M.O.M.S. - Meeting #2

Last night was my second M.O.M.S. meeting. (For info about my first M.O.M.S. meeting, please click here.) Last night's topic was stress. It was truly a blessing to discuss our troubles and worries, and the insights and comments of this wonderful group of women has helped me realize that God is ever-present, even in my stress. After all, the things that I worry about the most (Carey, Abigail, my family and friends, my job, my house, my health) are all blessings given to me by a loving God. And while some amount of worry shows that we care for the gifts that God gave us and want to tend those gifts, it's important that we not allow worry to consume us and rule our lives.

One of the poems that we used for reflection last night was entitled "Slow Me Down, Lord." The poem was long, but there were a few stanzas that spoke to me.

Slow me down, Lord!
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my harried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
...
Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift.
That there is more to life than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak,
And know that it grew slowly and well.
Slow me down, Lord,
And inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values,
That I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

The true blessing of M.O.M.S. is that it is a small slice of time every week when God tells me to "Slow down!" It is two hours per week that is just for me. It is time to spend with other mothers, thanking God for our blessings, sharing our trials and victories, and supporting and praying for each other. I feel blessed to have found this group of wonderful women!