Category: Musings

Motherhood musings: My boys: A worthwhile legacy

Published on by Alethea Awuku1 Comment

As a (current) modern woman, I have the freedom to carefully consider where I put all of my energy and focus. I can build legacy in certain areas of my life but I don’t think that anything will be nearly as profound as being on the journey of educating, raising and living life with my boys. It really is life changing.

This is bigger than my husband and I. So much bigger because what we train and normalise in our sons lives will have a ripple effect for generations to come. From the moment each one was announced on the earth our legacy work began. We teach them how to see and interact with the world around them and we have such an opportunity to shape their hearts and experience life with them.

They are a worth my life, time and sacrifice. Legacy speaks to something that remains.

Without much help they’ll grow physically, get bigger, taller and older. Through their interactions with the surrounding world they will grow mentally and socially. They’ll learn reading, writing and math and learn how to get by each day. All this can happen without much input from us as parents, but the things that legacy is made up of is character training, and authentic life and community living. Impartation, vision casting, establishing, building, constructing, spiritual, discipline, work, love, holding up, deep heart work. If we don’t try to touch on any of these areas, how will they launch out into the world fully grounded in who they are and whose they are?

Sometimes, to think of where to start feels like being placed in the middle of the ocean and tasked with finding my way back to land. In which direction do I turn my compass? How long before I start to feel or know that I am drowning? Can I swim? Will I swim?

I love my boys with all that is in me- but my goodness do I feel way out of my depth. The magnitude of my role terrifies me, and the simplicity of “just being” even more so. Will it be enough for them? Oh Lord calm my anxious heart. The many questions and wondering.

They are worth it

My boys: A worthwhile legacy

Published on by Alethea Awuku1 Comment

As a (current) modern woman, I have the freedom to carefully consider where I put all of my energy and focus. I can build legacy in certain areas of my life but I don’t think that anything will be nearly as profound as being on the journey of educating, raising and living life with my boys. It really is life changing.

This is bigger than my husband and I. So much bigger because what we train and normalise in our sons lives will have a ripple effect for generations to come. From the moment each one was announced on the earth our legacy work began. We teach them how to see and interact with the world around them and we have such an opportunity to shape their hearts and experience life with them.

They are a worth my life, time and sacrifice. Legacy speaks to something that remains.

Without much help they’ll grow physically, get bigger, taller and older. Through their interactions with the surrounding world they will grow mentally and socially. They’ll learn reading, writing and math and learn how to get by each day. All this can happen without much input from us as parents, but the things that legacy is made up of is character training, and authentic life and community living. Impartation, vision casting, establishing, building, constructing, spiritual, discipline, work, love, holding up, deep heart work. If we don’t try to touch on any of these areas, how will they launch out into the world fully grounded in who they are and whose they are?

Sometimes, to think of where to start feels like being placed in the middle of the ocean and tasked with finding my way back to land. In which direction do I turn my compass? How long before I start to feel or know that I am drowning? Can I swim? Will I swim?

I love my boys with all that is in me- but my goodness do I feel way out of my depth. The magnitude of my role terrifies me, and the simplicity of “just being” even more so. Will it be enough for them? Oh Lord calm my anxious heart. The many questions and wondering.

They are worth it

A mother with eternity in mind

Published on by Alethea AwukuLeave a comment

Preparing to steward another life as God would desire and leads us to is no small thing. It requires all of you. Your sacrifice (a vision worthy of this), sensitive communication, your dependence on God, and your death in several ways in order that another might live.

My work as a mother, is to live unto the glory of God, and steward, nurture, raise and point my children to this very God who sent his Son to do his mighty work on the cross in our place to pay the just penalty for our sins.

It’s a hard work.

An intimidating prospect.

The cost is high.

But a responsibility given to us with an unlimited resource of grace, wisdom and help by God Himself.

Before each of my sons were born I would often stare at my growing belly, with its jabs and movement signifying the life inside of me.

The life inside of me.

New life, untouched by this world and yet so familiar with its fallen disposition.

A whole new human being to grace this earth with his presence. One who God has known before he was even conceived.

Wow.

Far be it from me that I’ll become so preoccupied with the externals- the clothes, shoes, socials, and constant photographs, that I am blinded to the most crucial part of my child- The essence of a developing character and personality which needs to be shepherded to know and love God.

Newborn moses basket on a bed

Preparing to steward another life as God would desire and leads us to is no small thing. It requires all of you. Your sacrifice (a vision worthy of this), sensitive communication, your dependence on God, and your death in several waysin order that another might live.

Such a change from my personal life.

For the longest time I was extremely nervous. What a responsibility. In our current climate where gangs and knife crime is increasing, can I raise up a young boy into a man who walks to the beat of a different drum, and sets a new pace and standard?

Can I do this?

What if I fail?

Do I have the energy and motivation to be so hands-on, and intentional with this new life?

This beautiful boy who will show me the wonders and mysteries of life, and yet will be plagued by sin himself. How do I steward that? How many books do I have to read, and how many sermons do I have to watch? Will all this information stay in my brain and present itself in uncanny wisdom when it is needed the most?

What if I fail?

Proverbs 2:6 says; For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding…

The reality is that we cannot adequately steward a child- steward anything for God without His wisdom, and eternity being our goal and hearts ambition.

And when eternity becomes our focal point, we realise that we are not alone in this equation of mothering and shepherding.

Oh, it is far much bigger than us, and requires another effort unmatched. That of God and His eagerness to come alongside us as we figure things out, lean into Him for strength and wisdom, in order to pour back into our homes.

Mother with eternity in mind

Once we decide to mother with eternity in mind, the focus shifts and we are no longer alone.

We cease to become the standard and the end of our child’s life, and we gladly and willingly step aside to point them to the place of passion- the majestic cross that saved our very own lives from spiritual death.

That becomes the beginning and the end, as it is the only thing that can adequately and biblically address a sinful heart, bringing it to true repentance.

Redemption integrated with everyday life in a fallen world.

Only Jesus can take what training we give feeble as it is, and multiply it a thousand times in the heart of a young one-

All for His glory.

This is my earnest desire, and constant prayer.

Have you ever thought about motherhood in this way? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!