A MOTHER'S TIME
by Elise Arndt

This wonderful book is, unfortunately, now out of print. Perhaps you can locate it at a local library. Although it was written quite a few years ago, the basic principles it espouses for our life are the same. I thought this book might give me the insight I needed for finding the time to spend with my kids and the time to do my church work and volunteer work and, most importantly, the time with God that I usually leave until I have no time or energy left. How easy it is to leave our time with God until we finish this one last thing, or until this one TV show is finished.

The main emphasis of this book encourages us to look to our loving God first and set time away for daily study, devotion and prayer. Though this book is geared toward mothers I believe every woman, with or without children, at some point in her life struggles with her daily walk with God. It comes down to our own self-discipline and how to keep us on God's track not our own selfish ways. These ideas are for any busy woman looking for a way out of the pit of self-destruction. If we allow the Spirit to lift us up, allowing us to follow God's will for us, we become better people because we are doing what God intended us to do. He has our life already mapped out - all we need to do is ask and we shall receive our answers - although we must keep in mind they may not always be the answers we want to hear. As God's redeemed children we are obedient to God's will not our own. Perseverance and self-discipline are necessary along with endurance, persistence and daily effort. The more time you spend in study, the more time you find to do your daily chores. As Martin Luther believed, the busier your day is to be, the more time you need to be with God in prayer, devotion and Bible reading. Scheduling quiet time in your busy day should not be an option but a requirement for a productive life.

We need to examine the busy life of Jesus for clues to survival in these years of seemingly endless activity. When Jesus was pressured by people and their problems He left the situation and escaped to the wilderness, mountains or sea to be in communion with His Heavenly Father. We find Him in the Gospel accounts frequently withdrawing to be alone. Mark 1:35 says, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." When Jesus is #1 in your life, He will create within you the desire to set aside times to meet with Him. The walk up the mountain may be difficult, but if we persevere, every aspect of our lives will be positively affected. Spending time on the mountain with Him equips us to shine throughout the day in whatever He calls us to do. If you want a quality life, it can come about only as you spend quality time with the Lord. We are to be in prayer at all times but we also need quiet time, He wants our undivided attention. He wants us to be still enough to hear His voice speak and for us to listen to receive His direction.

For those of you who are mothers, you are the heartbeat of the home, you set the tone. How blessed are the children who see their mothers praying and studying God's Word. Mothers set examples for them to follow later in their own lives. But also remember, an interrupted quiet time with Jesus is better than no quiet time. " Make sure of your relationship with God while you are young and full of busyness because the time will come when all the busyness will be over and God is your only companion - you will not be lonely."

In this book, Arndt shares how she found time to spend with God through a spiritual journal. A few years ago the thankful journal (recording daily all the things for which you were thankful) was very popular. I don't know if it lost it's interest or not, but I believe this is something unique. I like the idea because unless I write things down I rarely remember them. Perhaps I could discipline myself better if I have to write things down. In this day and age of technology many of you may not like to write but rather type, but consider that this record of thankfulness can also be a legacy for your children. Since reading Arndt's book I have noticed articles in the Focus on the Family magazine talking about the idea of leaving legacies for your children. July 2001, "The Legacy of the Letter" talks about leaving letters for our children. Letters can be read and reread, pondered, stored away and rediscovered. After our time on earth is finished, the Lord can continue to use our words to speak encouragement, instruction and blessing to our children and their children. Letters of today become the treasured heritage of tomorrow. In October 2001, "A Written Legacy" talked about a prayer journal, involving both parents and children in a shared experience. Deuteronomy 4:9 says, "Only be careful, and watch yourselves so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

Pam Burns, Regina, Sask.