“Come on, you can do it!” he coaxed from his catch point, 800 feet below the board, or so it seemed. Peering down I made a decision that day as firm as any Baptist convert coming forward on a Sunday night…I wasn’t going to jump. Then he did something outlandishly stupid, he got out of the pool and joined me on the board. “Let’s jump together,” he suggested. Yeah right. The minute he touched my shoulders I executed a defensive move so severe, it’s been banned from legitimate self-define classes across the world. Basically I became a human octopus. Once he pried my arms from his neck, I locked my legs around his legs making it impossible for him to move without falling. Lifeguard boy was freaking out, after all it’s not everyday you have a 9-year-old suctioned to your body.

Moms, previously spying their precious tots in the floaters and sinkers class, were enthralled with the predicament this young boy had gotten himself into. I’m sure my mom was joining the others in their laugh-fest, making comments like, “I wonder who that child belongs to?” Eventually, my instructor realized there was only one way out of his situation. Yep, he jumped. And unlike the captain who goes down with the ship I bailed from my human buoy and swam to the top.

Now in case you think this silly episode in the life of Lynne is for not, I’ll have you know that I’ve gleaned two very valuable lessons from this ‘precious memory’.

One, I’ve only met one other in my life who was brave enough to come and join me in my place of fear and allow me to cleave tight.
Two, when you want to rescue a person who is needy, that person will suffocate you if you don’t help him or her jump into a love that is deeper than the ocean itself.
In case you’re wondering, the answer for both lessons is God.

Have a great day.

People call me intense, but after seeing the opening record numbers from this movie, maybe intense is what we want.

Fact–everyone in the human race has their name in a lottery much like the one in the movie. It’s a date with death and someday your number will be drawn. But until then, we have some time to figure out a few things. For instance, how will you spend your time?

We could spend that time filling ourselves with rich food and entertainment just like those in the movie. We can fixate our attention on people we have made famous, spending tons of hours and Internet minutes finding out what they wear, how they eat, what sins they’ve committed  and all the naughty things they will say and do next, and be thrilled by it.

We can spend our hours trying to take down those around us in a feeble attempt to make ourselves look better. We can get really good at it, devising weapons to advance our greedy goals and desires.

We can commit the ultimate sin against life by becoming apathetic. Doing nothing. Caring about no one. Refraining from investing the time and sacrifice it requires to learn something valuable. Spending oodles of time becoming passive characters, living vicariously through the pretend people on TV. Refusing to become someone in our own right by not exercising the god-given talent that has been placed in our care.

If I was really honest with myself, I’d know that through the character Katniss I saw the futility of this world and at times my own life. That there are more important things to spend my time doing and thinking about. After all the clock is ticking. Many hours have passed already and my name could be drawn anytime.

I wonder what would happen if I truly embraced that reality and chose to start living smarter…today.

Blessings,

Lynne

SCENE  ONE

Mom: “Did you push your bother?” (Will he confess?)

Tommy:  “No.” (Maybe I can get away with this).

You see if he admits to shoving his brother what happens next? He is going to get a timeout at best, or a spanking at worst. There is a great benefit in lying. He avoids the consequence for bad behavior. You on the other hand “saw” him push his brother or you wouldn’t have asked to begin with, unless of course the said brother has complained, or is flattened out on the pavement crying.  So if you can deduce the truth why give an opportunity to lie at all?

SCENE TWO

Mom: “Tommy, I just saw you push your brother, now get over here and take a time out.” (cuz I’m not going to give you a chance to lie).

Tommy: “I didn’t push him.” (Maybe Mom is blind).

Mom: “Are you calling me a liar?” (Don’t go there buddy).

Tommy: “No Mom.” (cuz that would be very stupid resulting in a worse punishment for sure).

This is the lying game that we Moms play. Pick which scene you think will work.

Now the older version is a bit trickier.

SCENE ONE

Mom: “Where were you last night?”

Teen: “With my friend Hannah.”

