The Motherhood Journey | Letting God Lead

In this episode, Reyn actually hosts me and asks me questions about faith and motherhood. It’s such a sweet and honest conversation to have with my girl.

What I keep realizing in this journey is that so much of motherhood is really about me learning to let God parent me through the unknown. Learning to let Him lead me, correct me, and shape me while I’m trying to do the same for my girls.

Stay tuned until the end to hear an exciting announcement.

https://www.therootedministry.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

You are listening to the Rooted Podcast with Crystal War. Together we go deeper in order to live lives that bear more fruit. Thanks for tuning in.

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Hey y'all, and welcome to the Rooted Podcast with Crystal War. I'm her daughter Ren, and today we'll be switching seats. Well, this is fun.

SPEAKER_01 0:16

Usually I do all the prepping and everything leading up to an episode, but you kind of left me in the dark. You've got all your questions ready. Well, for the viewers, I want you to know that Ren has taken over the podcast. She's hosting me today. Um, we are going to have a conversation around motherhood. This episode is releasing in May, just a little bit before Mother's Day. And if you listen till the end, I'm gonna make an important announcement, an exciting announcement as to why we're talking about motherhood. And actually, I'm gonna be doing a whole series on motherhood. So there will be other episodes with other mother guests on. So but Ren is kicking us off. It's easy to say that she's my favorite guest ever. And she's not just a guest, she's hosting. So she's taking this thing over, and I'm a little bit anxious and excited to see what she's gonna ask me all around motherhood and really how it's just pointed me to the Lord, how it's truly strengthened my relationship with the Lord and built so much of what I know of God as a father and as a good parent. And I don't know how I would parent without him. Um I fall short a lot, but I definitely lean into him a lot and I'm thankful for him, and I'm so thankful for you. And I'm just realizing that I didn't bring any tissues.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

So, well, here we go. Okay. Question number one How has becoming a mom changed you as a person? Well, just a little bit about like what I was just saying.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

I thought I had a relationship with the Lord before I came before I became a mom, but truly, as I have parented you and now Lottie, I realized that I'm learning to let God parent me. Like as I'm being your mom and as I'm growing and watching you mature and watching Lottie mature, so often I'm parenting you and I'm saying something to you or explaining something to you. And it's like God's also talking to me. Like, I mean, early on, you were young. I remember you were doing something. It was so insignificant that I don't even remember what it is now. But whatever you were doing, it was something that like you knew you would get in trouble about. And so I looked at you and I was like, I was so mad. I was like, why do you do that? You know when you do that, there's gonna be consequences for it. And God, like so so lovingly was like, Why do you? And I was like, Mmm, wow, that's interesting. So a lot of things like that. I'll be trying to teach you something or teach you to like just listen to me, just trust me. And he's like, Yeah, just listen to me, just trust me. So that's been fun. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:57

Okay, number two, what's a way motherhood has strengthened your faith?

SPEAKER_01 3:04

I mean, early on, before you were born, I wanted to be the best mom. Like, so, you know, before you were here, I was researching car seats and strollers and all the things and taking the classes to breastfeed, and I just wanted to be the best mom. So I don't know if you know this or if you even thought about it, but the age that Lottie is now is the age that you were when your dad and I divorced. And so all all of this time, I'm wanting to be in control, and I'm wanting to you want to take a break first? So, what I was saying is, you know, you were about Lottie's age, you were three when your dad and I went through divorce. And it went from this like thought of being in control and and having all not all the I knew I never had all the answers, but I really had to trust God with you. Like I had to trust in the smallest ways to to what was happening when I wasn't around you, to, you know, what food you ate and all of the things. And I began to like, honestly, I was a little bit, not even a little bit, I have to be honest, I was angry with God for a while. Like there were things that I would find out and I would get scared or I would just not like certain things. And early on, a counselor helped me with this. He told me there's that verse in I think it's Isaiah, he will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are set on him. And I'm paraphrasing there, but I just he told me he said, whenever you feel like you're out of control or Ren's not with you and you feel like, you know, you're worried or fear's taking over, he said, picture her holding the hand of Jesus. And I I still do that now, like, because whenever you're gone or you're at school or or whatever, you know, you've got your own life, you've got friends and stuff. Just picture, like, if fear tries to take over, I'm like, Jesus has her. Like, Jesus has my baby. And it's so evident in your life. Like anybody who meets you is like, she's such a light, she's so joyful, she's so thoughtful, she's so kind. This is not false humility. I'm like, it's it's God. Like it's been God. It's it's Jesus holding her hand, it's him walking with her. And I already see, and I know that it'll continue to grow. I already see that you have your own relationship with him. Like you're not depending on my relationship, what I think about God. Like you seek him and you talk to him and you pursue that. And a lot of it was because I had to kind of take my hands off, and that was an overall theme in general. Like I had to quit trying to be a control freak in every area of my life. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 5:53

Question number three. How do you stay strong in your walk with Christ during stressful seasons of life?

