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“But Mary treasured up all of these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19 It would’ve been easy for Mary to cower in fear as she nurtured baby Jesus - he was in danger from day one when Herod learned of his birth and desired to rid the earth of him. His death had been prophesied about centuries prior, and the future held many unknowns for Mary and Joseph as they welcomed Jesus into the world. And yet in the midst of recovery and uncertainty and worshippers, we find this verse cradled in Luke 2:19: “But Mary treasured up all of these things and pondered them in her heart.” We find Mary pondering the present moment - the visitors, the silence of her sleeping newborn, his gaze and growing body, his miraculous presence. She received the gift of time - trusting God enough to savor the moments she was given with Jesus. In treasuring her time, Mary treasured God himself - His gifts, His goodness, the wonder of it all. Mary beheld the face of her baby boy and her season of motherhood, and in doing so she beheld the face of God. I'm often so tempted to rush through life, always looking to the next big thing rather than receiving the present moment: the time that God is gifting me with Him and those around me. Often I find myself scrolling instead of beholding - spending time on screens instead of abiding in Jesus. I find myself worrying and hurrying instead of resting in God and enjoying my children. I find myself trying to force the memories instead of treasuring what is already happening: the abundance God is handing me as I resist and refuse. In this world of hustle, we can take back our time through treasuring - storing up moments like fireflies in a jar. Through treasuring, simple moments become sacred. We discover God’s beauty in our children’s faces, their eyes aglow with wonder at the world around them. We sense His presence even in the midst of the mundane and the daily duties. And our eyes grow wide in wonder, too, as we press into the present moment and His presence. We exchange comparison and regret for remembrance and awe. May Jesus turn our eyes towards heaven this Christmas and help us to pause and ponder all that He is and all that He has given. And as we treasure Jesus, may there be a trickle down effect that allows us to treasure all else that is good and beautiful - the miracle of motherhood and life itself. Ask yourself: How are you receiving the time God has given you? When you have time to fill, what is your go-to distraction? What is something you want to treasure and remember about your current season of motherhood? Action step: Sometime between now and the New Year, turn off your phone for 24 hours to practice treasuring your time! (I'm already trying to think of excuses to keep my phone on and around...but I know it will be worth it to unplug!)

"Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home." (Luke 1:56) God did not send Mary into motherhood alone. He gave her the gift of spending time with Elizabeth, her cousin (pregnant with the baby whom we know as John the Baptist), as the two embarked on their miraculous journeys of motherhood. He orchestrated the timing of Mary and Elizabeth's pregnancies so that these two mamas could share three months together as they prepared to deliver two extraordinary baby boys into the world. Though separated by age, life experience, and distance, they held motherhood in common and this bonded them together in a beautiful way. I have no doubt they laughed together. They cried together. They prayed together. They processed together. They dreamed together. They encouraged one another. They considered who their babies would become and they commiserated over pregnancy symptoms. They confided hopes and fears in one another. How beautiful that God did not leave Mary and Elizabeth in isolation as they navigated pregnancy and prepared to welcome their babies into the world. His heart was for them to do motherhood in community, as it is for us. God did not intend motherhood to be a solo sport! And so we must be intentional in receiving “our people” - those God has placed around us to be our "running buddies" in the marathon of motherhood. It is wonderful and necessary to have mentor mamas to look up to - to receive their wisdom and learn what motherhood looks like in the season ahead. It is good to share advice and encouragement with those who are one step behind us on their motherhood journeys. But to share life with another mama in your season, to crawl through the trenches together - that is a gift from God; a true grace and treasure. We must resist the urge to run alone in the name of ease or busy-ness or being an "independent spirit." There are some blessings we will never receive until we learn to lean into community, depending daily on Jesus and others. God wants to build us up, encourage us, strengthen us and give us fullness of joy, and I believe he uses community as a conduit of these blessings. My prayer is that we would learn to live in dependence as we receive the mamas that God has placed in our lives for this season. May God grant each one of us the gift of a Mary-Elizabeth friendship in our season of motherhood. And may we not take that friend for granted, but may we bless her and build her up as we march this marathon together. Ask yourself: Do you have a Mary-Elizabeth friend in your current season of motherhood? How can you bless her this Christmas? How can you further cultivate community in your daily life, depending more deeply on your people? Action step: Invite a friend along to run an errand, wrap gifts or help you do a house project. Why do alone what you could do together?