Now the reality is that she was with Hannah part of the night, but spent at least two hours with Rick. She won’t tell you that part. So she will develop a bad attitude and make you suffer because deep inside she feels bad  about lying. Fun huh? But eventually she will get caught, because you are praying for her sins to be found out, and because the law of “you reap what you sow” is very real. Now here is where I mess up all the time. I get crazy when my teen lies to me. I am so disappointed, why? Because I thought we were done with that during the toddler years. Wrong! Here is an ideal scene for you to shoot for.

Mom: “I found out that you were with Rick.  Next time bring Rick over here and I will make popcorn and cookies and pay for the rented movie. But for now there is a consequence for lying, so you are grounded this weekend.”

Teen: “Are serious? You are so unfair. I hate you! yada yada yada.

Mom: SAY NOTHING!!!!

There you have it. Beat the Lie 101. I have not mastered this class yet, but I’m working on improving my grade.

Blessings,

Lynne

Meanwhile, I’m in the process of filling in my Spring speaking schedule. If your group or church would like to invite me to speak at your women’s, mother’s or writer’s event please visit the site at SoccerMomBook.com and fill out the form on the Speaking/Events page.

Blessings,

Lynne

Blessings,Lynne

My friend and I were enjoying a quick cup of coffee therapy and discussing a phenomenon that appears to be quite common among teenage boys. When it comes to homework the boys “do” the work but they never “turn in” the work. Then when we question them, they produce the crumpled evidence from the bottom of their backpack. They have absolutely no explanation as to why it remains in there instead of on the teacher’s desk.

My friend and I attempted to unravel the mystery. Why, if you did the work, would you not go the extra step of turning it in? Is it forgetfulness? Apathy? Brain damage due to testosterone poisoning? We decided it was one of those things that don’t get solved, like the Bermuda Triangle, or empty toilet paper rolls.

But later that night, as I finished my personal devotional Bible study, I thought about my homework. Each day I study God’s word so that I can know why I believe what I believe. But how often do I actually turn my homework in by “doing” the word of God? When do I do that “Love your neighbor” part or the “forgive as God has forgiven me” part? Am I guilty of keeping my relationship with God in my backpack?

In Matthew 5:16 we read, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

If I keep the word of God only to myself, then God doesn’t get the credit he deserves. And at the end of the day, He definitely deserves A+ work.

Blessings,

Lynne

PS: Only 13 more days to enter (see previous blog)

Please submit to me by email at:  Lynne@SoccerMomBook.com the title of your favorite devotional from my book, The Official Soccer Mom Devotional, by yours truly, and more importantly “why” it is your favorite. I will take all of the submissions and put them in a bowl and then have my teenage son, who doesn’t care about this contest (or how many dirty socks pile up in his room) pick one of the names. That person will win a $50 Starbucks card.

(Note: You don’t have to be a soccer mom, you might be a dad, student, or someone else who has read my book).

Now that said, I reserve the right to publish your submission about why the devo you picked is your favorite, but will not put your name on it, just your first and last initial. Fair?

So, just send in something and you have a chance at the $50. Please send in one submission only, after all it’s your favorite, not favorites.

If you haven’t yet purchased my book just click here and get reading!

All submissions must be sent in by

January 31, 2012. The winner will be contacted by email and announced on this blog (initials only) and the Soccer Mom FB.

Let me extend a heartfelt THANKS to all who have supported my book. Some of you are my dear friends, others I’ve had the privilege of meeting at speaking engagements, book signings, and writer’s conferences.

So God Bless and let the contest begin!!

(And Mom, you’re the best, but you can’t participate in this contest LOL

Blessings,

Lynne

I got the phone call offering me an upgrade in my cable TV package. It was only $5 more a month to receive a cable box, a remote control, and a few extra channels. Since our kids were beginning to balk at playing the part of human remote I figured why not?

