Changing My No to Yes

Summer has arrived, when the kids are staying up late, sleeping in, playing with friends, and swimming.  There are times they find plenty to do on their own, but then there are times when they need me to fill the gaps.  It takes a parent who says "yes" to make a summer successful.  Lately, I've been the "no" parent.  Sadly, it took my Husband pointing that out for me to realize it!  {ouch}

What makes a parent a "no-ist"?  For me?  Selfishness.  I'm usually in the middle of something when the question comes in, "Mom, can we ________________?"  Saying no is much easier than stopping what I'm doing to rearrange my day to accommodate their request.  When they are in school, I get very used to my own time, and when summer hits, it is sometimes hard to switch gears to be Mom full time.

Have you ever gotten caught in the rain, feeling frustrated that you left the umbrella in the car?  It's like that with God sometimes.  He has all the wisdom and answers that we need, but if we don't ask, we don't receive.  If we don't "put on" the protection and assurance of the Lord, it will just hang in our closet unused and useless, like that umbrella in the car.

So how do I become a "yes" Mom?  I lay it at the feet of the Lord each morning, asking Him to make me the best Mom I can be to my girls, providing each of them exactly what they need to feel loved and secure.  I ask for my wants to be put aside so I can care for my family first. 

"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield."  Psalms 33:18-19

My shield is useless in the closet!  I'm going to put on the shield of faith and go love on my kids! YES!!