Oh, don’t we wish that we could snap our fingers and look in our mirror and see that we have arrived? I mean. we are lookin’ good, girl. We are the height and weight we desire, and we have a glow about us, that can’t go unnoticed when we walk in a room. The truth is girl, we need to get a life, because we do not have the magic touch, nor do we have the magic mirror. We have to go through a process. What we want done, may take days, weeks, and oh no, you don’t mean years do you? W-e-l-l, that is totally up to you, and what your heart’s desire is for only you.

The title above is our new, It’s 4 uMom theme, for Fall 2019-Spring 2020. Our theme is based on Matthew 5:16. But before we look at the verse, I want to share Merriam-Webster and Cambridge English dictionaries, for the meanings of each of these two words: Grow & Glow.

GROW:

TO SPRING UP AND DEVELOP INTO MATURITY. TO ASSUME SOME RELATION THROUGH OR AS IF THROUGH A PROCESS OF NATURAL GROWTH. Merriam-Webster

GLOW:
TO PRODUCE A CONTINOUS LIGHT AND SOMETIMES HEAT. TO LOOK ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE YOU ARE HAPPY OR HEALTHY. ESPECIALLY WITH EYES THAT ARE SHINING. Cambridge-English.

Grow is very important when it comes to our children. We feed them, cloth them, bathe them, and see that they get plenty of rest. That is how our children grow. We put them in public, private, or home school our children, so their brains will soak in all the knowledge they can receive in order for them to be successful. We also, need to feed them the Word of God. Take them to a good Gospel preaching church and allow them to become involved in age appropriate activities: Sunday school class, VBS, or youth camps, and youth activities. Teach them from the book that will develop them spiritually, emotionally, the Bible. Read to them if they are not old enough to read; develop character traits in them. You are planting in them all of the above, so they will grow up.

Ok, now, what about mom? Same information above, should help you to grow. Grow physically, by taking care of yourself. Read and develop your mental skills, strengthen your knowledge by reading books and seeking information that will help you strive in your life. Attend ladies’ events, and get into a Bible study with your church. Read your Bible and grasp meanings behind the verses or life stories of individuals and apply faith, trust and love in your personal being. What you do for your children is what you should be instilling in your own life. Yes, on a more mature level. Get involved in service at your church. Make a difference.

Now, for the glowing part of our new theme. Have you ever gone up to your husband, or children, co- workers or friends with a smile that lit up your face, for no other reason but for them to say, “Why are you smiling?”. You reply, “Oh, just because.” They reply back, “Because why?” You’ve got them. I have read, Priscilla Shirer’s book: “One in a Million” Great book. Talks basically about a person being all they can be as an individual for self, family and for God. Basically, being willing to step outside the box in your thinking and in your actions for God. Be one in a million to make a difference. I think about glowing as being a part of being, ‘one in a million’. Do you realize the impact you would have if you were glowing with glittering joy all over you?

Well, how can we glow, when we are sinking in debt, children are sick, house is in need of repairs, the washer quit, and you have scraped the last bit of sugar out of the sugar bowl. I know you may be shocked at my response: go ahead, and scream; then go in your bedroom, fall on your knees, cry out to God and plead with Him to show you the way out of your circumstances. Stay on your knees until the last tear, drops on your tissue; be still, and listen to God. He will bring things quietly in to your mind and heart. I am not sure what He is going to say, but I have been there, with the stress of all of the above. I have done and responded by screaming and crying. But when I got quiet, then God reminded me that my situation was temporary. I have beautiful children, a loving, hard- working husband, and I have a roof over my head. Oh, yes, there were days when I needed to see God, and sometimes all I had to thank Him for the fact that He put the sun in the sky. But life is temporary, and time is passing by so quickly.

From experience, and I plead with you, to get into the Bible, read something every day, understand what you read, and how you can apply it to your situation. Pray, pray, pray. Pour out your heart in a quiet place in your house, share with God everything and with whom you are concerned. You might as well spill it out to Him, because He already knows, and He is waiting for you to admit that you need Him. Ladies don’t forget to remind yourself of the answered prayers you have prayed over because, the answers are stepping stones to building your faith. That alone, will help you glow. I have learned that answered prayers, give me confidence and boldness to share Christ with others, because my God is alive, hears my prayers, and answers them. Sometimes He says, yes, or no, or wait. But He answers and it gives you lasting joy, and you will glow.

I am a wife, mom, and a Mamaw. I am wondering how I will be remembered. That I loved each one of my family members? She gave us all that she could possibly give to each of us. Loved to watch us enjoy the pool? Maybe, she never quit, and she was always thinking out of the box; always wanting to be used of God; and reach souls for Christ. She loved to hear her children sing, she received answered prayers, she loved God more than anything.

My desire is that they can say the above, but my heart would want to strive for the fact that they could also say, that she was growing in the Lord, and that she glowed when she was active in her family and ministry: It’s 4 uMom.

What about you mom? We have only one life to live. How about we all strive to: “GROW & GLOW”.

BUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, MAY GROW UP INTO HIM IN ALL THINGS, WHICH IS THE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST. Eph. 4:15

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. Matt. 5:16

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grow. https.//dictionary.cambridge.org./us dictionary. Priscilla Shirer’s “One in a Million” B&H publishing group. Nashville, Tennessee.