Mothers Hold Eternity In Their Arms

I was unprepared, untrained, and honestly, had not given motherhood a lot of thought in my single years. At almost 31, never having changed a diaper, never knowing a mom who had nursed her children, and not even knowing how to hold a baby, I was heading into a great unknown — this thing called motherhood! 

And yet, when my first baby was born, it was not the overwhelming sense of responsibility or inadequacy that hit first, but the incredible wave of unconditional love. I was not expecting the pure awe that would flood my heart the moment she arrived and was gently placed into my arms. 

As I was holding her, it was as if God was whispering to me: "You are holding eternity in your arms. This little one is a miracle, a gift from Me. Will you love her so that when she grows up, she will believe that I love her? Will you whisper to her the secrets of My ways, give her a sanctuary in which to celebrate all that is good in life so that she will fill the treasure chest of her soul with all that is good, true, and beautiful?"

Read more about this in Well Lived.

Tea Time Tuesday: Decluttering My Soul For 2026

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“Guard your heart, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, along with every form of malice. Instead, be kind to one another, forgiving each other, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Eph. 4: 31-32)

Decluttering my soul is something I do every year before I plan my priorities, goals for the year. On New Year's weekend, I get away to a private place whatever it takes, to view the state of my heart, mind and soul. I ask God to help me clear out my conscience, leave my past burdens in the file drawers of heaven, by faith, trust God to move generously in my new year. I feel lighter, seeing what He will provide for me in the new year. Every year, I share these thoughts that I hope will give you a fresh wind blowing through your soul.

Even as we declutter our home, put it back in order after a busy holiday season, so I find that I must declutter my heart to go into my year free, with grace, hope and good plans. Proverbs tells us to “Guard our heart, for from it flows the springs of life.”

If we do not keep our heart free from those things that would bring darkness, discouragement, criticism, fear, despair, we will not be able to accomplish all of the other tasks we have planned for our year. He must be at the center of our peaceful, trusting heart. But even as in marriage, parenting, friendship, as issues must be communicated and discussed, so our heart issues must come to the light and be talked about with Him, so that we can declutter our souls.

Sometimes we are hold feelings of guilt, failure, disappointment, criticism, resentment, fear, blame. Yet, if we allow these feelings to fester, they will be a sort of poison to our hearts. So giving our burdens, regrets, issues into the hands of God and planning how we will walk forward in freedom is essential to keep a free, pure, loving heart.

Every year, we have sent out a “Decluttering Your Heart” planner to those how want to print it out and use it to plan their year. All you have to do is to join my blog mailing list and it will come to your email.

Home Is A Safe Haven

Don’t measure your success in life by your ability or inability to do housework efficiently. I hear so many stories from young women whose mothers were neurotic about keeping a well-organized and orderly home, and as adults they feel guilty if they ever make a mess.

Your relationship with your children and their ability to enjoy the comfort of your home are gifts you can give your family by choosing to accept and appreciate the limitations of a full and lively house. Solomon understood it rather well: “Where no oxen are, the manger clean” (Proverbs 14:4).

When I realized that I had six oxen in my stall all the time, it gave me peace knowing that the messes that reflected the six people in my home were a part of having all of us together!

Advent: Waiting on God's Timing

Four hundred years passed from the last prophesy of the Malachi until Jesus was born. Waiting is a part of God's way. And yet, Jesus's coming was perfectly timed in God's economy,

Clay and I celebrate our 45th anniversary soon, God willing. As I look back through the years, it is the devoted partnership where we held fast, the ways we celebrated mundane rhythms of life every day, every night, the “Forgive me,” the persevering through all the years & phases of childhood with our crew where the value of our relationship was forged, where the Clarkson story took root, where our ministry was birthed. It was "in the meantime" between big events where treasures were discovered..

I waited to fall in love, to get married, to get pregnant multiple times. Waited for 19 houses to sell when moving & waited to find another suitable place.

Waited for children to be out of diapers, to learn to read, to grow up! On it goes.

Clay waited through these seasons by my side. What will life hold? What is going to happen?

Most of life is in the “In between.”

What we do In the meantime" defines our life story..

We waited when hopes were only ideas we talked about, we worked hard to start a ministry without any money.

We talked of books to write when there were none, We lived through illnesses, moves, car wrecks, out of the box children, asthmatics, family trauma, church drama. In these places our character was shaped, our story grew with integrity. Each season learning to be faithful in hard times, trusting God with unanswered prayer, forgiving when we didn’t feel like it; loving a child who acted in an unlovable way.

What you choose to believe & cherish, practice & submit to, work at & believe, happens when no one else is looking. These are the glorious days your children will remember—the joy of the meantime, the moments cherished, the memories of this Christmas, feasting together, choosing joy. Life teaches us to cherish every day.

This Christmas, enjoy every moment, wait on God with great hope, choose delight as you seek to worship Him, marvel at the Christ child.

We don't know about tomorrow. What will you do in the meantime, this Christmas?

Your Children Will Perceive You As A Hero

Satan knows that the righteousness and faith of the next generation are in the hands of parents who interact with their children every hour of the day. Satan would just love for us to think our labor is in vain and ineffective, and that we are not adequate for the task.

And yet, in every case in Revelation, overcoming is always rewarded with a great blessing—a new and glorious name; to have your name written in the book of life; to have Jesus speak about you before the Father; and so much more.

As I have looked back over my own journey of motherhood, I see clearly that the cultural voices during my early years of motherhood always gave me permission to compromise my biblical ideals for my family. But God wants us to be those who prevail, who are willing to engage in the fight and to hold fast, waiting for His blessing.

I have found it so vital in my own walk to keep a journal and write down my commitments. It has enabled me to stay strong through all the seasons life brings.

I imagine that I was planting a metaphorical flag of commitment, saying, “I will follow God’s path for me and His call on my life as a mom, to be faithful as Jesus was for my whole life, no matter what. I am making this commitment to be a servant leader, as He is, so that my children will always have an advocate for their lives, as Jesus is my advocate.”

Tea Time Tuesday: Do Not Be Anxious!

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“Do not be anxious about anything…”

Phil. 4:6

Really? Not about finances, bills, taxes?

Training, meeting emotional needs, educating, loving my children patiently, dealing with their moods and developmental struggles?

Stress and loneliness in the challenges of marriage? Relationship conflict with friends, in-laws, others close to me?

Exhaustion? Illness in family? Feelings of loneliness and isolation? Overwhelm with ideals?

And life!

I’ll never forget the first time one of my teens was out at night and had to drive home in a snowstorm. I knew I was supposed to trust God, be at peace, but I knew storms and I knew my teen. I worried until they got home.

And I remember when my 8 month old was admitted at the hospital when she was barely breathing. Or when my child was in college and said they felt like they were so depressed they didn’t know if they would make it through the months of work ahead. The time I heard that my husband had had a wreck with my boys and their friends. Or when death of a loved one entered our doors unexpectedly.

Anxiety is a response to life when it feels dangerous or out of our control. We all have many anxious moments in our journeys. It is our heart, soul and mind’s reaction to moments when we feel deep fear, the feeling of being out of control during danger.

As I was on my walk today, I had you in my heart. In such a dark time, it is difficult to put aside our anxieties. Yet, I have learned slowly to move in the direction of trusting God more practically, learning to claim, feel how to breathe peace in those moments of such feelings.

Life for all is filled with such moments. Yet, it really is possible to gain perspective about life in a fallen world, to learn how to practice and get stronger at being courageous. It is possible to walk with God holding our hands through each time of darkness. God with us is His name.

Praying God grants you peace today, my friends.

Your Holy Responsibility

God has entrusted to you the stewardship of your home and children. The cultivation of a work ethic is, in itself, a daily work. When your attitude and vision are right, all that remains is the work of faithful training — reminding your children to pick up their clothes, wash the dishes without complaint, keep their rooms clean, and complete their chores thoroughly.