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" Luke 1:45 The promise of all promises is where the Christmas story really begins: a Savior would come! God would send a Messiah! He gave this promise as a gift to His people long before Mary walked the earth, and they clung to this promise through hardship and years of waiting. But this promise of old became very personal for Mary because SHE was the one through whom the promise would be fulfilled - the chosen mother of the Messiah. It was no longer a distant promise or one meant for another virgin - it was her promise. This promise was costly: it could get Mary killed under claims of adultery. It could come between her and her future husband. It would change the course of her life. And Mary's initial response? "I am the Lord's servant...May your word to me be fulfilled" (Luke 1:38). Mary did not run. She did not resist or refuse. Rather, she released her own plans and dreams. In humility, she received the inconceivable words of God that were still ringing in her ears. She believed that this promise given to God's people generations before was also personal to her. And as Mary greeted her cousin, Elizabeth exclaimed: "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" (Luke 1:45). In her belief, Mary was blessed - with joy, with peace, with the privilege of carrying the promised Messiah. I don't always receive the promises of God like Mary did. I sometimes distance myself from His promises, finding them easier to believe for others than for myself. I sometimes run away from them, trying to find my identity in places other than God and His Word. And so when I look at Mary, I find myself wondering...do I trust God enough to allow His promises to become personal to me? Do I believe Him when He tells me who I am, who He is, the hope that I have in Him? Do I receive these things for myself or resist them? God promises us many things in His Word: Peace (Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:7, John 14:27) Joy (1 Peter 1:8-9) Power (2 Timothy 1:7) We are never alone (Psalm 23:4) We will not be shaken (Psalm 125:1) Life to the full (John 10:10) Fruitfulness (John 15:5) Strength (Psalm 46:1-3) Rest (Matthew 11:28-29) Guidance (Isaiah 40:11, John 14:26) Provision (Genesis 22:14) Freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17) Purpose in all things (Romans 8:28, Psalm 139) The Holy Spirit as our seal and deposit (Ephesians 1:13-14) Intercession on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27;34) Justification (Romans 5:9) Identity as a child of God (Romans 8:16-17) Wisdom (Proverbs 2:6, James 1:5) Removal of our sins (Psalm 103:12) Enduring Love (Psalm 136:1) Eternal Life (1 Peter 1:3-4, Revelation 22:12) These promises (and exceedingly and abundantly more!) are what God wants to give us through Christmas, through Jesus. He wants these promises to permeate our hearts as we journey through motherhood and life. The one thing these promises hinge on is TRUST. Belief. Dependence on Jesus. God's character remains unchanged whether we believe Him or not, but we will only receive all that He wants to give us when we trust in Him, depending daily and deeply on Jesus. May we receive God's promises this Christmas - I believe that we will be blessed as we do so, just as Mary was. Ask yourself: Is it difficult for you to believe the promises of God for yourself? Why or why not? Which promise of God feels the most distant from you in this season? Action step: Find a verse to remind yourself that the promise that feels most distant is personal to YOU. Put it somewhere you will see it often (in the car, by the kitchen sink, or on your bathroom mirror).

