Front Parking Spot - Be Genuinely Invested

In our lives, there are people that come and go. Some stay for a season and then others drift away and we never see them again.  Others make a mark in our lives, and every reunion with them is like you’ve never been apart.  Why is this the case?

From my experience, the difference seems to be in those who choose to genuinely invest for the long term in their relationships.  It’s the friend or family member who has your back all the time.  It’s the one who calls, just because they were thinking of you to find out what happened with the situation you were previously facing, maybe even from months ago.  It’s the one who cares and is solidly in your corner.

So why not decide to be that friend to someone else?  Step outside of your personal bubble and make a point to think of others more than yourself.  Reach out to that person when you think of them.  Don’t believe that since you follow them on social media you are “up to date” with what is happening in their lives. Never assume that a “like” on a person’s post replaces a real and authentic conversation.  The day to day moments and life decisions are not usually chronicled on social media.  Call them when you think of it, instead of simply sending a text.  This phenomenon is the Holy Spirit purposefully prompting you, so this is your que to be obedient.  You may be the only one who takes action, when everyone else keeps putting it off.  Let your conversation be “just what they needed to hear” in regard to something that has been weighing on them or a decision that they are struggling with.

Right here and now, I challenge you to be that genuine friend that others thank God for in their prayers.  You will find that this support will come right back to you when you need that personal phone call of encouragement, yourself.  Make a mental or actual note about something they have said and circle back to that the next time you see them.  Adopt this practice and you will be amazed by the unbreakable relationships that you will treasure, as your life progresses throughout the decades.

Luke 11:5 And he said unto them, which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves.

One Minute Mama – The Days Go Slow but the Years Fly By

Mother’s Day is upon us. It’s time for Moms across the world to have a moment to themselves to relish in a job well done and take that proverbial “breather.”  When your kids are small, you are physically busy every moment, from tying shoes, making food, driving to activities, helping with homework or attempting to clean up the house for the 5th time that day.

When your kids become teenagers, your physical work changes to mental gymnastics.  It is a constant challenge to figure out what is going on in their minds regarding peer pressure, friend dynamics and the ever-present school issues.  You are shocked to realized you are not as “cool” to them as you were when they were little.  You never thought you would be viewed this way by your child who has always adored you.  A key component during these years is to find a church or teenage small group where there are leaders or other adults that can pour into their lives and echo the advice you are telling them.  For some reason, kids can sometimes hear life messages this way a little more clearly.

Then the college years come and slowly you become a friend to them again.  You are a phone call away when they are sick and need your Mom advice on how to feel better.  They know they can ask you for money when they don’t know where theirs has gone.  You are their sounding board when their roommate has become “weird” and friendship issues surface where there were never problems before. Then they graduate and their next exciting chapter stands before them.  You are on the sidelines as their biggest cheerleader as they begin to navigate life, just as you have prayed.

Where do the years go?  They fly by.  People tell you this when they are little and you don’t believe them because you are too knee deep in motherhood.  Enjoy them at every stage, know that all the work is worth it.  Don’t compromise what you know is right in raising them and pray every step of the way for God’s perfect will on their life.  Remember you are the vessel that God used to mold and shape them. Just release all of the control to Him and then breathe!

Proverbs 22:6 NIV “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Front Parking Spot – The Long Haul

It was 62 years ago that my parents exchanged their life long wedding vows.  They were married 60 years when my Dad passed away, just 2 years ago.   As I was thinking about my post for today, a clear topic emerged.  What makes a couple go through the long haul of 60 years of marriage together?  

This is a big weekend for Christian and Jewish families.  Christians around the world will be celebrating Easter, remembering when Jesus rose from the dead, as He said He would (Mark 16:7).  In addition, the Jewish faith commemorates the beginning of Passover, the time when the Israelites were freed from Egyptian slavery more than 3,000 years ago (Exodus 12).

All of this is so wonderful and fun but Mama, do your best to keep Jesus in Easter.  It’s so easy to get caught up in the hype and commercialism of the holiday and lose sight of why we celebrate Easter in the first place. 

Over the years, many have heard the term, “women’s intuition.”  It generally refers to a woman’s ability to know something without ever being told.  

Think back to something you tried for the first time. I’m sure there was some anticipation of how it was going to go and how successful you would be. It doesn’t matter what it was, doing something for the first time takes confidence and courage. For a child EVERYTHING is new, so there is an element of the unknown daily.

Anna R. from New Jersey states, “Try to look at things through your child’s eye when you’re feeling frustrated with them. They are constantly growing and changing.  Pausing to remember that they are still learning how to cope with the big wide world puts things into perspective.”

So, take a deep breath, be calm and explain to your little one exactly what is going on. Your calming words will eventually settle their fears and they will tackle something new in a more peaceful way.

Proverbs 22:6 NIV- Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.”

It is a known fact that a mom is on call 24/7.  Moms are always aware of the dinner plan, or lack thereof.  They keep a running tally of everything needed at the grocery store, either with, or without a list, even as they mentally scroll through the next day’s events.

Life.  It’s pretty simple if we let it be. Why do we complicate it? There is a constant pull in this world to be the best, the most popular, the one with the most happening, but why do we let this control our actions? Why do we need to be like everyone else going through the wide gate? When we know it says that the wide gate brings destruction. Who wants that?

As moms we have all heard our children repeat something, exactly as we have said it. Depending on their delivery, it can either be extremely embarrassing, humbling or edifying.

Front Parking Spot - Forgiveness

Becoming Free with Unhindered Prayer

One of the biggest blockades of our prayers is probably one of the most difficult to overcome. This is unforgiveness. It’s that person that really hurt you. The one who said the unkind and untruthful words, or even worse, caused you physical or emotional pain. Why is it so hard to forgive?

Basically, we think that if we forgive, it justifies their actions and withholding forgiveness gives us a sense of power over them. What we don’t realize is that our own lack of forgiveness hinders our own prayers and causes us to walk around with an anchor at our feet, keeping us from what God has planned for our own lives, not to mention leaving prayers unanswered.

Holding a grudge or harboring resentment allows that person to live rent free in our heads. It’s that dark part inside that the thief manipulates to steal our joy. Don’t be a dweller, move on and forgive. Break out of the prison of unforgiveness and the deep seeded grudge that you may have toward someone who has done you or your family wrong.

It is only through this step of forgiveness, where you can truly be freed.  This allows our prayers to become unhindered and releases God’s gift for us through the Front Parking Spot ideology, so we can live fully and free.

Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

<any would agree that some kind of bedtime routine is very important for our little ones to know that it’s time to go to bed. Every family has a system that works for them. Our routine consisted of dinner, bath, books and then finally, bed.

I can still remember exactly when it first happened. My girls were 6, 4 and 2 and the thought of spending a couple of hours at an adventure park seemed to be a good way to spend the day. While pulling into the parking lot it quickly became obvious that others had my same, “good idea.” The lot was jammed packed with minivans and other mom-mobiles.