Since my house is always such a mess I fell into the habit of enjoying my morning coffee outside. It helps me relax and catch my breath from the craziness of the kids. When my daughter was 4 she would join me outside. She loved watering the flowers with a toy watering can, and the task took long enough for me to enjoy my coffee.

One morning Kylie came running over from the side of our house. “Mommy, come see the prettiest flower ever!”

Curious, I followed her. The only thing on that side of the house is concrete and a cactus that occasionally blooms purple flowers. I love the purple flowers because they close at night and open in the sunshine, but this time of day it’s shaded and the blooms are closed, not exactly the prettiest flower ever. In the middle of the cactus I spy a dandelion and reach to pluck it out. It’s a weed, after all. Kylie’s beaming face stops me, “Isn’t it beautiful?”

She can’t mean the weed? But she does.

“Yes, honey. It’s beautiful.”

Glup! So glad I didn’t pluck it out. I wonder how often you may feel like that weed. Stuck in the middle of the garden feeling ugly and alone. But God made us and we are beautiful. And I’m so thankful that God has never called me anything but a beautiful flower.

John 10:29       “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my father’s hand.”

In this verse John offers us a few simple truths. First, once we hear Jesus and choose to follow Him we are secure in His hands. Second, we cannot save ourselves, but Jesus has claimed us, and He will keep us. He won’t let us go and nothing can take us from Him.

Sometimes it feels like everything is working against us. At any second we will lose control, and like the dandelion, we will be plucked out of the garden. The sun may beat down and a storm may try to drown us, but God is faithful and won’t allow us to be pulled from His hands. Take comfort, dear sisters, God has claimed you! He will help you, protect you and continually love you.

Safe in Gods hands, knowing we will forever be loved and cared for, is a great place for us to mother from. Here we can extend that same love and devotion to our own children.

Prayer: 
God, I am so thankful I’ve heard your voice and responded to you. You gave me eternal life and no one can rip me away from you. Help me to extend that same love to my children today. Help me to teach them about you and demonstrate your love in all that I do. Thank you for the reminder that I am yours, and that through all my joys, trials and triumphs of mothering I may rest safely in you hands.

Moment of Truth:

Psalm 5:11      “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”

 Reflect and Respond:
Take a few minutes today and reflect on a time God showed his love to you. Let God’s love wash over you and bask in the joy God is extending to you.