Have you ever wondered…why was Mary the one chosen to carry the Messiah? Out of thousands of virgins over the course of hundreds of years God handpicked Mary to carry His Son, calling her “highly favored” (Luke 1:28). Why her? I believe we find our answer in “Mary’s Song” (Luke 1:46-55) where she expresses her heart in the midst of pregnancy and the unknown of her future. She sings, “My soul glorifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant…He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” (Luke 1:46-48, 52) Even as she received the privilege of carrying God's Son (which did not make her life easier but rather far more difficult and complicated), Mary was humble. Her dependence on God prepared her to receive her assignment from Him. She called herself “the Lord’s servant” and submitted herself to God's plan: “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). Mary thought of herself as lowly and God as holy, and this positioned Mary perfectly to receive what God wanted to give her. Over the next four weeks, we’ll dive into Mary’s story - learning from her dependence on God and how she received from Him as she entered into motherhood. What about you - are you ready to receive this Christmas? I often find it hard to receive as a mom. I find it easy to take care of everyone's needs, a subtle sense of self-sufficiency underlying my productivity. I find it easy to ramble my list of requests to God, certain I know what’s best for myself and my children. I find it easy to serve and host and give - but to pause and be still, giving my attention to Jesus when there is so much to do? That feels much more difficult, sometimes even impossible. My pride, my desire for independence, my insatiable craving for “me time” - they all leave me resisting time with Jesus and refusing to receive what God wants to give me, what I really need: His joy, His peace, more of Him. This Advent season, I’m asking God to humble me so that I might be prepared to receive Him and all that He wants to give me. I believe that in our bending low and depending and surrendering this Christmas, we will be positioned to receive from God - and I trust that He will give us more than we could ever ask for or imagine. Ask yourself: What is your heart posture as we enter the Advent season? Are you walking in self-sufficiency or trusting that Jesus is sufficient for you? What are you depending on Jesus for in your current season of motherhood? Action step: Take five minutes to sit and be with Jesus today. Ask Him to humble and prepare your heart to receive Him this Christmas.

We are celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary TODAY! What a gift. And around this time of year, I always get nostalgic about our wedding day (and I force Blake to watch our wedding day video with me while I cry). And when I remember our wedding day and the feeling of being a bride, I am reminded that we as believers are the Bride of Christ. This is what Jesus calls us: His Church, His Bride. A bride is cherished, loved, honored, redeemed. She is protected, secure, provided for. She is beautiful, cherished, celebrated, and beaming. She has great hope for the future, dreams for the life that lays ahead. Her eyes are full of light, and she illuminates every room she enters. She lives loved; she knows her value and worth: the Groom desires her deeply and gives himself for her, to her. She is not ashamed, she is not condemned, she does not live in fear. "She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come" (Proverbs 31:25). She is radiant. We so often forget our identity in Christ; the way He sees us. We must sit in the presence of Jesus to reclaim our identity as the Bride of Christ. We must seek Him and listen to Him and ask to be reminded of who we are - for our own sake and the sake of our children. I know that I would mother differently if I could grasp His love for me more fully. In the past month I've started praying Ephesians 3 over my children nightly: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 6:17-19). I'm reminded today that I need to pray this for myself too: that I need His power in order to know His love; to understand it and grasp it and experience it and live into it. How we need this love that changes everything to transform our hearts and heal us and bless us so that we may beam like the Bride that we are; so that we may put this Love on display to our children. This prayer in Ephesians 3 ends this way: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21). May He revive us today and remind us how it feels to be a Bride. And as we claim our true identity in Him, may He do immeasurably more in and through us than all we could ever ask or imagine.

