Making Mother’s Day Missional

I get it moms.

We’re tired, weary and sleep deprived.

We invest ourselves day and night into our children, our husbands, our home, our careers….most everything but ourselves.

We pour out into others, and so often take little time to refill ourselves.

And the second Sunday of every May, we get our ‘own’ day.

A day to be celebrated.

A day to be appreciated.

A day to be pampered.

And you know what?

We deserve it!

But as I think about the kind of meals, plans, gifts my husband and boys might have in store for me, I can’t help but think of the women around the world that are doing the hard work of mothering where there aren’t the ‘luxuries’ of running water, heat and air-conditioning, indoor plumbing, a real stove, even a safe place to live.

And I don’t think of them with guilt or pity, but I do think of how blessed I am to live in America.  How, even though we are not rich at all in American standards, we are rich compared to the standards  of the majority of people around the world. That in God’s plans, he wanted me to be born in the USA.  And that alone, is a huge blessing, especially as a woman.

And as Christian, I am incredibly blessed to be able to openly worship Jesus.  Go to church, read my Bible that I could easily go to a store and purchase, pray, gather in homes with friends to study the Bible, all without the threat of imprisonment, torture, or even death.

This is not how many of our sisters around the world live.

In Everyday Faith by Katie Orr, she makes a statement that made me catch my breath.

Some women grow up as an “untouchable” in the slums of India, while I get to enjoy the comforts and freedom of modern-day America.  Yet His purpose for each of us is the same: we are here to bring Him glory in the society we find ourselves in.

So how can we bring Him glory in the society we find ourselves in on Mother’s Day?

This Mother’s Day, I’m going to ask my husband and boys not to give me any gifts.

Now…don’t think I’m crazy yet!  I will ask for them to cook dinner…and hopefully I’ll get a delicious breakfast prepared.  Maybe a back rub, some pampering. I will relish the way they show me kindness and honor this Mother’s Day.

But I will ask them to stop there.

And instead, I’m going to use the money they would’ve spent on gifts that I don’t need to invest in mothers and children around the world.

I know this may sound countercultural.  Upstream. (Isn’t that the newest term for it?)

But really….what do I need?  Nothing.

What do I want? To glorify God.

And for me, to glorify God this Mother’s Day, I want to be a blessing to other mothers and children.

And nothing would please me more than if you joined me.

Let’s start a revolution of making this day all about ‘me’ and make it about ‘we’.

So here’s a list of my favorite ministries to support this Mother’s Day.  Yes, if you choose to support some of them, you will be getting tangible items, as some sell items either made by women around the world, or the proceeds from items are used to support women and children through their ministry.  Some you can support by hosting a party where you sell their items or work to make items that will benefit their ministry.   There’s many ways to support these ministries, and I pray that you will consider joining in one or more of them to use ‘our’ day to make every day better for women and children around the world.

Fair Trade Friday

If you’ve read my blog for more than a minute, you can’t help but know that Fair Trade Friday is near to my heart.  2 years ago I was chosen to be a part of their blogging team, and it was such an honor.  Sharing what they do and how buying beautiful, fair trade items changes lives continually keeps me in tears.

Fair Trade Friday is a ministry that Kristen Welch started when God told her to help provide jobs to women.  Kristen‘s yeses have come together into one amazing ministry that she never would’ve expected before she went on a blogging trip to Kenya with Compassion International.

Here’s a short video about why she started Mercy House Kenya to help save babies and mothers.

Karla Storey

I LOVE Karla’s shirts!  They are so soft, fun and often get lots of attention when I wear them.

 I wore one the last time me and the Hubs went to Eastern Market, and I was repeatedly wondering why people looking at my chest as they walked by me.  Hubs told me they were reading my shirt.  Duh!  I wear it so often, I forget that there’s a lot of words for people to read on, ahem, some noticiable parts of me.

Karla doesn’t just sell cute shirts, she sells other items, but the best part is her heart behind why she started her company and how it impacts the Kingdom. From her website:

At KarlaStorey, our products are handmade and unique and are specifically chosen to express both our passion and to inspire yours. We design tees that make an amazing talking piece to share your faith and give you the tools to be the hands and feet of God. With every purchase, you are personally impacting the lives of the fatherless! Every tee is screen printed with love in Arizona, prayed over & packaged with care and sent directly to your doorstep.

Founded on a deep love and commitment towards orphans, we strive to shed a light on this community and hope to serve them and truly believe our products and your purchases can make a huge impact in their lives and communities.

Our products are meant to be explored in, danced in, loved in & to be a daily reminder of joy and the change you want to see in the world.

The other shirt I have and adore is this one….I wear it often.  I’ll bet you can guess why.

A cute shirt (or jewelry, print, home decor, Bible) and helping children in Africa?  I’m in!

Here’s how each purchase helps:

Feeding the Orphans is a grassroots organization founded by 10 year old, Sydney O’Leary, in 2010. Their mission is to advocate for the fatherless of West Africa in Jesus’ name by providing for their basic earthly needs in order to provide for their spiritual need to know Christ.

A portion of all KarlaStorey proceeds will be donated to Feeding the Orphans for food, water, education and so much more! We strongly believe in FTO and their efforts to raise public awareness and to provide for orphans in need. God’s heart beats for orphans, and it is part of our duty as believers to help them.

Sole Hope

Sole Hope is a ministry that is relatively new to me.  I have heard about them from fellow bloggers, and it immediately got my attention since they serve in Uganda, a country dear to me because we sponsored a boy there for 5 years.

Sole Hope exists to offer HOPE, healthier lives and freedom from foot related diseases through education, jobs and medical relief.

There are a number of ways you can get involved with Sole Hope, including making a donation (one time or even monthly) or sponsoring shoes ($10/pair to provide a child in Uganda with a pair of closed toe shoes to protect their feet from jiggers), hosting a shoe cutting party, or ordering items they need from Amazon.com.

https://youtu.be/3-3UlkCGExw

Unlock Hope

Yes…there’s a theme.  I love Uganda.

And if I can support anyone who lives there….I try to.  So when I found Unlock Hope on Instagram, I not only fell in love with their cute shirts, but their mission.  I’ve bought 2 t-shirts from them, and love them!  But the best part?  Finding this sweet note in my package when it arrived.

From the Unlock Hope website:

IN UGANDA, YOUNG GIRLS AREN’T GIVEN THE SAME CHANCES AS BOYS.

Without access to education they often marry young, have large families that they are unable to care for, and are forced to work difficult jobs for very little pay.

How cute are these shirts?

Compassion International

Start Sponsoring a Child Today!  We just strted sponsoring a boy named Orlando this year for Christmas.  His birthday is on our anniversary, so I was drawn to honor our anniversary by supporting him.