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Jesus fills the Empty Spaces Even Mothers Cannot Fill 
Motherhood

Jesus fills the Empty Spaces Even Mothers Cannot Fill 

March 8, 2022

“You are very understanding and patient,” I said to my nine year old. 

“I don’t think I get that from you, Mom,” was his ultra-serious response.  

This was a snippet of conversation with my youngest son yesterday afternoon when I apologized for storing a small ‘Get Rid Of’ pile in his bedroom.

I assured him I would, in fact, get rid of the old memories holding the space of his personal domain hostage. His response, at first, made me laugh.

On second thought, it made me ponder the reality that my children are coming to the age that self-awareness takes hold. With being self-aware comes a stark reality that many of their unsavory traits came from somewhere…most likely their parents, the main influencers at this stage of their young lives. 

As I sat stunned, wondering what other less-than-Christlike traits my children not only inherited from me, but are starting to understand they inherited from me, I felt a mixture of sadness, apprehension, and the slightest tinge of pride. 

As much as I want my children to learn from me, to wholeheartedly seek a beautiful example for maneuvering life’s treacherous terrain, I know with the good, comes a large helping of the not-so-good.

While I pray they see my persistence and determination, I know they will likely struggle with severe stubbornness, a lack of listening to wise counsel, and a large helping of, “I can do this on my own.”

Until they discover, they cannot, in fact, do everything on their own. 

My only consolation is that, if there is one thing about my parenting, it is real, it is raw, it is piled with holes of imperfection and stained with hues of brightly-colored ‘What the heck am I doing?!’

As many mistakes as I make daily as a mother, daughter, wife, friend, co-worker, and countless other hats I wear, I know the one thing that sets me aside from a drowning heap of defeatism, is a saving grace I certainly do not deserve, but wholeheartedly and humbly accept. 

If there is one thing my sons learn from their mother, I pray that it be to accept their imperfections, to work hard at improvement, but with a generous helping of grace.

To realize life is hard, but it is also beautiful.

One minute you are drowning in a sea of angry waves. The next, you are soaring sky-high, reaching out to touch those puffy white clouds and share space with the mystical eagles in flight. 

But for the grace of Jesus, this life would be one wrought with disappointment and heartache. My sons may have two very flawed parents in their father and myself, but they are daily learning about a heavenly parent that does not struggle with sin.

He is perfect. He is healing. He is understanding. He is loving. He can take those ‘less-than’ traits and turn them into journeys of joy, if only we give Him our life reigns. 

I may not be understanding. I may not be patient. But I am aware of my desperate need for Jesus. And that, if nothing else, is the one thing I hope my two precious sons inherit from their mother; that Jesus fills the empty spaces even mothers cannot fill.

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Jesus fills the Empty Spaces Even Mothers Cannot Fill 
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Manndi Wilkins

Manndi Maphies DeBoef works at the UMKC School of Pharmacy and as a freelance writer in her spare time. Her greatest passion is being a boy mom to her two rambunctious, creative, endearing sons, William, age 11 and Waylan, nearly 9. Her sons never fail to provide daily entertainment, which inspires many of her writings. She also loves to write about everything from being a single mom and dating after divorce to finding love later in life, the devastation of miscarriage, the loss of a loved one and starting over. Her pieces are lovingly filled with inspiration, encouragement and always a touch of humor. “Live a life others wish to read about.”

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Welcome to Salt + Sparrow, a place where we learn about Jesus, the Bible, and find big faith in small things.

"The life I’m called to live is displayed in the "The life I’m called to live is displayed in the way Jesus lived his life. Living out my purpose means to do my best to love and serve others like Jesus did, and let God’s light shine through me so that He may be glorified."

@jenjabbour 

 #faith #momsoffaith #christianmoms #relationshipwithgod #christians #christianmother #christianliving #jesusalways #truth #faithinmotion #christianlifestyle #prayer #purpose
Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth #faithquotes #christ Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth 

#faithquotes #christianmoms #truth #blessed #relationshipwithgod #prayer #christianmomma #christianlifestyle #christianity #faithblogger #christianmother #faithinmotion #faithblog #christianliving #christians #momsoffaith #biblestudy #jesusalways #faith #bibleverse #pray
Every single person you meet was created by, and l Every single person you meet was created by, and loved by God. 