SPEAKER_01 5:59

A little bit of what I just said, you know, I think the biggest thing, the constant communication, the constant communication with him, which now I'm realizing like God wants us to pray without ceasing. He wants us to always be in communication with him. I always want you and Lottie to be in communication with me. Like I thought before I really knew what I was doing, and I still really know what I'm doing, but before I kind of thought, you know, a win as a parent, as a parent is to have like obedient kids, right? And not the case. Like, not that you and Lottie aren't obedient. I mean, sure, you know, there are things that happen, but and and that's kind of my relationship with the Lord too. Like, he's not looking for absolute obedience. I like obedience, but I'm not looking for absolute obedience. And that's the same with Jesus. I'm not making light of like sin, but more than anything, he wants that communication because he knows I'm gonna fail. Yeah, he knows I'm going to go back to those sin cycles that I'm like praying and you know, just always always seeking freedom for, but like he knows I'm gonna mess up. He already knew that when he sent Jesus to the cross. Thank goodness we have that. And that's how I see that constant communication with him. And that's what I want with you girls is that constant communication. Like, if you have something that's worrying you, or you're afraid of something, or you're mad at me about something, you to talk to me about it. Yeah. Like there was a I won't say what, but there was a while back. Um, you'll remember this. I was in the tub, and like that's my thing. You know, I love to take a bath. And so I'm in the tub and I'm like, oh. And you came in there and you're like, Mom, I want to talk to you about something. And we're like show upset about something, which even now seems a little bit insignificant. And as you get older, it's gonna be like so insignificant. And at the moment I was like, really? But I was like, thank you, God, like thank you that she wants to talk to me about this. And I was just like praying for the right things to say to like let you know that I cared and like treat it, you know, as as not heavy, but treat like meet you where you were and like have that communication with you. I was just so thankful, even though like my favorite thing is to take a bath. I was even more thankful that you trusted me to come and talk to me. And I think that's how God is. Like that's been one of the biggest things. Like, I tell people all the time, like my relationship with God got real when I got honest enough with him to tell him what I was mad about. Because I'm not so naive to think that God would ever let me down or that God would ever be too late, or God would ever forget something. So I don't think that, but there was a time where I was like, really, God? Like you can fix this and you're not, you know, and our relationship just got so sweet when I started talking to him and telling him exactly how I felt like he had let me down, even though I knew he hadn't, just to say those words, like God, I don't see you in this yet. I don't see your goodness in this yet. And that was a game changer for me. That was really a game changer to be able to talk honestly with him. That I mean, that's something that I will always continue to do. I love being able to be so honest with him because I know that he already knows. And I that is my biggest prayer. You and Lottie both. But always, as long as I'm on this earth, which I hope is a long, long time. I hope that you all have that open, honest communication about big things, little things, silly things, kind of hard things if I've made you mad or let you down or whatever. Like, that's what I want. It's for you guys to just come and talk to me to be honest. Yeah. Okay. These are some good questions.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

How has your fate shaped the way you raised me and Lottie?

SPEAKER_01 10:04

Girl. I like to joke and say parenting you is a lot of the reason why I have like the relationship that I do with the Lord.

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Even at three years old, parenting Lottie is why I have the parent that I do. I'm not even joking. Oh my goodness. She and I are so much alike. Literally. We are so much alike.

SPEAKER_01 10:34

Oh man. We are so much alike. You heroes in the morning. Like, it sounds like we're down here WWE fighting, but like fist fight. And I have to pray so much, not about her, about me. I don't think you don't have to pray about frustration and impatience and all the things that I thought I was doing good until the Lord gave me somebody just like me. Well, I have one question for you. Um, so like if you could describe what it's like to be my kid, what's it like to be my kid?

SPEAKER_00 11:10

It's very fun. Um I was hoping fun would be in there. Sometimes you're a little weird.

