faith | Texting the Truth

Michelle

Today we are excited to welcome Meghan Weyerbacher to our Texting The Truth community.

Meghan

Hi! This is a selfie I took with my kids right before we headed out to their school to attend the fall festivities. This was a brave thing for my son and me. We are more introverted and he gets a tad overwhelmed in crowded areas with noise, but over the past few months we have been getting out of our comfort zones and reaping the benefits. In this photo we were celebrating our bravery and wound up having a blast!

Michelle

I love that you are modeling for him what it looks like to be brave and trust God to provide in the midst of the uncomfortable thing. So cool!

Do you wear any other hats in addition to your [big, gigantic, hugely significant] Mom Hat?

Meghan

I am a productivity coach for creatives who deal with overwhelm. I am wife and sidekick to an awesome trucker. I write on my blog and I’m on Facebook , Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Michelle

Wow, a productivity coach! I want to hear more about that! Tell us about your kiddos!

Meghan

My oldest, Matthew, is almost 12. He is a creative innovator, constantly designing and building. His brain is always running full speed. His problem solving skills are out of this world. He will share deep truths that make my mama eyes well up with tears. My middle child, Launa, is almost 10. She is a helper at heart and has leadership qualities that we hope to see blossom over time. She volunteers at the nursing home, plays basketball, and also loves to sing. My youngest, Taylor, is almost 6. She is a free-spirited creative. She loves to use her imagination to play and loves to sing and dance. She loves to help me in the kitchen!

Michelle

They sound so sweet and fun. I know it may not always feel so victorious all of the time, but it sounds like you’ve invested a lot of time, energy and prayer into who they are. ?So tell us – what is a recent mom win you experienced that took time and perseverance to accomplish?

Meghan

Just this school year we transitioned from home school to public school. It was a big thing for me to learn to let go in this area where for so long I had “control.” We heard God lead us this way, and it took about a year before the door actually opened and we walked through. But doing it afraid has showed us how awesome God’s plans can be. He has showed up in every detail, and through this experience our faith has shot through the roof. Even the kids see God working in it all, which is louder than any preached sermon. It is still not our comfort zone, but we now see why it was so necessary for our family’s growth!

Michelle

I love that you said, “doing it afraid.” I talk to my girls about the truth that we can be afraid but still brave, and you are living that out. I bet there have been so many lessons in your life as a mom and in watching your kids navigate this journey!

What is a mom win that you would text your best friend?

Meghan

Just spent all day around other humans! (Confessions of an introvert) Aren’t you proud of me?!?!?!

Michelle

Hahaha. And all of the introverts said AMEN. ??

What are you learning as a mom right now?

Meghan

The hardest things we face, our greatest weaknesses — can wind up becoming our greatest testimonies. Getting out and applying for jobs while my kids are in school, writing without holding back everything in fear, getting out of my four walls more often — used to scare the liver out of me. I am learning the more you face the fear, the less grip it has on you. You can be stretched and molded for God’s glory!

Michelle

I can really tell that you are learning this because it’s all over your writing and I love it! Thank you for sharing your heart and encouraging all of us to take a few more steps outside of our comfort zone in order to face our fears and trust God in the process. ?

If you would like to be featured as a Gold Medal Mom or you know someone who would, please contact us here!

Laura

If I had a nickel for everytime someone asked me what sports my kids do, I’d be able to fund one of them for an entire season of select soccer.

Anna

I know, right?!?

Laura

Not that my oldest is good enough or wants to play on any sort of select team! I mean his first season of rec soccer was… how do I say this… sad? There was a big 0 in the win column!

Anna

Oh man…. Well, it happens sometimes!

Laura

But he did have fun! And that’s what matters, right?! But I haven’t even started my almost 5-year-olds in a sport yet, and I think some people think I’m doing my children a huge disservice!?! Sigh… am I?

Anna

I don’t know… I mean, why all the pressure to have kids excel at a sport by age 8? I mean, I get it. We want them to be able to keep up later and build on their skills, but aren’t there more important things?

Laura

You mean like having fun together as a family or saving those nickels for college (or groceries… just saying… four boys can eat a lot)?

Anna

Ha–I can only imagine! And like having down time, and time to do chores, and help Mom cook dinner, and help Dad fix the car. I mean, those are skills too, but we never have time to do those things.

Laura

Exactly! There’s so many things we want to teach our kids. And back to the pressures thing…there are so many pressures on them at school with tests and everything else! And then we as parents seem to expect them to be perfect little athletes too?