The cable guy came and left. I clicked on the TV to find out what “extra channels” they were referring to. What I discovered instead, were my previous channels missing altogether. I phoned the company and found out that the man “fixed” the cable ouside, as we were receiving an entire viewing package by accident. I recapped my situation with the voice on the phone, “Let me get this straight, I am paying $5 more each month to remotely control less channels than I had before?” The voice tried to justify the reality, “If you think about it, you were getting something for several months that you didn’t pay for, so what you have now is what you deserve.”

I hung up the phone and looked into my bathroom mirror to make sure the sign “sucker” wasn’t tattooed on my forehead. Somehow I didn’t see that one coming. But then the God-voice kicked in, I was losing something I didn’t deserve anyway. It reminded me of one of the candid talks Jesus had with his disciples.

In Matthew 13, the disciples were asking Jesus why he spoke in parables. He answered simply, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”

In other words, you have been given an exclusive bonus package, whereas they are stuck with Basic. Then Jesus added something that I could now relate to: “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

I didn’t have a decent TV situation, but now I had a pathetic TV situation. I was worse off than before, which when it comes to entertainment is no big deal. But life…well that’s another story.

People today, just like in the Bible days, have been granted the opportunity to know the mysteries of heaven, to daily walk with the Creator of the Universe. If we invite God to direct our human experience, then there is even more life coming. However, if we toss away this great gift, the little life pleasures we try to hang onto will be taken away.

As I reviewed my TV package again, I did notice one additional feature called Video on Demand. I can call up a movie anytime I want, I can even walk away and then return to pick up where I left off. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do, go back and try to pick up where I left off, before I lose everything.

Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ~Matthew 13:13

Blessings,

Lynne

PS: Stay tuned tomorrow for my next Soccer Mom Contest!

I’m back. Yes I took a break from the SoccerMom ministry for a bit, but now I’m back in full force, and maybe not moment too soon. I just read a disappointing article published by the Journal of Family Psychology titled “Working Moms are Healthier.” The piece reports that a new study finds that Moms who work at least part time are healthier and happier than those who decide to stay home with their babies, a new study suggests. It even stated that, “For whatever reason, part-time employment during children’s early years appears to be a positive factor in mothers’ individual well-being,” the researchers found.

Unfortunately something ( or should I say someone) was overlooked in this study….the children. Oh yeah them. Excuse me for asking the obvious but what are the long-term effects of young children being raised by someone other than their mother? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against Moms working a few hours a week outside the home. And I understand if moms have to work outside for financial reasons, but let’s be honest, when we leave our children and return to work there is a cost…to them.

You see, when I decided to become a mom I realized that this is not about me. I wanted the best for my children. I was, and am, committed to being there for my children, to encourage their well-being, to give them everything I have.

The main problem with this article is that it validates the selfishness of the flesh. We do not need someone telling the next generation of moms to ditch their children and they’d be much happier. They need someone to tell them that their children will be happier and healthier when mom chooses them first. And on a side note, if concentrating on your own happiness is your focus, then taking on motherhood may not be the best occupation for you.

Blessings and it is good to be back,

Lynne

Then the other day, I was on my hands and knees doing some gardening in the back area while Sophie played. But when looked back to check on her, she wasn’t playing at all, but standing guard while I planted my geraniums. She believed that I wasn’t paying attention to anything but my pretty flowers, so in her mind, I was vulnerable to attack.

But I wasn’t vulnerable. You see there is someone besides Sophie that always has my back. In Psalm 121:7 we read- “The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;”

I’ve asked myself, do I really believe that God is watching over my life? Am I willing to go out into the world and take risks, knowing that God has gone before me, paving the way with life experiences that are for my good? It isn’t easy to take risks, to be vulnerable, or even transparent in this world. People can be harsh. Sometimes they put you down, it hurts.

But I’m not a dog. I’m a child of God. My Father has said he will watch over my life, and I believe Him.

Now, all I need is the courage to go out. Because if I don’t,

I’ll never fully bloom.

Blessings,

Lynne