Me and Sally
Last week I flew to Dallas, Texas to Sally Clarkson’s Mom Heart Conference.
I was blessed to get to spend the weekend with Angela and Whitney.
And lots of other friends: {pictured below – top row L to R: Kristen Kill, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Kat Lee, Angela, Whitney; bottom row: Deb Chapman (mother of 11 – wowsa!), Me 🙂 }
As I wait to catch my plane home, I’m reflecting over my notes and want to share some of the key thoughts on motherhood that challenged or blessed me this weekend.
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Motherhood is from the cradle to the grave. We are teaching our children how to nurture. One day they will take care of us the way we have taken care of them.
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Motherhood is an age old profession. Learn from those who have gone before us.
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God is speaking all the time but are we listening? Ruth had no residence and did not know the end of the story. She did not know she’d get Boaz in the end and a book in the Bible named after her. She listened to God one step at a time. It’s okay if we are unfinished, need prayer or eat on paper plates once in a while. Ruth is only a finished product because we get to read her story after it is complete. Look back and see what she did right. Look back and see what Sally did right. Emulate it.
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Build your home on the right foundations: God’s words and truth. Either you are building on solid rock or on sinking sand. And if you are building on sand –great will be your fall!
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Don’t copy the behavior and customs of the world. (Romans 12:2) Avoid extremes of other voices –either formalistic, legalistic, law-oriented voices based on works or, at the other extreme, liberal, permissive, freedom-oriented voices without consequences.
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Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Don’t look for validation from the world, but look for the favor of God, and you will live freely and confidently.
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As you read scripture to your children, do not let it be detached. Remind them these are the heroes in the Bible…now how will you be a hero in your time? Read rich literature to and with your children alongside scripture. Mothers are storytellers. Every image we show our children shapes their story.
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Remember: Only love can reach and transform hearts. Guilt does not motivate–it kills.
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Don’t live in condemnation of your personality. God lovingly made you as you and nothing can separate you from God’s love.
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How to love your kids: -Stop, look and listen: stop what you are doing, look them in the eye, and listen to them when they talk. -Touch them, hug them, rub their backs -Play with them -Give them focused one on one time and discipleship
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Raising teens: Teens are like toddlers – they are hormonal and tempted by everything in the world. It is normal for them to to struggle with their ideals. Have compassion and don’t take their wrongs personally. A lot of reactive parenting is so we look good. Use your critical eye to actively understand how God wired your child. Hone in on their good qualities to guide them where they are skilled. Speak life into them. Begin and end the day well. Bless them when they wake up in the morning and close the day well.
Now go love on your kiddos and I’ll get back to the book club this Wednesday!
Walk with the King,
Thank you so much for sharing your notes. I feel encouraged and inspired to have a great week. Xx
I hope to be at Mom heart 2015 :). Do you attend all of the conferences, or just Texas?
Just the Dallas one 😉
I’m kind of torn on which location to attend! Such great women at each one :).
I would LOVE for Sally to hold a conference in Fairbanks, Alaska!!!!
I loved this! Do they have recordings of the conference?
If you go to the Mom Heart online store, there are audio recordings from some previous conferences, the most recent being 2010. I listen to them often, and could probably quote Sally on a lot of it ;). It’s my way of absorbing the messages.
Sweet Courtney,
I was so honored to have you with us this weekend. Always so much fun to be with you. I pray you are not too tired and have a great week! Love you and praying blessings.
Dear Courtney and Sally,
wow, you’re both so sweet, awesome and inspiring !!!
I hope one day to be able to attend a Mom Conference and a WLW conference. If God is willing. I’ll keep praying. (Hopping on a plane from Belgium to the States isn’t hard, I know.)
For now this Flemish christian sahm is content with reading your blogs. And I keep on praying for that 1 woman to come into my life to mentor me, do life together with me. Sarahmae was one lucky mom to have found you Sally!!!!
As always: many many blessings x
Abby from BE
These are great – thanks for sharing! A friend of mine has been to Sally’s conference and raves about it! So much to learn!
Looks wonderful!! I would love to go to one of these!
they need to come to the mid Atlantic region. I would love to see this.
I loved reading this and have looked at all of the blogs of the ‘friends’ you were there with. THANK YOU! Then, I read this article and thought of you and was so curious what you think!
http://theaccidentalmissionary.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/the-one-things-christians-should-stop-saying/
THANK YOU for all that you do.
Pleasure to meet you this weekend and great job on summarizing the conference! It truly was a fantastic weekend.
Seeing all of you ladies up close was great! You are all so beautiful! I was incredibly blessed by Sally and all of the other speakers, the women I met there and the entire experience! Thanks to all of you for everything you do to encourage me and other moms around the world.
Thanks for sharing these notes for all of us who couldn’t attend. I know that it’s not the same as being there, but the notes contain valuable information!
Courtney-Thank you for posting this! I enjoyed reading the thoughts you have taken away from the conference.I have taken them to heart and have been meditating on them. And double thank you (if that even exists!) for “introducing” me to Sally Clarkson-I had not heard of her before this chapter/posting. I am excited to find this sweet, amazing, inspirational woman. Thanks again!