AT THE WELL...mothering the little chickadees

Today, I am joining up with the ladies gathered over AT THE WELL. Today's discussion is a good one. Look at this week's discussion questions:

Life's storms will come sometimes when we least expect them, how do we give our children a "safe feeling" in the midst of a life storm?

Sometimes chaos is created by our own efforts of trying to do too much, how can we maintain a peaceful home where chaos is prevented?

How can we as wives and mothers actually calm the storm?

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When I think of safety in relation to my children, I often think of when my children were small and they would get too close to the street or when they would get too close to the edge of the riverbank. My first instinctive reaction would be to snatch them out of harms way or holler, STOP!

I was thinking about how a momma bird so safely keeps her young chick so close to her, keeping watch over her baby so no harm will come to it. A young bird will nestle into the warmth and safety of its mother's feathers. Doesn't that paint a picture of total safety and hope for the young birds future?

A momma bird is not only looking after the baby in their moment of need, but she continues to do this with her baby until it is old enough to go off on their own. It is an ongoing relationship of tending, caring and keeping safe.

I am reminded of the story of Ruth in the Bible. Ruth chose to seek refuge in God as a lifetime commitment. She chose to leave Moab, which was an immoral and arrogant nation that worshipped different gods and she committed to a new life in Bethlehem. Boaz heard that she had set her devotion on taking care of Naomi, and serving God, even from the time of her husband's death.

RUTH 2:11, 12 "Boaz answered her, 'Everything you have done for your Mother-in-law since your husband's death has been fully reported to me: you left your father and mother,and the land of your birth, and you came to a people you didn't previously know. May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."

Ruth's devotion led her to a place of refuge under God's wings. REFUGE (or chasah) means to "confide in, have hope in , put trust in."

These were the actions of Ruth's heart. She sought refuge, and found a new spiritual dwelling place with God - an ongoing relationship with Him.

So, in answering today's questions over AT THE WELL...taking the story of Ruth into consideration, the first step to "creating" a safe haven for our families is COMMITMENT!

Stay committed to them. Stay committed to prayer. Stay committed to have faith no matter what may come.

The 2nd step is HAVE A RELATIONSHIP with them. It is difficult to emulate a safe feeling when you are distant from each other.

Spend time together (have a relationship). Do things (by having a relationship) that your kids or husband enjoy (even if you don't). Pray together (have a relationship). Have family devotions together (have a relationship).

You may not be able to alter the crisis that your family is in, but through prayer and commitment to each other, you can alter the relationship you have with each other and with God!

PSALM 62:8 "Trust in Him at all times. O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."

Please visit the homepage of AT THE WELL for more discussion on this topic. You can also visit Monday Thru Friday for daily devotions. Click HERE to find the chatter around the well.