That kind of training wasn’t necessarily my favorite part of mothering, but in hindsight it was one of the most vital. The habits, the chores, the tasks, the projects — they all helped to train and shape my children into adults who could work hard, with good attitudes and striving for excellence, in every aspect of their lives. Their ability to work, learned in my home, has equipped them to attempt anything they can imagine. That is a gift that will keep on giving.

Read more about this in 10 Gifts Of Heart.

Tea Time Tuesday: Celebrating The Beauty Of Advent With Malcolm Guite

My friends, with Advent upon us once again, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite podcasts over the years, as I have done for the last few years. Please enjoy this episode with Malcolm Guite as we discuss the beauty and celebration of Advent.

Click here to listen.

One of the greatest values in celebrating Advent is that as we repeat the same thoughts and traditions, year after year, they tend to become all the more meaningful to us. With each year that we celebrate Advent, its beauty seeps deeper into our hearts.

Advent mirrors the quiet but soulful longing that grows deep inside where no one sees. We cry for the touch of our creator amidst the whirlwind of trying to make it through one more busy day. Painting a smile on our face, we stuff down the cries that remain silent to those around us, where we want someone to notice, to care, to save us.

We must open our hearts to expose the doubt, darkness, questions to find Christ humble, gentle, waiting to comfort us.

Advent is a joy that helps us hope.

Advent is when we give voice longing in our hearts. Advent is also when we confess our own participation in the brokenness of the world. Advent, then, is not only about longing for Christ to come again and put everything back together; it’s about repenting and receiving grace so that we get to be put back together now.

But Advent is not only about longing for Christ to put the world back together, not only about repenting and letting Christ put us back together; it is also a chance to participate in bringing wholeness to others.

As we enter the Advent season, could we as the people of God, be a part of the answer to the longing in people’s hearts?

The first candle that was lit was the purple candle in the Advent wreath as a symbol of Hope. Whether we sense God or feel a great void or doubt about his presence, we believe He is the hope of the world. The longing we have in our hearts for this world to be set right will come to pass. There are brief glimpses of joy that remind us of this hope. Until then… we wait.

I hope you enjoy this podcast, my friends.

21 Books To Read As A Family This Christmas

Almost every day when my children were young, we had devotions and read-alouds — sometimes at night, sometimes in the morning, sometimes at tea times. I kept baskets of books everywhere — in every room, in the bathrooms, in their bedrooms. And each year on birthdays and Christmas and other holidays, they all received books as gifts and I helped each of them build their own libraries.

It was our goal to give our children the resources for brain food, feeding their imagination with what was good, true, beautiful.

Christmas is a wonderful time to engage with stories like this as a family, gathered by the fire with cookies and tea.

Our family has over 100 Christmas favorite titles — too many to share. But I hope you will enjoy some of these stories below.

The Little Match Girl
By Andersen, Hans Christian
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Tea Time Tuesday: Learning to Live For What Matters

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“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” ~Hans Hofmann

A cloudy, misty Monday morning, much like today, found me pondering some confusing issues in my life.

Seems that no matter where I am in life, there is always the illusive — God hiding Himself and His wisdom in some area of my life, in which I have to seek, pursue and grasp for His guidance to figure out answers to my life questions.

Even as the mists hide the mountains, so God chooses to hide answers from me at times.

The phone rang and I found out that someone very dear to me had died. Attending his memorial put life into perspective again. I saw a man whose life had been given to loving others.

I had been deeply pondering the balance in this hectic life of modern culture. What really matters. What must be done. What does God want me to put aside?

A culture separated from God's wisdom over the centuries must surely provide lures that will destroy and distract from Him, from what is eternal, from what is true. Yet, to throw away those things which are not necessary, I must constantly be straining my ear to His voice and not to the voice of those who would draw me to vanity or more strife of busyness. And so I regularly plan getaways to find some answers to my life's cry for simplicity and peace, in the midst of the whirlwind of life.

My friend’s death, for the moment, clarified for me what mattered and opened a window for simplifying my life.

And these are some of the thoughts passing the corridors of my mind today. Join me today on my podcast to hear my story about this precious one.

Peace of the Lord to you this day.