Anna

I think we do, unintentionally. We want them to be shining stars at all they do.

Laura

Because if my kids are good at things, then in theory, other kids will like them and then their life will be happier and easier! Right? And, let’s not lie, when our kids are doing well, we look great as parents too!

Anna

Right. I mean parents have good intentions. We just want our kids to be successful. But how are we measuring that success? I wonder sometimes if we get out the wrong measuring stick.

Laura

Good point. I think I’m very guilty of putting pressure on my kids to behave a certain way. It’s sort of the same thing. There is a much better way to determine who these little ones are than successes and outward appearances!

Anna

I’m also guilty of it! I care way too much sometimes what people think! And that my kids are measuring up or doing the same things as other kids. I never thought I would do that as a parent.

Laura

Me either. I don’t know how we got here, but you know what? We don’t have stay here!

Anna

That’s a relief. So how do we help our kids grow up with a different understanding about who they are? #thetruthaboutgrowingup

Laura

I think we start with the simple truth about who we are, right? We are beloved creation of the Most High God. And it’s the same for my kids! Because I just want my kids to know they are loved for who they are and not what they do. I’ve been down that road personally, of trying to do something to be loved. It didn’t lead anywhere good.

Anna

Me too. And you can succeed for a minute, but it never ends up being enough. And people or circumstances can take away your success. And then what? You’re left wondering who you are. I want my kids to know that who they are, the value they have, that’s not something that anyone can take away from them.

Laura

They are gifted in just the way God wants them to be gifted. And those gifts might make them good at something. And they might even be on a select team someday. Or maybe play the lead in our favorite musical! ? But all the successes or failures do not equal their worth.

Anna

Yes–1,000 times yes. And as a mom, I want to be secure enough and brave enough to let my children grow at their own pace, with their unique interests, and be whoever God has designed them to be. Not who I picture them to be. Or who my friends’ kids are. But I want to watch with faith as they grow up.

Soaking in the Truth
Scripture to encourage you:

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;” (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV)
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. Bet we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:1-2, NIV)

Music to inspire you:

“He Knows My Name” by Francesca Battistelli
“Every Bit of Lovely” by Jamie Grace

Readings and Resources to come alongside of you:
We have to be secure in who we are before we can teach our kids to be the same way. I love this article: “Be Who God Created You to Be” by Shauna Neiquist
Read more about “How to Help Your Youth Find Their Identity in Christ” from Ministry Today.
Four things to teach our kids about their identity and value:
God created them on purpose in His image.
God’s love does not fail, nor does it change towards them.
God genuinely cares about the details of their lives.
God created them with a purpose.

Related Posts on Texting The Truth:
Decluttering Our Spiritual Closets
Hanging Up Our Measuring Sticks

Living Out the Truth
Ideas to try:
- When failures come–a bad grade, a missed soccer goal, not making the musical, a call from the teacher–in the end, reassure him/her of who he/she is in God, His love, and that they are a beautiful creation.
- I try not to compare one child to another, or one sibling with another one.
- When they start to compare themselves, or get down on themselves, I say something like, “Good for them, but YOU are a whole different person. There’s only one of you, and you are amazing.”
- I try to let my kids know what I love about them aside from their activities. I love that they are kind or caring toward each other or toward their friends. I love that when they are excited about something they jump up and down. Whatever it is. I try to tell them at night before they go to bed something that I love about their character, their personality, or maybe something they did because of that trait that they have.
- I have signs posted on their bedroom doors that say, “We love [name] because he is [name].”
- When suffering consequences as toddlers, my boys always asked me if I still loved them. I was shocked by this question when my oldest asked it, but wasn’t as caught off guard when the twin started asking it. I’m sure the little guy will wonder the same thing. At first my answer was, of course I do, but….. However I’ve tried to change my words. There isn’t really a but there. And there isn’t a but in how God feels about me or my kids when we have gone wrong. Or when we have done something well there isn’t I love you because you did well. I try to phrase it differently. You made a mistake and the consequences are hard to suffer, but I’m here for you because I love you. Or great job playing basketball out there! You really gave it your all! And if you didn’t, I’d still love you!
{These suggestions are ideas from novice moms. Sometimes our life situations need more. In that case, seeking out professional help is the right call.}

Tag Archives: faith

Mom Win Wednesday: Meghan Weyerbacher

Good Enough