Five Minute Friday:Grasp and a Guest Post

Today is a super busy day on the blog! I am guest posting over at Loving Our Journey for the Faithfully Parenting Link-Up. Be sure to jump over and read about encouraging your toddler to “help” in daily tasks. While you are there, link up your most recent post about parenting! Also be sure to scroll down past my Five Minute Friday post to read my final post from Compassion Blog Month–a letter written from the perspective of my sponsor child. Hard to write!

Also, if you are headed to Allume, don’t forget to RSVP for the FMF Meet-Up! It’s gonna be a blast: Details here!

Five Minute Friday

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

I see the word “grasp” and immediately I think of those tiny chubby little hands that grasped my fingers. Oh so tiny. He’s growing now and grasping lots of things: toys, the dog’s tail, books. He’s grasping concepts too: he repeats words after me, feed himself, knows what the potty is for. It’s mind blowing how fast things change and how much he really grasps.

I know as he grows he will continue to grasp more and more. Both good and bad. He will realize the ugly truth about this world–that it’s fallen and sin stained and people hurt each other. But I pray he also grasps the good–how much he’s loved, the joy in laughter, the warmth of a hug.

I know I’m going to want to protect him from the hard things–shelter him and keep him close under my mother hen feathers. I also know–way deep down in my gut–that it’s the hard things that draw us to Christ. Only when I truly understand the depth of my sin and it’s depravity can I bask in the greatness of my Savior and His love in it’s fullness. I know this little man of mine who grasps my hand as we walk each day he has to have a grasp of his own sin–so he can know–truly know–the love of His heavenly Father and salvation which comes through His only Son.

Dear Lord, let it be. And let it be soon.

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  • http://crystalstine.blogspot.com/ Crystal

    Yes, Jesus, let it be soon. A mother’s prayer :) Lovely post, my friend!

  • http://arthomas.blogspot.com annaliseree

    I know those feelings and they are deep in my mother’s heart bones. Beautiful post!

  • Tammy_Skipper

    oh yes! that is our ultimate prayer…love it, let it be soon

  • http://memyselfandmercy.blogspot.com/ Mary Bonner

    This is lovely Mary Beth! Absolutely lovely.

  • Alia_Joy

    Yes, those mama heart prayers. I pray them too. Let it be soon, Lord.

  • Denise Oldham

    Really beautiful.

    • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

      Denise, where do you blog so I can visit you?!

  • MomsMustardSeeds

    Ah, truly seeing the depth and ugliness of my own sin has helped me to love my littles more and realize…I have to let them go to set them free for his love and it is so hard! I signed up for the Pre Writing party at Allume! I can’t wait to meet you!

    • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

      Oh yay! I’m so glad you’re joining us! We have some exciting things planned!

  • http://www.newequus.wordpress.com/ Mindy @ New Equus

    That is the hard thing to grasp Mary Beth…when to protect and when to let him learn. It’s okay for them to learn the hard lessons when they’re young. It’s the best time to be there to help and pick up the pieces for them and the consequences are small. And, you will grow as a parent as he does…trust me on this one! ;)

    • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

      I’ve already felt some growing! I think the hardest part might be allowing them to reap more serious consequences when they mess up rather than rescuing!

  • StephanieGlidden

    I think as a mom, realizing that sin is also a part of my mothering and a part of my children has taken a lot of burden off. There is only so much “I” can do, but He can do all things!!

    • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

      It is a relief to know that we won’t royally ruin them if we mess up. There is so much grace for that, too!

  • http://twitter.com/lifesurrendered Michele-Lyn

    I love your mama’s heart. And what a blessed little man he is. No doubt, by His grace, you make him into a disciple, one whose heart is completely His.

    Thank you for your friendship. I appreciate you :)

    • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

      I appreciate you Michele-Lyn! Looking forward to a big hug SOON!

  • http://twitter.com/JenniMullinix Jenni Mullinix

    “Let it be soon.” Oh yes, I agree… Love this, Mary Beth!