Even the ones who have hurt you. 

Next time you’re tempted to act out in anger, or envy, or hurt.. stop for a moment and think.. how would Jesus behave in this situation? 

Learning to respond to others for who they are rather than what they’ve done… or the emotion their actions have triggered in you, will bring you peace and freedom. 

💛
.
.
.
.
.
#faithblogger #christianblogger #christianwomen #christianlifestyle
I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: Developing Resilience and Faith When Giving Up Isn’t an Option, by Bianca Juarez Olthoff. And it couldn’t have come into my life at a better time.

I think we’ve all gone through times in our life when failure has threatened to keep us down. When getting back up after yet another fall feels seemingly impossible.

And I hate to break it to you, but we will all face failure at some point in our lives. Sometimes repeatedly. But the really amazing thing about failure is that it give us options:

We can either let failure destroy our confidence and our faith and keep us from living up to our full potential.

Or we call view failure as another chance.

Embracing failure is a concept that may be difficult to adopt at first, but when we can view failure as a learning opportunity and quickly get back up on our feet, we win. It’s also a chance to turn to God and say hey.. here’s my weakness. And it’s only through our weaknesses that we can turn to God and find His strength.

So.. are you going to change the way you view failure? Or are you going to let it hold you back?

@biancaolthoff 

I'll link a giveaway for this book in stories so go check it out there!

#gritdontquit #gritdontquitbook #bookstagram #grit #christianbooks
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"The life I’m called to live is displayed in the "The life I’m called to live is displayed in the way Jesus lived his life. Living out my purpose means to do my best to love and serve others like Jesus did, and let God’s light shine through me so that He may be glorified."

@jenjabbour 

 #faith #momsoffaith #christianmoms #relationshipwithgod #christians #christianmother #christianliving #jesusalways #truth #faithinmotion #christianlifestyle #prayer #purpose
Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth #faithquotes #christ Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth 

#faithquotes #christianmoms #truth #blessed #relationshipwithgod #prayer #christianmomma #christianlifestyle #christianity #faithblogger #christianmother #faithinmotion #faithblog #christianliving #christians #momsoffaith #biblestudy #jesusalways #faith #bibleverse #pray
Every single person you meet was created by, and l Every single person you meet was created by, and loved by God. 

Even the ones who have hurt you. 

Next time you’re tempted to act out in anger, or envy, or hurt.. stop for a moment and think.. how would Jesus behave in this situation? 

Learning to respond to others for who they are rather than what they’ve done… or the emotion their actions have triggered in you, will bring you peace and freedom. 

💛
.
.
.
.
.
#faithblogger #christianblogger #christianwomen #christianlifestyle
I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: Developing Resilience and Faith When Giving Up Isn’t an Option, by Bianca Juarez Olthoff. And it couldn’t have come into my life at a better time.

I think we’ve all gone through times in our life when failure has threatened to keep us down. When getting back up after yet another fall feels seemingly impossible.

And I hate to break it to you, but we will all face failure at some point in our lives. Sometimes repeatedly. But the really amazing thing about failure is that it give us options:

We can either let failure destroy our confidence and our faith and keep us from living up to our full potential.

Or we call view failure as another chance.

Embracing failure is a concept that may be difficult to adopt at first, but when we can view failure as a learning opportunity and quickly get back up on our feet, we win. It’s also a chance to turn to God and say hey.. here’s my weakness. And it’s only through our weaknesses that we can turn to God and find His strength.

So.. are you going to change the way you view failure? Or are you going to let it hold you back?

@biancaolthoff 

I'll link a giveaway for this book in stories so go check it out there!

#gritdontquit #gritdontquitbook #bookstagram #grit #christianbooks
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

"This verse isn’t promising that bad things won’t happen. It simply reminds us nothing can touch us when we live in Christ Jesus. We might experience loss and hardship, but our ultimate destination is heavenly perfection. 

So today, if you are living consumed with fear, practice surrender.

Take a deep breath and know that no matter what, you are loved and you will be ok.

God is Big Enough to hold our biggest hurts and make them beautiful." 

@mrsheidivegh 

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