inspire them to leave their own legacies for their children. I want to encourage them to say no to what the culture says a mother is and yes to what God says about motherhood.
I am all the more grateful for the women (like Aimee) who have chosen to join me on this journey of transparency. I can’t thank you enough.
For the Moms is an annual written blog series which aims to ignite and connect Godly Women in various stages of Motherhood toward the revelation of their Divinely given assignment and their impact as the gatekeepers of the home.
The purpose and mission is to elevate Christ and conceptualize Godly character in Motherhood – and to reach down and pull up those Mothers who are just starting, who are understandably worn, or who have somehow lost their way.
Further, For the Moms is a movement that is calling to attention the warriors within us for the times in which we live. We will aim to unravel the mistakes and cycles of generations past. We will wage war for our families. And, we will diligently seek the Lord’s face concerning His will for our children, and who we are becoming through our Motherhood.
My prayer is that the women who lay eyes on the For the Moms Series, will be encouraged, emboldened, and all the more hopeful. I sure am.
For the Moms,
Hannah
- Episode 30 – Marinating in the wait w/ Karen Mejeur
- For the Moms – Tides of Faith w/ Eliza Sarai Ray
- For the Moms – Tides of Faith w/ Karen Mejeur
- For the Moms – Tides of Faith w/ Lookha Succes
- For the moms – Tides of faith w/ Aimee Niblack
The Marked Life Blog 