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Philippians 1:27 Millions of mothers have endured the trials and hardships that accompany child bearing and rearing. The sleeplessness, the physical pain and suffering, the whining, tantrums and transitions. The sustaining and caring for, and the letting go as they grow. "You just do it," they say - and somehow, we do. We push through, we endure, we make it to the other side of hard seasons. But for us as followers of Jesus, how can we set ourselves apart from the world? How will others see Him through our mothering? We will not be set apart IF we endure through motherhood, but rather by HOW we do so. This is an encouraging thought as we consider the mundane responsibilities of motherhood as well as the more trying seasons - it's not just about what we are doing (whether it be cleaning, changing a diaper, nursing, or something altogether different), but the manner in which we are doing it - the manner matters. Will we walk out motherhood in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ? This is what makes all the difference. We must consider: Our facial expressions as we look at our children and our chores. Our demeanor - is it one of anxiety or peace? Contentment or grumbling? Our tone as we speak to our children and spouses. The manner by which we go about our days - Are we purposeful and patient? Or are we hurried? Lazy? We can spread the aroma of Christ through our intentionality as we care for neighboring mamas and friends. We can shine the light of Jesus as we open our homes in hospitality and in how we present ourselves with authenticity, without trying to project a certain image. Of course, we cannot do any of this in our own strength. We must depend on Jesus daily to help us mother in a manner worthy of the Gospel. We must ask the Holy Spirit for His power, wisdom and grace; we must pray and plead that the fruit of the Spirit would abound through our mothering. May we emulate the Proverbs 31 woman as we go about our lives and motherhood: "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness...Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" (Proverbs 31:25-27, 30). May the world notice this army of mothers rising up - brightening the world in the name of Jesus, raising up the next generation of Jesus-followers. In the mundane and the monotonous (as well as in the miraculous) we are bearing His Name. May the manner in which we mother beam bright, shining a spotlight on Jesus that others (including our children) might see His beauty and goodness.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 It feels as though worry is wired into us, especially as mothers. We have good intentions but, I’ll speak for myself - my thoughts seem to spiral pretty quickly. What starts as a single, minor worry spins into a whole cascade of questions, anxieties, unknowns, and fears. I have started to ask myself a question whenever my thoughts start to wander into the “what ifs” and anxiety begins rising in my chest: “Is this worthy of my worry?” The answer is usually (if not always) “no.” Is it worthy of a prayer? Probably. But worry? Anxiety? Fixation? No. Jesus told us many times: “Do not worry about your life…” “Do not be afraid!” And what is worry but unrealized fear swirling in circles, the what ifs reverberating through the myelin in our minds? Could it actually be disobedient to worry? To consider all of the possible outcomes as if God is not in control, as if He is unaware of my circumstances? If we are to escape this debilitating cycle, our worry must give way to worship. We must raise our hands in praise, releasing our worries and prying our fingers from the sense of control we so desperately cling to. We must “be transformed by the renewing of our minds,” allowing the Scriptures and the Spirit to inform and direct our thoughts rather than our worries (Romans 12:2). We must cultivate our thought lives carefully, fighting to think on what is “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy” (Philippians 6:8). We must channel our worries into prayers - “present[ing] [our] requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6). May our tendency to worry drive us to our knees before the throne of grace - that we might cover every part of our lives and our children’s lives with prayer. That we might repent of our worry-filled habits and instead “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness” - because He is faithful to provide everything we need as we do so (Matthew 6:33). Your worries are not worthy of taking up your time, thought space, and attention - but He is always worthy of your worship. May our worries give way to worship that we might experience greater joy and peace in Jesus - the only One who sustains and satisfies.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus knows the depths of our weariness and the burdens we are carrying as moms. He knows the state of our hearts, the amount of sleep debt we have been accumulating, the size of the latest pile of laundry, and the difficulties of discipling our children. And He offers us rest - but first, we must come to Him. We must come to Him sin-stained and broken, snot on our shirts and bags under our eyes. We must come to Him despite the hustle and chaos, the noise that never seems to end. We must come to Him in the middle of the night or whenever our schedule allows - even if we have only moments (or seconds) to meet with Him. In Psalm 91, the psalmist writes, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). When we dwell in Jesus - making Him our hiding place and refuge instead of running to distractions or indulgences - He will give us the rest that we so desperately need. This rest may not be what we imagine or hope for - it might not include a "quiet time" or a lack of interruption. It might not involve a full night of sleep, at least for a season. Jesus gives us rest in the midst of motherhood, in the messiness and mundane. He gives us rest in our reality. We always have a choice and an opportunity to come to Jesus - to abide, to reside, to dwell, and to remain in Him - no matter what is going on around us. We can come to Jesus in the quietness of our