|
Fern's Girls and Grandchildren
From back: Fern, Trisha
with Mikaila,
Patty with J.T., Bonnie with Jessica and
Joshua, Tara with Jared |
|
From Bonnie Nichols, wife of Fern’s son Troy
Mothering young children and
spending time with the Lord just don’t always
seem to
fit into one 24-hour period.
The Lord gives seasons in
our lives, and all
we can do is the best we can do in
each season He gives. In the busy season—
which describes
my life right now—I
love to start my day with the four
steps of
prayer. Nothing connects me more to
God than a
good hearty conversation. I
start praying as soon as I wake up. I lay
in bed and pray until I’m done—or until
a
little one comes down the hall. If I
happen to finish my
prayer time, I roll over
and grab a book that has a
verse for
the day and thoughts on that verse. It only
takes two minutes to read, but I can
meditate on it all day long. On the occasional
morning I don’t get to the
verse
before I’m interrupted, I go ahead and get our
morning going, but when I come
back to dress, I take my
two minutes to read.
|
From Tara Nichols, wife of Fern’s son Travis
When I don’t have much time, I use the
Mom’s Prayer Journal,
but just write on the “praise” page. Then, in my next
little chunk of time that day, I focus on confession,
then thanksgiving, and intercession. When I have a block of time, I love to write all four steps in the prayer
journal at once. I find that I don’t get as distracted
when I’m actually writing my prayers. My thoughts stay
focused on Him, who He is, and what is really important
(not the stacks of laundry or dishes in the sink!). My
worldly cares seem to disappear as I dwell in Him—even
if for only a few minutes. |
 |
I keep various sources throughout the house—a devotional
book on top of the
refrigerator to read with breakfast
or lunch, my prayer journal on the nightstand,
little
devotional flip-calendars on my desk and at the kitchen
sink. I get “nuggets”
of Scripture and say quick prayers
throughout my day. An unexpected joy has been
the Lord
speaking to me when I read a daily Bible story to
our son Jared.
|
