A WOMAN'S VIEW ~ Lenore Buth: Posts from May 2013

May 22, 2013

Here's a survival strategy for when tragedy strikes

Tornado roars through Moore, Oklahoma. How would we cope if this was where we used to live?

Imagine coming back to this.

Some residents returned to piles of rubble they couldn't see over.

Some found flat, empty spaces littered with debris. They could only trace in their minds where walls once stood.

All cried and hugged each other. Who wouldn't?

In memory their individual homes looked sweet and flawless, filled with precious possessions. The ordinary, boring routines of daily life transformed into cherished rituals.

Tragedy makes our vision clearer

How many interviews have you watched where Moore residents said something like, "Oh, it's all gone, but that doesn't matter. My family is okay. That's all that counts."

We forget that too easily, don't we?

Is it possible to possess that perspective without first suffering a tragedy?

I think we can. I think we must.

That's especially important for moms. In Moore, ten children died. Yes, the school children were with their teachers.

Even so, they faced their fears on their own.

That's life. Even young children spend most weekdays away from home. Older kids and teens, too. We moms can give them something indestructible to hang onto, whatever comes.

Something like this

First we teach our children they can talk to Jesus themselves. We stress that Jesus is with them, right here. Right now.

Songs are good, too. For generations godly moms and grandmas have been teaching, "Jesus Loves Me," to their little ones. Every Sunday School kid learns it, too. It goes like this:

Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong.

They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me--He who died

Heaven's gate to open wide;

He will wash away my sin,

Let His little child come in.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so.

--Anna B. Warner, in 1860, set to music by William Bradbury in 1862.

Picture one of those young children huddled down listening to the tornado roar down on them. Wouldn't repeating words like these over and over help them get through it?

We can't give away what we don't have

If we're to speak faith and confidence to our families and those around us we need to be equipped ourselves. We can store up verses like these so we'll have them ready to call up when we need them.

Here are some personal favorites:

*(God says) "Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." --Psalm 59:15 (ESV)

*(Jesus says) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." --John 3:16

*(The Lord says) "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine . . . Do not be afraid, for I am with you . . . " --Isaiah 43:1, 5 (NIV)

Make verses like these part of our emergency kit

School kids in Moore had regular tornado drills. Let's take it one step further and aim to be emotionally and spiritually prepared for whatever comes--and our families, too.

Let's equip minds and spirits with what will carry us through.

Lovingly,

Lenore

Posted at 02:40 PM in Children, Coping , Disaster, Facing Challenges, Moms, Mothering, Peace of mind, Tragedy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Disaster, Helping kids cope with fear, Jesus Loves Me, Moore OK tornado, Surviving tragedy

May 15, 2013

Big news! I am expecting!

Am I excited? You betcha.

The longest pregnancy in the history of the world is about to end. Delivery date is near, about June 7th, and I'm getting anxious to hold my "baby" in my arms, um, hands. I already know this one will not look a bit like my husband or me.

But anyone who takes a good long look will know she's mine.

Maybe you already guessed I'm talking about my new book. Want a sneak peek at the cover? Here she is--and I think she's beautiful.

She has a rather long name. Godly Moms: Strength from the Inside Out.

This "baby" came to be because I love being a mom and I've known so many great moms.

Somehow these days being a mother seems to get less respect. Think of that expression, "I'm just a mom."

As if. As if any mom is "just" anything.

During the growing-up years of our four girls, I wasn't sure. Now I have a longer perspective. We moms leave our imprint on our children, sure, but also on generations yet to be born.

That's not a "just!"

Now I know by experience as well as by faith that when we struggle and stumble and pray, "Help me, please!" God hears. He helps us through.

Godly Moms is the book I yearned for, but never found

This is my fifth book, but the first time I've had such a clear sense I had to write it.

That's because I talk to many moms, wonderful moms, who are trying with all that's in them to be good mothers. They often feel so immersed in motherhood they fear they're losing who they are and imagine any flunkie could do what they do.

I well remember that feeling.

Now I know for sure that being a mom matters more than any mom ever knows while she's in the middle of the hectic years and falling into bed every night, exhausted.

My passion is for moms to understand this in-the-midst, rather than later on as they look back.

In my small way I want this book to provide the reassurance I so much longed to have.

A mom has lasting influence

What's more, we get to choose whether that will be positive or negative.

God puts us moms and our children together. That's just as true for mothers who adopt and with stepmoms.

Someone reading this is saying, "You wouldn't talk that way if you had my child. That kid is driving me crazy!"

Oh yes I would. I walked that same stormy path for years and prayed for strength all day, every day. That's why I read and studied about parenting and family relationships, which turned out to be a great blessing.

At the time I didn't realize how much I was growing within myself and in faith and knowledge. You might say our daughters provided me with an ongoing personal growth program and I wouldn't trade those years for anything. Truly, I thank God for them--and for our family.

Godly Moms: Strength from the Inside Out. What's that all about?

Maybe it sounds intimidating to you. Not to worry.

A "godly mom" is a Christian mom who teaches her children to love Jesus and treats them with love, kindness and encouragement.

"Strength from the inside out" means she knows the source of the help and strength it takes to rear children. She wants her kids to know that same inner strength and possess it as well.

It's as 2 Corinthians 3:5 ((ESV) puts it: