Mothering

So I got spoiled this weekend. My husband had Saturday off and there was a women's retreat. What timing! I left with my mom before supper Friday night and did not get home until Saturday, after the kids were in bed(J picked me up in Smithers...we had a b-sitter!) Only one night away from the kids but still a wonderful time with women from our churches! What a weekend!

The topic for the retreat was Spiritual Mothering. Not something that I really thought about before. Kristen Kottlenburg(sp?) was the invited speaker. Friday night was settling in and bible study and pampering (my hands were so soft!) and games! After a good laugh at our text...addicted to too much wine...:P we had a very good group bible study.

Our text was Titus 2:1,3-5..... You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

In our first bible study we briefly discussed who Titus was, what was sound doctrine and if it had changed since this letter was written. We also slightly touched on each part of the command in the text.

Saturday was more indepth with the text. Kristen gave an execellent speech on the whole aspect of Spiritual Mothering. A lot to think about.
The definition as she found in Susan Hunt's book (Spiritual Mothering) helped focus the text on what it really meant for us as women of God."..is when a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God's glory."
The whole point...for God's glory. Everything we do.

Kristen pointed out that the older and younger did not really have to do with age, but more with life experience. We are called to accept, love, and care like God, with grace those who are also called into the covenant. And to train others and to be trained in godliness. Our own life does not need to be perfect in order to mother another, only your sight set true on the end goal...for God's glory. Training others also means that we are willing to share and grow ourselves. Seeking a lasting relationship with another women either to mother or to be mothered was what we were challenged with. The key to this command working was the point of having a relationship with another women for this purpose. We were encouraged to be available for others and open ourselves up to begin these types of relationships.

We were also instructed in a few of the points of these relationships. We have to remember not to be judgemental but encouraging and approving. We also have to be accepting of errors with love and patience, and to move past mistakes and challenges to live for God. We have to accept rebukes but also give rebukes in love. We aslo have to be approachable, being open and willing to listen. We have to challenge and be challenged in living obedient lives in accord to God's word. We need to guide and admonish and be filled with the truth of God's word to equip and advise others. Personal and public bible studies are to be completed in order to be filled with this truth. We also should be able to offer to pray together and do devotions togethers as well as remebering others in our personal prayer.We also have to be able to have fun together!

So after this speech we had another group bible study where we talked about how to put this into action. Needless to say we came home with a new perspective on how to live in and with eachother in our church.

I have thought a lot about this topic since coming home so this may not be the last blog on it!:P Where to start, how to continue....all running thru my brain. All in all the weekend was worth going to. The fellowship with other sisters in Christ a real blessing and being taught to nuture and be nutured is definatly food for thought right now!

It is great to be home and hopefully putting these thoughts in order will be the first step in putting them into practice.