Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This past Wednesday, the MOPS Moms met and had a themed celebration in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. We watched one of the MOPS curriculum videos and learned about the circles that influence our mothering.

Circle (noun): the people and networks who share in shaping your family environment


The acquaintances in our life include, but are not limited to, doctors, grocery clerk, pharmacist, neighbors, service providers, online forum members, and childcare providers at the gym. These people influence how we mother, and they help with the choices we must choose for our children and family, from what medicine to give our sick toddler to what groceries we put on the table.

We learned that it is very important to have friends in our middle circle, girlfriends we can call on when needed. They laugh with us, cry with us, and love us. Girlfriends help watch our children, clean your house when you are sick, and bring food when there is a sickness or surgery in the house. Girlfriends bless us and our families.
The most inner circle is our immediate family. This includes our children and husband (or parenting partner). Our husband (or parenting partner) helps with the day to day decisions that we make involving our children and their lives. They can help us spiritually as well, by praying for our children and modeling what a strong walk with the Lord looks like.

A circle that the MOPS curriculum forgot to add, but was brought to our attention by our Mentor Mom Leah, would be the core of our circles, our relationship with Jesus. Jesus is our best friend; He is always listening, always there. When we have a strong relationship with Jesus, our other relationships (circles) can be stronger than we ever imagined.

All of these relationships take time. We must invest in them. For some, we must force ourselves to step out of our comfort zone and take a risk on a friendship. For others, the task of making friends comes easy. Regardless of which group you are in, always remember that you must work on relationships, you must take the time and effort to make them work.

Our Momology book references 1 Corinthians 13, “This poetic description of love illustrates the actions and attitudes for not only a healthy marriage, but every relationship within our circle.”

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
~1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

I find it amazing that my devotional today from The Women of Faith Daily Devotional was on friendship (actually the whole month is!) but today’s was on building deep relationships with some friends. The reading was based on Proverbs 18:24 “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

“The kitchen of our souls is that place where we store the memories of life experiences that have shaped us into who we are.” ~ Carol Kaykendall, Kitchen Stories, MomSense, March/April 2011

Some verses for you to explore deeper:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Matthew 7:16
Psalm 68:6
Zecheriah 8:16
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Proverbs 17:7
Psalm 38:11 (NASB)
1 Samuel 20:42
Psalm 133:1 (NASB)
1 Corinthians 13:1
Colossians 3:14
Proverbs 17:7
Ecclesiastes 4:11
Proverbs 27:9
2 Timothy 2:19