This is beautiful, Shannon. Sometimes I'm amazed that I'm the only one that gets the see the beauty of my kids so intimately. Thing like their deepening relationships and quirky humors and expressions of love. I really struggled with the lack of status when I first became a mom (it felt like a loss of self, but only because culture told me that I needed to be my own life's protagonist to be happy). Being a mom is the best gift. I feel undeserving.
Every time I hear Charlotte’s Web (my husband reads it aloud to our children every few years) I am astonished at the writing. It is a transcendent piece of art!
It took me a decade and a half in corporate America to truly internalize your message here. While I still always try to succeed at my job, true fulfillment comes outside of work for me now in the relationships I have with people and the positive impact I can have on their lives.
This one might be your best piece yet - nice work Shannon.
This is what I feel in motherhood daily, and you expressed it so beautifully. I just love the connection to Charlotte at the end. Thank you, Shannon.
Edited to add: The Domestic Monastery quote was also so insightful! I’ve been thinking a lot lately on this withdrawal from the world. Contentment with going unseen preserves the sacred nature of my work, without clouding it with all the problems and expectations of the world at large. Like walking into a church sanctuary, hushed in reverence, so can I be at work in my own home.
It’s a great, quick read. I found it so encouraging because I’m often discouraged by my “lack” of “quiet time”. While it’s not an excuse to abandon things like Bible reading and prayer, I think it helped me see that the acts of self denial that are baked into mothering small children can be offered up as prayer. I don’t need a quiet house and time to myself to tend to my spiritual life — God is forming me right where I am.
Thanks, Annelise. That's a very common struggle among moms of young ones; I'm always interested to consider other ways to help handle it faithfully. I'm glad it helped you! Yes -- God is forming us right where we are. I'll add it to my list.
This is beautiful! And Charlotte’s Web is an absolute masterpiece. I was thinking of it recently because we got pigs, and in the process of moving the piglets to a different pen one got out and gave us quite a time. I could only think of Wilbur’s escapades and how hard the kids laughed when my husband read that chapter aloud!
Thank you, Annelise! And what a fun experience for your children to see pigs-in-the-flesh after reading about Wilbur in Charlotte's Web. Real-life experiences always enrich literature!
That last paragraph! Love it, Shannon.
Christ's ways are always going to go against the world and our own flesh. It doesn't—and will never—make sense apart from life in Him.
Yes! That's why we always need reminders. It is so easy to forget.
Psalm 116:6: “The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.”
Yes!
Thank you for that
This is wonderful.Love it.I think it`s your best one yet.Keep on inspiring us.We need it.
Thank you, Sheila!
This is beautiful, Shannon. Sometimes I'm amazed that I'm the only one that gets the see the beauty of my kids so intimately. Thing like their deepening relationships and quirky humors and expressions of love. I really struggled with the lack of status when I first became a mom (it felt like a loss of self, but only because culture told me that I needed to be my own life's protagonist to be happy). Being a mom is the best gift. I feel undeserving.
It really is such a gift. And lasts such a short time while they are tiny!
You beautifully expressed all that is in my heart on this topic. And you quoted my favorite children’s book, too. 😊 Thank you
Every time I hear Charlotte’s Web (my husband reads it aloud to our children every few years) I am astonished at the writing. It is a transcendent piece of art!
Love this. Thank you.
Beautiful words.
Thank you!
It took me a decade and a half in corporate America to truly internalize your message here. While I still always try to succeed at my job, true fulfillment comes outside of work for me now in the relationships I have with people and the positive impact I can have on their lives.
This one might be your best piece yet - nice work Shannon.
I think everyone has to figure it out since we all crave status. The trick is to figure it out before it’s too late!
Thanks, Phil. Appreciate your kind words.
Truth and beauty. Thank you for your writing, Shannon. Indeed, Christ calls us to a more divine way.
Thank you, Amy! I appreciate your kind words.
This is what I feel in motherhood daily, and you expressed it so beautifully. I just love the connection to Charlotte at the end. Thank you, Shannon.
Edited to add: The Domestic Monastery quote was also so insightful! I’ve been thinking a lot lately on this withdrawal from the world. Contentment with going unseen preserves the sacred nature of my work, without clouding it with all the problems and expectations of the world at large. Like walking into a church sanctuary, hushed in reverence, so can I be at work in my own home.
I just might have to check out that book!
Yes, please do read it! I think it is a very insightful read for mothers with very young children; I wish I had read it 10 years ago!
And thanks for reading, Leah. I appreciate your thoughtful comments so much!
Thank you, Shannon. That's a good recommendation!
It’s a great, quick read. I found it so encouraging because I’m often discouraged by my “lack” of “quiet time”. While it’s not an excuse to abandon things like Bible reading and prayer, I think it helped me see that the acts of self denial that are baked into mothering small children can be offered up as prayer. I don’t need a quiet house and time to myself to tend to my spiritual life — God is forming me right where I am.
Thanks, Annelise. That's a very common struggle among moms of young ones; I'm always interested to consider other ways to help handle it faithfully. I'm glad it helped you! Yes -- God is forming us right where we are. I'll add it to my list.
Couldn’t figure out which part was my favorite so I just restacked the whole thing
Thank you!
Beautiful! This gives me so much to think about.
Thank you so much!
Absolutely beautiful!
Thank you, Andrea!
This is beautiful! And Charlotte’s Web is an absolute masterpiece. I was thinking of it recently because we got pigs, and in the process of moving the piglets to a different pen one got out and gave us quite a time. I could only think of Wilbur’s escapades and how hard the kids laughed when my husband read that chapter aloud!
Thank you, Annelise! And what a fun experience for your children to see pigs-in-the-flesh after reading about Wilbur in Charlotte's Web. Real-life experiences always enrich literature!