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| The Official Newsletter of MOMSense Tuesday, March 27, 2007
 A mom-friend of mine told me recently she'd been practically bedridden for the last two months due to a painful illness. Her plans and dreams for the year had come to a complete standstill. She was living in "survival mode" during this season while family and friends helped out.There are times in our lives when we're just "surviving" as moms—following the birth of a baby, or when our kids are sick, or even while mothering three preschoolers under five. But experiencing seasons of thriving are an important part of the growth cycle for moms, too. Belonging to my MOPS Group has helped me focus on my need to continue growing as a woman and has also given me a tremendous amount of support during my surviving times. In "Thriving or Surviving?" Carla Foote talks about how if a mom focuses solely on the growth and well-being of her children, she experiences a tremendous gap in her opportunity to grow as a woman. Growing in areas that are independent of our lives as mothers will help us thrive even after our children have moved into adulthood. If you're looking for suggestions on growth opportunities, check out her practical ideas in "Getting Started on Growth Goals." MOPS Mom Kris Dunham shares her personal "get growing" story in "Straightening the Crooked Lines." God gives us opportunities to straighten those crooked lines in all of our lives and continue growing though the challenges we face. Also in this issue: Blessings,  Mary Darr Editor, MOMSense magazine MOPS International, Inc. To reply to this newsletter: parenting@christianitytoday.com advertisement
 GROWTH JOURNEYThriving or Surviving? Intentional focus on growth will help you thrive as a woman. The first few years of life are a time of rapid growth for children. Sometimes, however, babies and children don't meet expected standards of growth. This lack of growth is called "failure to thrive" and results from a wide variety of underlying causes. | more |
Is It Too Late to Help Our Kids Love Church? Q. We've moved several times in the last few years, so we haven't been committed to a church family for a while. Now we've settled into a community and found a church home, but our kids are resisting our efforts to worship regularly. Persuading them to go to Sunday school or youth group is a constant fight. Is it too late to teach our kids to love church? A. While it doesn't quite describe your situation, Jesus' parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15) immediately comes to mind. The young man in Jesus' narrative is a familiar character—I've seen him in my own family, in others' families, and, at times, in myself. But Christ makes it clear that it's never too late for us to turn toward him and learn to love him, no matter how long or how far we've pushed him away. But at this point, it doesn't sound as though your children are rejecting their faith or relationship with Christ. And you'll want to keep that in mind, lest you attempt to treat the wrong problem. Your children seem to be struggling to see the relevance and value of going to church and committing to Christian fellowship. To teach your children this value and help them love church, first, take a good look at your own life. As your kids watch you prioritize and stay committed, they'll see from your actions, not just your words, that church is important and valuable to you. Also, dialogue about faith issues with your teens. Ask what they thought of the sermon or what they learned in youth group, and listen to their answers. Share your own faith-and-life experiences to help them understand that your beliefs matter and are relevant to daily life. In addition to trying these suggestions, I'd encourage you to take a look at Teaching Your Kids to Love Church, a new resource from the ChristianParentingTodayStore.com. This download offers helpful advice for parents in your exact situation from others who've been there. I've found it's encouraging and useful for parents at any stage of the parenting game. I hope you do too. Blessings,  Janine Petry Managing Editor, Women's and Family Resources Christianity Today International P.S. I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions or comments to ResourcefulMom@christianitytoday.com. Click here for a FREE downloadable Bible study from the ChristianParentingTodayStore.com.
Getting Started on Growth Goals How to begin thriving. Straightening the Crooked Lines A MOPS mom shares her "Get Growing" story. Just for Fun Ideas for fun with kids during April. Cross Cake Cook up a hands-on lesson about the Resurrection.
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