“The Planting Season of Motherhood and Womanhood”
What is it that you possess? Valuable to you is your time. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Doth thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” Each day is filled with moments that we can use for His glory and honor. Our every service can be devoted to Him and done as for Him. If we don’t waste our time plodding through our daily tasks, then we will have time “left over” to do that which God has equipped us to do, thereby being a blessing to others.
We really have a lot of time given to us in each day; it’s all in how we are spending it. Just take away all computer and junk reading time and see how much has been added to your day. If you get up early and spend time with the Lord first, then run a load of laundry and straighten up the house before your breakfast, you’ll be so energized to feel you’ve got such a head start on the day! Eat better (and less) meals and don’t allow the worldly influences to assault your spirit and you’ll be surprised at the better rest you’ll get at night.
Tired mothers of young children should remember: the children are only little for so long. I like to think of this “young mother” stage as the April-May time of the year for gardeners. In the gardening year, this is such a busy time with lots of work to fill up each day. It’s a very physically demanding time with lots of little frustrations and detail work; little seeds to plant, little plants to stake, and long rows to hoe. It’s an exciting time of the year with lots of hopes for the future and lots of dirt on the knees. But this time is so short and before long, the garden is up and running on its own with only the occasional weeding needed. The gardener doesn’t mind the hard work, lack of sleep, and the many duties to perform, for he knows it’s such a temporary time wielding such great influence on the final results of his garden.
If we as mothers could simply grasp this perspective and realize that this time of planting is just a short, busy season wielding such tremendous influence on our child’s future. A little lack of sleep, another diaper to change, a husband needing our attention, another sink full of dishes…all adding up to a season in which we can find great contentment and joy or we can find many reasons to hurl our heart-thoughts from our tongue and pluck down our own future. The thought of such self-sacrifice brings tears to some eyes, but brings such delight to our Saviour. He is well pleased with our submission to His plan for our lives and our sweet response to those He loves so dearly that He is trying to reach through us. Are you His instrument? Are you yielded fully to His touch, that He might mold you and make you into the beautiful example of a woman?
Time is ticking away; year after year age comes rushing upon us, stealing our youth, energy, beauty and the very birdlings from our nest. Set your sight on becoming a beautiful woman, truly beautiful inside: mind, heart, spirit and soul. It will radiate out. A woman of God is a beautiful sight, though wrapped in a silvery veil and frail in form. A woman of God is a beautiful sight, though dressed unlike the world, surrounded with smiling babies and make up a little worn from tears of pleading for her little mission field. What a beautiful sight is a woman of God, spending her time building her home on the foundation of God’s Word, spreading God’s love to her family, and letting them go out into the world to pass it on to others.
On a personal note, youth and beauty are things that I see slipping away. Having a worldly mindset would cause me to despair at the thought of this. However, having the mind of Christ, we see that the veneer of beauty as the world sees it is giving way to the enduring beauty that comes from deep within as we walk in close fellowship with Our Dear Saviour and begin to reflect His peace and love. A woman who is aging in the Lord is a beautiful sight to behold. A woman of discretion, chaste and sober; a woman with an anchor fixed firmly in the Word and whose personality exudes a calm assurance in all situations is a rare beauty indeed. We can allow the shallow beauty to be sloughed off as we age so as to allow the timeless beauty of Christ to shine from our face. Won’t you consider the truth in these thoughts and set your sights now to become that truly beautiful woman? The planting time for the fruit of our older years is right now.
You know, there’s something wonderfully mysterious about a woman. We have quite a gift from God. We possess certain qualities that men do not and frankly cannot, and they are to be used as things to complete your man and to convince your children of the benefits of a pure relationship with God. A woman has a sacred connection to her Lord. He has made us differently from our men. We have an opportunity to grow close to and walk with our Saviour in ways our men cannot. You obtain a tremendous walk with Christ because you MAKE it happen. You devote yourself to cultivating a relationship with Him.
It is the same in our relationship with our husband. You have a great marriage because you MAKE it happen. You devote yourself to cultivating a wonderful, loving relationship with him. I highly encourage you to give your husband something to admire: a wife who cares for her body AND her mind. Have interesting things to think about and talk about. Cultivate the interests you have such as gardening, reading, music, cooking, etc. until you become a lovely example of a beautiful woman; beautiful within and without.
Become a woman of refinement. Drink in the wonderful definition of refinement: “The act of purifying by separating from a substance all extraneous matter; a clearing from dross; the state of being pure; polish of language; elegance; polish of manners; purity of taste; purity of mind and morals; purity of heart.” I LOVE the English language! Looking up the definition of this word breaks it wide open for us to see, understand, and now act upon.
Separate yourself from the dross! Pull yourself away from the time wasters and the mind numbing entertainments of the day! Be different from the crowd in your pursuits, in your hobbies, in the way you dress. Become the object of your husband’s attention, admiration and affection. Separate yourself from the common, and feast on the pure, uplifting thoughts of higher minds and nobler times. Separate from the pack of females and focus on creating an atmosphere of loveliness in your home that follows you like the fragrance of lilacs on a June breeze. I’m serious…you have either a delightful or an odious affect on the souls you come in contact with daily. Cultivate beauty in your thoughts, words, and actions.
Every man admires a woman who conducts herself like a lady: a woman who controls her temper, who knows what is and is not appropriate to say, who moves about gracefully, and who brings a touch of beauty to all she does; this indeed is a rare beauty and is greatly prized by the man who possesses her.
All of these qualities are attainable by ANY woman who desires to make them a part of her life. It all begins with how you think. “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” (Eph. 4:23) It all starts in the mind. “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” You must determine to do right, to change your habits, to become a beautiful woman; and as you act rightly, your thought processes begin to change and your desires begin to change. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom. 12:2)
The mystery of woman: soft and tender, yet a pillar of strength in faith and an anchor of calm amidst the storms. This truly beautiful woman is months and years in the making. Wonderful creations, great works of art, take great time and great pains to beget. This admirable creature of “woman” in the highest sense is worthy of striving towards becoming. I encourage you to become a beauty, a real beauty. A beauty of wisdom, by knowing God’s Word; of temperance, by separating from the worthless; of self-sacrificing love for others, by serving all in an attitude of serving the King Himself; become a woman who uses her God-given feminine charms to edify, not tear down; a woman who is graceful in form and function; a woman whose husband seeks to preserve and protect, and who treasures her far above rubies.
The planting season is upon us. Make plans, set goals, seek to excel and become the very best “you” that you can be. The Lord has mountains for us to claim. Don’t look around and foolishly compare yourself with any other…for there is no one quite like you. Look to God and look within at the seeds of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance that God Himself has planted in your soul. Tend to your garden well, pray for a thorough watering from above and wait with believing faith for that bountiful harvest time.
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
Luke 1:38
As seasons of life change, Elizabeth happily remains desperately dependent upon her God. Three of her four children have now branched off to begin their own families. She is a homeschooling veteran and a faithful wife for over 30 years.
Read Elizabeth’s salvation testimony here and her articles here.