  • Dawn @ Guiding Light

    Hi! Here from 5-Minute Friday. Blessings to you and your journey!

  • http://twitter.com/AleneSnodgrass Alene Snodgrass

    Love this! And BTW – jealous I’m not getting to go to Allume. Would have loved to hook up. Blessings!

    • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

      There’s always next year! It’s gonna be a good time. We are hoping to have the meet-up broadcast so those at home can tune in.

      • http://twitter.com/AleneSnodgrass Alene Snodgrass

        oh please do!!!!! can you just carry around a video camera the whole time or put me on facetime so I can be there??? LOL

        • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

          haha Well I know there will be plenty of tweeting going on the keep you up to date. :)

  • StefanieYoungBrown

    What a beautiful post, Mary Beth!

  • http://www.amylearns.com/ Amy Tilson

    Mary Beth, those mama words are hard to say and hear yourself saying, aren’t they? Love this.

    • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

      They are and they aren’t. Sometimes I surprise myself about how the hard things aren’t so hard because I can see with faith the result.

  • http://simplystriving.wordpress.com/ Nikki

    Amen. let it be…
    now I wanna give Thomas a hug! Loved this post ;)

    • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

      He is a fantastic hugger…let me tell ya!

  • mamalady

    Oh, yes! That’s the prayer of my heart, too! Let it be soon!! Three of mine have chosen the Way of Salvation early, the other two are still toddlers but my prayers are fervent and frequent on their behalf. I continue to want to shelter mine, too, under my “mama hen feathers” for as long as I can because I know it won’t be long before they leave. {sigh}
    Blessings! Jamie @ One Blessed Lady

    • http://newlifesteward.com/ Mary Beth

      This is my most fervent and frequent prayer as well!

  • http://www.ramblingspiderwebs.wordpress.com/ RaZella

    Stopping in from FMF. How true that it is that we grow closer to Him only after we really begin to see ourselves in light of His greatness, His love, His mercy. Enjoyed reading your thoughts on Grasp!

  • Calypso

    Well done.. thank you for sharing. Oh.. I soooo wish we could shield those sweet little children from this insane world. I wish I could keep my boy in a bubble… when did that become soo terrible??
    http://ishouldaturnedleft.blogspot.com/

  • http://annieathome.com Annie | annieathome.com

    Such a good and hard paradox – the depth of our need, the depth of our grace – for us, our kids, this whole broken world! Good, good words, Mary Beth.

  • Lori

    Oh sweet friend that is the mama’s heart for her babes. Enjoy those chubby little hands now, because one day you’ll look down and they will be the hand of a man…and yet they will want to grasp mama’s hand.
    Blessings to you~

  • http://www.karisslynch.com Kariss Lynch

    Love this! What a beautiful commission and picture, not only of our dependency on our parents but of our dependency on Christ.

  • http://www.whimsywords.blogspot.com/ Julie Wilson

    look at my future Allume roomie being #1 on the link up…you’re awesome! :)
    it’s scary how fast they grow and how much they grasp. I have a little one who isn’t so little anymore and occasionally when we are having a bad day, I say “She needs Jesus!” I believe that she knows and understands, but has yet to personalize it… praying she grasps it soon!

  • Laurie Byrne

    Yes, the hard draws us closer to Him but as a mother it’s so easy to grab on tight and shield our children. So thankful for our heavenly Father who protects our children!

  • lindseyfoj

    Mary Beth, you are such an amazing hostess at the FMFparties and I totally admire all the different avenues you take here on your blog and to other blogs.

    Beautiful words today from a momma heart….

  • Judith

    How precious!! How fun to be meeting all the ladies from FMF!! Have a blast!!

  • michy

    actually breathtaking–I understand…J had his first night with a very dear babysitter, and it was soooo hard….he can’t tell me everything, trusting someone else to protect my baby, and as he’s older, what choices will he make when I’m not there….beautiful post and thanks for mentioning my site :)