Tag: godliness

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Letter to Mom

Hello, sister,

Another month has passed already and it is time for me to write to you again. The days pass just a little too quickly, don’t they? This month I get to write to you about motherhood. But first I have to disclose something to you: I’m not a mom.

Nope. I’m not a mom, and actually I’m single (very single, in fact). At first, I didn’t know how I was going to write this letter to you without having my MOM degree. Then I realized that I am actually getting a pretty sweet deal. I get to tell you all about my wonderful mother and what a strong example she’s set for me right before Mother’s Day. Even if I manage to forget to buy her flowers, she can’t be angry with me, right?

I love my mom. Not many daughters can call their mom their best friend, but I have the incredible privilege of being one of the few who can. She has diligently raised me up in the fear and admonition of the Lord, taught me about life, and is there for me when I fall, need a helping hand, or a shoulder to cry on. She is my safe zone. I can confide in her unreservedly. She knows my struggles, my fears, and even my silly and vain thoughts.

In all things—the good, the bad, and the hard—she lovingly understands, is honest and encouraging, and always points me back to Christ, guiding me to the path of godliness when I have forgotten the way. We laugh together, cry together, confide in each other, and support each other.

My mother is also a woman of great faith. She has stood firm through all these years of raising my brother and I, even through some pretty tough storms. She loves her husband faithfully, submitting to and respecting him and cares for her children tenderly and gracefully.

She is everything a mother should be and more. I cannot adequately describe her qualities of faith, love and grace and I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed me with her and I pray that when my time does come to be a mother that I will be just like her.

My mom and I do have a beautiful relationship now, but it wasn’t always like this. When I was younger, I kept to myself and refused to be vulnerable with my parents. But the Lord redeemed our relationship and taught me the importance of being vulnerable with my parents and letting them into my life.

So daughters, I encourage you to get to know your mom. Be vulnerable with her and give her the opportunity to shower you with her wisdom and love. Strive to be like her. And then when you have little ones of your own (or maybe you already do) you will be able to pass on the same faith and the same legacy that your mom passed on to you.

Remember Mom this week. She’s given you more than you will ever be able to repay.

In the love of the Savior,

Kayla

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Are We Satisfied?

Dearest sister,

New Year’s resolutions. Secretly, I think most of us have them: Eat less sugar, read more, have 6 months of salary in savings, and watch less TV. At least these are a few that come to my mind. You may have the same list or maybe a bit different…but we all have some kind of measuring stick we use to measure this year’s desired dramatic change. We may even spiritualize it and say, “How can I be more godly this year?” What would that look like, though? Would what we look like and how much wealth we have be one measuring tool for our godliness?

Funny, isn’t it? One part of me thinks that selling all I have and living simply would show my incredible godliness. After all, the disciples left everything they had to follow Jesus. But then there is another part of me that thinks the Lord rewards those who are faithful with little, more…so if I have prosperity, it would be an indicator of my godliness, right? I’m so confused!

The Bible does say money is the root of all evil…wait, no…it’s the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil. What does that mean? It means loving money (or anything else) more than the Lord is the root of all kinds of evil. It doesn’t say having or not having money is evil or even a measure of godliness. Selling everything to look more holy is for selfish gain (just ask Ananias and Saphira), which does not glorify the Lord. Living a life to gain more money is also for selfish gain. We are glorying in ourselves on both accounts. We serve a jealous God who will not share His glory with another. The cool thing is that He has told us what the ultimate thing to glory in is…Himself! That is where real joy and contentment lie, glorying in the Creator and Savior of the world!

Paul says it best in Philippians 4, “for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need (11b-12).” And what is this best kept secret? Being satisfied in what he has in Christ. Having our goal this year (or any year or day) to be more prosperous, eat less sugar, read more, or watch less TV will not necessarily define success, contentment or godliness in our lives. Our goal for each moment is to glorify the Lord by being satisfied in Christ. Our measuring tool of godliness is not in earthly things (however much or little we have), our measuring tool is in satisfying myself in the heavenly things. Does my life show me living for the Lord’s kingdom or my own? Am I living for health and wealth or can I say with Paul, that I have found the secret of being content in all circumstances, being satisfied in Christ?