hearts, acknowledging His presence despite a toddler's tantrum. We can commune with Him in prayer as we wash and fold and wipe. We can invite Him into every task, not rushing or wishing our days away but doing all things unto Him. He alone can grant true rest - the One who calms storms and multiplies and supplies and upholds us in the palm of His hand. The One who has numbered the hairs on our heads and ordains our days knows our needs in each season of our lives and how to fulfill them. Jesus is waiting for you to come - He sits in the living room of your heart ready for you to join Him. Will you choose to dwell in Jesus today in spite of the distractions and duties that surround you? May we forsake all other medicines and means of "resting" for the true rest offered in Jesus - the One whose yoke is easy and burden is light. As we come to Him again and again, He will refresh, restore, and revive us, giving us what we need for each day.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us fear but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 I hope I'm not alone when I say that fear feels like a frequent visitor on the journey of motherhood. I fear for my children - for their safety, their friendships, their futures, their hearts. I fear we won't have enough family time as they grow older. I fear for our finances. I fear for my own future - what will I do when my children are gone? Our fears can range from rational to ridiculous. But what they all have in common is that they confine us, keeping us from experiencing freedom in Christ and crowding out peace. God has more in store for us - if we will flee from fear and take hold of our identity in Christ. Paul reminds us in Romans 8, "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father'" (v. 14-15). God has released us from slavery - we must claim our identity as children of God and cling to Him. Instead of crying out in fear, we cry out, "Father! Help me!" We must concede that we have been adopted, flee from sin, and refute the lies of the enemy. In releasing our fear, we can lean into all that God has for us: life to the full and the comfort of our Father. We have power in this matter, authority in the name of Jesus because we are His children, His heirs. We are not victims - we are victors. We are not held captive - we are captors of fear and the lies of the enemy and anything that takes a stand against the fullness of life that is in Christ. "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us fear but gives us power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7). We must turn our list of fears into a declaration of faith, a proclamation of freedom. We have power because the Holy Spirit dwells in us and our Father calls us His own. Jesus Himself is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father. We have the fruit of the Spirit growing and abounding in us - including that of self-control, the ability to be disciplined in our thought life. And a note on love: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment" (1 John 4:18). Do I really believe it is true - his love is perfect? When I fear and fret it's because I forget: His love endures forever. His grace is sufficient for me (even in my weakness...especially in my weakness). I believe the fraud of the enemy: I must perform. I must be in control, perfecting my parenting and my life and the lives of my kids. There is no fear when we believe that Jesus is who He says He is, when we believe he told the truth when he breathed his last breath: "It is finished." There is no fear when we trust that His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). So may fear take ground in our hearts and minds no more. May it cease to crowd out peace. May it have no hold on our children - may anxiety find its home elsewhere. May our fears drive us to the arms of our Father as we depend on Him daily for freedom. Fear has no place when we are living in His grace. A prayer against fear and for freedom: Father, forgive me for walking in fear instead of in faith. May fear flee in the name of Jesus. In His name I rebuke the lies of the enemy. Holy Spirit, fill me with your fullness, that there would be no room left for fear to live here. Father, remind me of your truth - I am your daughter. I am held, and your perfect love casts out fear. I claim power, love and self-discipline because your Spirit dwells in me. Help me to remember who You are and who I am in you. In Jesus' name, Amen

Recently, my two "big" girls (4 and 2 at the time) were "helping" me unload the dishwasher. This involved them wiping off the dishes and either handing them to me or precariously balancing them on the edge of the counter. The dishes weren't fully dried, and many of the cups my daughters handed to me slipped out of their tiny hands back into the dishwasher. Honestly, they're making this more difficult for me, I thought with a smile as I watched them earnestly trying to help with this chore. My girls beamed with pride as they "helped" me; they felt so important and useful. I realized in that moment that I am like my girls as I "help" God. He doesn't need my help - He is completely self-sufficient and more than able - but he asks me to partner with Him anyways. He chooses to use me, to build me up, to train me in His ways to make me more useful instead of just doing His work on His own. What a patient Father we have, that He would invite us into the process of bringing His Kingdom to earth! He empowers US that we might participate in ministry with Him. He could do it instantaneously, without even uttering a word, but instead gives us the gift of partnering with Him. And He has even greater purpose as we "help" Him - He purifies and perfects us, pruning us to make us more fruitful. He's working on us as we work with Him in all of our weakness and insufficiency. Just as I let my girls "help" me, so does the Lord allow us into His Kingdom mission. We are completely dependent on Him even as we serve Him. How beautiful that He gives us a sense of purpose and pride in partnering with Him. I'm thankful for this God who invites us in and propels us into Kingdom work despite our shortcomings. What a good and loving Father we have!

