Monday, May 2, 2011

Mother's Get All Tied Up



 Did You Know?

In Serbia, to celebrate their Mom's, they sneak into the parent's bedrooms and tie the Mom's up. Yes, that's right, Serbian children tie up their Mom's! When the Mom wakes up, they must give their children gifts and treats to be set free. LOL! 

How do you celebrate Mother's day? 

For the last few weeks, I have been wondering what I could do to show my Mother how much I appreciate and love her. You see, I did something that upset her and although it was not my intention, I hurt her feelings. I am sorry Mom. 

Hurting the ones we love is easy to do when we mis-communicate. Mis-communication runs rampant in this fallen world. Some have even mis-communicated God's word, and have made many woman feel to be lesser humans. Perhaps, you have been made to feel the weaker gender, second fiddle, helper, maid or slave?
God says it wasn't good for Man to be alone, there may be some Men out there that feel differently about this, but God made woman in His image too.

"So God created human beings in His image. In the image of God He created them. He created them male and female." Genesis 1: 27

But then He said, "It is not good for Man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him." Genesis 2:18

To be truthful with you, I have felt a little irritated and rebellious at this role of "helper". 
"I didn't apply for it!  I've worked 10 hour days downtown and commuted 3 hours, only to come home to dishes in the sink and laundry piled up. Just waiting for me, because no one else can do it? 
"I'm not the help." I would cry myself to sleep sometimes. "Surely, there's more to life than this?"
The many hats a woman must wear in one day's time is overwhelming, and at times, I have just wanted to give up. 

Ezer Kenegdo 

Ladies, this word is going to change how you look at yourself from now on. I know it will, because last week as the 'Deeds for Needs' ladies gathered together to finish off chapter nine of the Captivating series by John and Staci Eldredge, something shifted inside of me. This word, made me see just how much God loves me and how I have a irreplaceable role to play in this life's drama (sometimes it's more of a comedy, but that's for another post). 
When God creates Eve, He calls her Ezer Kenegdo in the original Hebrew language of the Old Testament. The word Ezer is used only twenty other places in the entire Old Testament. And in every other instance, the person being described is God himself, when you need him to come through for you desperately. 
Ezer means strength or power and Kenegdo means alongside or opposite to, a counterpart. 

"A better translation therefore of ezer would be life-saver." Stasi Eldredge from 'Captivating'.

We are a life-saving helper, who is indispensable and irreplaceable, walking alonside Man. WOW! Now, think about that for a little bit, let it sink in. It's hard to believe, I know, because it's goes against everything the world has told us about ourselves. We are not the weaker sex, we are a strength, a power that walks beside man. We have an important part to play. We are irreplaceable. We are made in God's image.

"From the first words of Genesis until the glorious conclusion at the end of the Revelation of John, what flows from every page of scripture is one grand prayer adventure. It is a love story about a God who chooses relationship rather than blind obedience, who allowed his only Son to be tortured and killed so that you and I could be washed clean of the sin that separates us from Him. God does not torture his beloved people. He calls to them." Sheila Walsh from 'Get off your knees and pray'.

If God does not torture us, why do we allow ourselves to be tortured? We allow other's to hurt us by  words or deeds and we allow us to hurt us by our actions or inaction's, then we torture ourselves a little bit more with guilt, shame or anger.

Mother's....Do you hear what God is calling you to be? He is calling you to be life-savers! It's a tough job, but you have help.

"I look up to the hills, 
but where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, 
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let you be defeated.
He who guards you never sleeps..." Psalm 121:1-3

"One thing I know now: It's a privilege to at least try to save each other. It's also a full-time job!" Allan Gurganus from 'Fourteen feet of water in my house'.

On a last note...
 I've noticed, over the years, most of the time it's me that ties myself up...self-doubt, not good enough, worry, comparing myself to other's, seeking approval and many other minute  irritations of life. These things make me stumble and the only way to break free is to give. Give freely with all my heart.

The Son's light feels good,
His warmth sinking deep,
Into my cold frosty soul.
Winter's ice melts away,
Leaving a blazing trail of joy.

The birds songs seem louder
The grass seems greener,
The sky seems bluer

I am alive!

May you find yourself broken free from what binds you this Mother's day. 
May you soar.

PS: Keep all ropes and duct tape safely hidden from little fingers! 

I love you
Ciao!

No comments: