Things I’ve learned from my mom

Happy belated Mother’s Day to all the moms, grandmas, aunts, and mother figures out there. YOU are incredible. I hope you had a great day and felt celebrated and loved!

I got to spend my first Mother’s Day watching my dog kids play at the coolest dog park ever, and soaking up sweet time with my human kid as we played, read, and worked on rolling and sitting up. I’m grateful for my husband who made this Mother’s Day a special one for me!

I also spent the day reflecting on how much my mom means to me. Of course I will never be able to put into words how much I love and appreciate her. However, I thought it would be fun to make a list of some of the things I’ve learned from my mom. This list doesn’t include everything, because I’ve learned hundreds of things from her, but it’s just a small look into what she’s taught me through my 27 years of life. No matter how old I am, I will never stop needing my mom and her wisdom. And the older I get, the more time I want to spend with her; Learning, laughing, and making the best memories. With that, here’s just a small list of things I’ve learned from my mom:

• Put God first, others second, and yourself last
• You are never done growing in your relationship with God
• There is always more to learn about God
• Marry your best friend
• Make your marriage a priority
• Join a small group, women’s group, or attend church events that will help deepen your faith, and attend them regularly
• Find out what makes you happy and make time for it every day
• Your children are a joy not a burden – It’s a privilege to get to raise them, help them, and spend time with them
• Rejoice with others when they are rejoicing, and mourn with those who are mourning
• Be invested in other people’s success and joy, and help them try to achieve both
• Get outside as much as you can
• Say “I love you” before bed, before you leave the house, before you end a phone call – You can never say it enough
• Ask questions, be curious, and use Google
• Take your kids to church every Sunday
• Read to your kids
• Be involved in your kids’ life, but allow them to make their own choices, even if that means they have to make mistakes in order to learn
• Be a gracious host and welcome people into your home with open arms
• Make sure your thoughts, beliefs, and morals are based on biblical truth
• Learn what your kids are interest in, and find ways to fuel their passion
• Be a servant for the Lord
• Support your husband
• To participate well in discussions, it’s important to listen to what others have to say and also confidently share your ideas
• Practice selflessness
• Play and have fun – Join in on the games, activities, and sports enthusiastically
• ABOVE ALL – Let all that you do be done in love, 1 Corinthians 16:14

---

I love you and I’m praying you find some genuine joy today!!

Jenn