Embracing the Seasons of Motherhood © 2022 by Just Between Us ministry. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced without written permission except for brief quotes.
Cover Design & Layout: Ashley Schmidt Compiled By: Ann Cook Editorial Team: Suzan Braun, Shelly Esser, Danae Templeton
Dear Friend, Do images of warmth, fulfillment, and joy come to mind when you think of motherhood? When we think of our moms, grandmothers, aunts, and possibly our own experiences of being a mom, we may have similar wonderful feelings. However, when we get down to the essentials of all that motherhood entails, courage comes to the forefront of what’s needed to navigate all the seasons of motherhood—the joy-filled days along with those packed with stress and heartache. Courage is defined as: “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger or difficulty; courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of extreme difficulty.” Being a mom isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon that lasts a lifetime! It definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. All of us at Just Between Us hope to encourage and inspire you with these inspirational stories by our JBU authors. Whether you’re a mom, daughter, grandma, or aunt, we hope these stories will inspire you. From the joy of babies to the challenges of teenagers; from the heartache of infertility to the delight of adoption; from being an empty-nester to the legacy of an aging mom; we pray you’ll be touched by these stories of perseverance by mothers like you. May you find courage in whatever season you’re in, relying on Christ the Lord to help you go the distance.
Have a Blessed Mother’s Day, Your JBU Sisters in Christ
Embracing the Seasons of
Motherhood Courage to Go the Distance
Contents The Invisible Mother Anonymous...........……………………………………………………….1 Kids are Clay, Not Cookies By Terri Foster…………………………………………………….3 Lessons I Learned from Mom By Jill Briscoe ………………………………………………....5 An Unforgettable Mother’s Day By Natalie B. Hall…………………………………………...7 Adopted and Beloved By Stephanie Seefeldt…………………………………………………..10 Perspective is Everything! By Ann M. Cook………………………...…………………………14 Want to Be a Good Mom? By Laura Story…………………………………………………….17 Let God Change Your Nothing into Something By Anne Williamson………………………..21 Still Relevant, Valued, and Blessed! By Susan A. Vernick……………………………….…….24 Living a Life of Impact By Lisa Elliott…………………………………………………………26 Sage Wisdom By Jill Briscoe………………................…………………………………………28
The Invisible Mother Anonymous
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ne day, I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, “Who is that with you, young fella?”
“Nobody,” he shrugged. Nobody? The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only five, but as we crossed the street I thought, “Oh my goodness, I’m nobody?” As Nobody, I would walk into a room and no one would notice. I would say something to my family, like “Turn the TV down, please,” and nothing would happen. No one would get up or even make a move for the remote. I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, “Would someone turn the TV down?” Nothing. That’s when I started putting all the pieces together. I don’t think anyone can see me. I’m invisible. It all began to make sense! The blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids would walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside, I’d think, “Can’t you see I’m on the phone?” Obviously not; no one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner. No one can see me, because I’m the Invisible Mom.
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