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 I remember when my middle daughter was around eighteen months old and wanted to do everything on her own - "I got it!" she would proclaim repeatedly, attempting actions way beyond her ability. She was determined to do things independently and refused any help, but this often left her crying on the ground when she failed. And isn't this just how we are, too? "I got it!" We might declare we need God with our lips, but with our lives we often deny His help, refusing to depend on Him. We live predominantly independent lives, attempting to control it all and hold everything together. Instead of trusting in God, we are trusting in ourselves. I have been guilty of this again and again - mothering my girls in self-sufficiency. Turning inward for motivation, for happiness, for strength. Turning to lots of sources, tuning out the Source of all things. And I can promise you it never leads to to anything good - I find myself spinning on a hamster wheel; going nowhere and gaining nothing. Running ragged and trying to control all of the outcomes, pouring out to my kids from my own depletion. Wouldn't recommend it. I have found that self-sufficiency leaves us in survival mode (defined as "continuous, unresolved stress") because it all rides on us. I have found the better Way to be counterintuitive, to be subtle and surprising. It involves walking in weakness and making the decision every day to depend on Jesus. This is where where we will find what we truly need for the marathon of motherhood. Here are a few blessings that we receive when we walk in trust and dependence rather than attempting to be self-sufficient: We will be strengthened - "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31). We will be shepherded - "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those who have young" (Isaiah 40:11). We will be surrounded - "Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore" (Psalm 125:1-2). We will be sustained - "Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken" (Psalm 55:22). We will be satisfied - "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things" (Psalm 107:8-9). Will we accept these gifts from God, these blessings He wants to bestow upon us? It's not necessarily easy - this daily decision to walk in dependence. It's countercultural and goes against our natural bend. But if we will surrender and cease our strivings, choosing to depend, we will find God to provide in every way - and even beyond what we could ask for or imagine.

"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on." Mark 12:43-44 I was on my walk today feeling frustrated, flustered. I heard a podcast recently where the speaker was describing the spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude. He recounted how he went into the wilderness for an eight hour retreat, and how around the fifth hour he felt like the Lord spoke to him and met him in the time he had sacrificed. That sounds wonderful, I thought, tears forming in the corners of my eyes, but I don't have five hours. Maybe a couple of times a year I could get away from my kids, from everything, for that length of time (in the current stage we're in). I proceeded to pray: "God, I usually have about five minutes. Will you receive my offering? Will you fill the time that I am able to give to you?" God then reminded me of the widow who offered two coins - "all she had to live on" (Mark 12:44) - and how her offering was worth more than the gifts presented by everyone else, who gave out of their riches. He reminded me of the boy who offered his meager portions of bread and fish to Jesus, and in return witnessed a miracle of multiplication as Jesus fed thousands (John 6:1-14). In these two instances, we see that it's more about the humility of the heart in bringing the offering rather than the amount. It's more about the authenticity and surrender in the sacrifice than the size. As moms, it's about giving the sliver of time that we do have - mere seconds or minutes - and doing so willingly and faithfully. Jesus sees our limited time and resources, our full days, our weaknesses. Will we bring a sacrifice before Him - even if it's small? Will we offer ourselves - as little as we might feel there is left to give? It all comes back to daily dependence (and moment by moment dependence) on Jesus, entrusting Him with all we have because He is worthy. The smallest sacrifices are still worth making - He sees you in your sacrifice and will bless you as you give. He alone can multiply your time, treasure, and talent as you offer it willingly to Him.