SPEAKER_01 11:17

But y'all are weird too. I was thinking about that today. I love that y'all are weird. Lottie came in here doing something really weird, and I was like, my girls were weird. I'm so glad.

SPEAKER_00 11:29

Um, there's moments where I'm a little concerned about you, and um, but I love you.

SPEAKER_01 11:40

Well, I'm super proud of you. You know, you probably think that I'm proud of you for good grades or, you know, being a good kid or working hard at volleyball and and everything. I mean, you work hard at all at all the things you do. I'm genuinely most proud of your relationship with the Lord. Like at 13, the way that you seek him, and I know you're only gonna like build off of that. You're only gonna go up from there. I'm like, that's really, really cool. I'm excited to see where that goes and how he uses you because I mean, just like all of his kids, like he's created you so unique and he has such a purpose for you. And I would like to think that I'm your mom. I might know this is the route she's gonna go. Maybe she's gonna go to college, or maybe she's she's gonna do this trade or all the things. Like, I have no idea. Yeah, I have no idea. He knows. And so I'm just like so proud of you because I know that you seek him and you will seek him as you figure that out, and he shows you like the next step as you go into high school next year, which is so crazy. I just register you for the next school year, and then when I register you for motion, I had to register you as a high schooler. I was like, that's what I'm most proud of. Keep it up at all the things, but if if I had to pick one, like I love that you go after your relationship with the Lord and it's real, and you bring others in for it. You're like an inviter and you want them to come enjoy it with you, whether it's getting up early to go to prayer or it's coming with you to motion, or you know, going to conference or whatever, like you want other people to experience it because you've already experienced a real relationship with the Lord. And I didn't get that until I was a lot older, like well into adulthood. So that's exciting. All right. Well, do you want to wrap us up? Or do you have did you have anything else to say? No. Okay, you want to wrap us up? Got it. Love you. God, thank you so much for this opportunity to just meet with my sweet girl. This conversation I know will be a gift for so long. Um, thank you for all the mamas listening and those who are not yet mamas or those who are spiritual mamas. Lord, thank you for the part that we get to play. And thank you more than anything that you are the best amazing parent that we could have because none of us are getting it right. We know that. So we can look to you. You can continue to guide us, you can continue to give us answers as we seek you. And because of that, we can raise these amazing kids and point all the glory to you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you all for tuning in. I told you that if you stick around, I'm gonna tell you something exciting. I want to let you know that Rooted is partnering with a local nonprofit, Virtue by Design. And together we are putting on a conference for mamas, all mamas, but all of the proceeds from the conference do go to support the mission and the vision of Virtue by Design. They are a local nonprofit. They are helping women who are coming out of crisis. They are building community with them as they teach them skills and life lessons, as they set up their homes and learn all of these things as they walk out practical ways in their life to have freedom and um just continue this journey that they've been on. So, Virtue by Design is incredible. I'm so thankful to be partnering with them. And uh, we are working out a lot of the details, so much, but I can tell you this September 16th, September 17th, it's gonna be at a beautiful venue in LaGrange, Georgia. So put it on your calendars, grab your girls, you all can do a table together. There's gonna be food, there's going to be speakers. On Thursday night, we plan. So on Wednesday night, September the 16th, we will have shopping with vendors. We're gonna have worship, we're gonna have a fun speaker to come and kick us off with some excitement. One of my favorite people in the world. Um so I can't wait to tell you who that is. And then we're gonna come back on Thursday for more sessions. We have a panel of real moms who are walking this thing out in real time. So we're gonna learn some lessons from them. And then we have an incredible friend of mine who is a Christian counselor. She's gonna speak and give us some of those practical tips, all rooted in God's word. It's going to be so much fun to be together to just pour back into ourselves as we pour so much out as moms. So put it on your calendars. If you have any questions so far, I would tell you for right now to reach out through the website or through the socials. So my website is therootedministry.com. You know the socials on my Instagram, rooted.co. And of course, some of you even have my number or whatever. Just reach out. You may be interested in being a vendor, you may be interested in serving, you may be interested in attending with your friends. Whatever you're interested in, let me know. I'll get you more information. Also on the website, you can go ahead and just sign up. If you put your email in, we can send updates that way. That's probably one of the easiest if you're interested in now. And I can't wait to tell you more as we're in the early processes of this. I already see God's hand on it, and I'm super excited to share this with you.