Hero Mom...Saves The Day!

Motherhood Memorial #8:

Last week, I was conversing with my 11-year-old daughter, who is now in 5th grade. She was writing an essay on heroes. First, she interviewed me about my heroes. It was quite a fun exercise! I told her that JESUS CHRIST was my #1 HERO, because HE saved me from eternal damnation by offering up HIS life as the perfect sacrifice for my sin. Also, with this saved life, I am able to walk by faith in this world, bringing Heaven into the Earth, according to HIS will and predestined plan. I explained to her that my Husband is my second hero. He saved me from a life of mediocrity. He challenged me to exercise my faith and to locate myself--spiritually, mentally and physically. He freed me from being a passive thinker and a lukewarm Christian through no-nonsense discipleship! Finally, I shared with her that my Mom is my third hero. My Mom saved me from being a stressed-out stay-at-home Mom. She knows about the 24/7 grind of having many little ones at home. Her CHRIST-centered suggestions, feminine sensitivity and grandmotherly eagerness to help all-the-time has kept me sound and thriving as a Mom!

Who are your heroes, in this season of Motherhood?

As an introvert, I enjoy self-reflection. So, it BLESSED me to think on this question; and thank GOD for how HE has endowed me with such supportive and wise mentors and encouragers! But the best of our talk was yet to come! Then, she told me about her #1 hero...me! She said how I saved her life, literally, when she was choking on a wood chip at the playground. Next, I used my faith to bring her healing when she had a hemangioma, or a "strawberry," in her eye. Instead of her needing surgery, she experienced a miracle from GOD; it disappeared within a few years! According to her, I used my Mommy-expertise to save her siblings too, by executing a few speedy ER visits and preventing a pool drowning. However, she expressed that she is most impressed by how I care for her and my other four children at home; keep our house together; succeed as a wife, PTA VP, and President of JBSAA; feed 7-8 people everyday (including my mom, sometimes); and still manage to get a decent amount of sleep!

Now, you must know that I was teary-eyed by the time she was finished with her very detailed account of my heroine qualifications! It melted my heart completely! Moms require these moments of genuine affirmation to keep going strong...especially during these long days, yet, quick years! What I learned from this Mommy Moment was that there is no effort or sacrifice that goes unnoticed or unappreciated. My ABBA DADDY is always watching...to catch me doing good! And amazingly, my children are watching too--not to criticize, but to cheer me on!

Are you a Hero Mom? 

Every mom is a heroine...so it is time to celebrate you!!

Characteristics of a Hero (according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary):

• One endowed with great strength
• A warrior
• One admired for achievements and noble qualities
• One who shows great courage

According to GOD's WORD, if you are part of the BODY of CHRIST, then you are a victor! 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 says that HE gave us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. So, as we give ourselves fully to the work of the LORD, our labor is not in vain." We are warriors, with great strength!

• Faith Strength--Are you daily lifting up your children in prayer? Do you have daily confessions that you say together and that you teach them to say alone? Do you sow "seeds" to reap harvests, for their benefit?

• Mind Strength--Are you the tutor for homework? Are you the resident teacher on the homefront? Is Google your T.A. (teacher's assistant?) Are you thinking in the capacity of multiple grade levels, everyday? Are you a home-schooling Mom?

• Physical Strength--Did you carry a baby for 10 months? Did you endure a lengthy adoption process? Did you nurse or bottle feed your newborn every 2-3 hours...for months? Is R.E.M. sleep a faded memory? Are you constantly cleaning your house...doing laundry all the time...washing walls...grocery shopping...cooking...etc.? Did you refuse that third cup of coffee or chocolate bar? Are you a working Mom...always meeting a need? Are you a stay-at-home Mom...wishing for a lunch break? Do you walk up stairs or a treadmill or visit a gym throughout the week to keep those endorphins flowing?

• Emotional Strength--Do you keep the anger inside when another child demeans your little angel? Do you shed tears on the inside when your daughter cries about the loneliness of not having a friend at school? Do you hold it together silently, in HIM, when your baby suffers from any ailment...from a runny nose, to a spinal tap or surgery?

So, as a Hero Mom, after carrying a baby and giving birth or adopting a child (once, twice or numerous times), we dedicate hours upon hours of service, week after week, and day after day for decades!! But we can rest in this truth, that with JESUS as our Commander-in-CHIEF, our mission shall succeed...they will grow up and so will we! HE will get the glory, and as a bonus, we get some praise!

Here is a BLESSING of admiration for all the Hero Moms who took their valuable time to read this blog entry: "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!!"

Please share some triumphs and victories from your adventures as a Hero Mom!

I Like You, Mommy!

Motherhood Memorial #7:

I sat with my 3-year-old son and played a children's game with him on my cell phone. He looked up at me with a huge grin. Then he said, "I like you Mommy!" His abundant love for me radiated from his heart. I could feel God's limitless love for me, through my son's unrestrained appreciation and acceptance.

Do your children enjoy you, as you press your way through the ups and downs of motherhood? Are you joyful as you experience the trials of your faith and the dirty work of discipline, rebellious attitudes, and tantrums? Do you enjoy your experience of walking by faith as a nurturer, teacher and care-giver?

Are you a likable mommy?

Well, Titus 2:4 tells us that young (or spiritually immature) women must be taught by older (or spiritually wiser) women to phileo love or like their children. Applying the Golden Rule, if you like your children, then they will like you! The law of Love says that we must love others, as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:39) As you rate your likability, consider the following: 1) assess your vertical relationship with God; 2) assess your relationship with yourself; and 3) assess your relationship with others, beginning with those closest to you.

Do you know how much your Father likes you? Do you like yourself? As you take inventory, meditate on the scriptures below. Remember that all transformation begins on the inside. (See Romans 12:1-2) Then you can make some immediate changes in your behavior that will help your children enjoy you more! Use your faith and become the likable mommy God predestined for you to be!

5 TIPS ON HOW TO BE A LIKABLE MOM

1. Be Love. Imitate your Heavenly Parent, from gifts to discipline. (See Ephesians 5:1; 1 Jonhn 4:8)
2. Be there. Follow the model of Abba and Christ, be present. (See Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20)
3. Be attentive. God knows what you like; know what your kids like. (See Psalm 139)
4. Be giving. God gives you the desires of your heart; do it for your children. (See Pslam 37:4)
5. Be embracing. Like Jesus, show physical kindness to your children. (See Matthew 19:14-15)

Are your children enjoying the mommy they love? Are you liking yourself and sharing this experience with others? Please comment!!

Thanks for visiting! BE BLESSED!!

Until the next MM...Daughter-Heir-Wife-Mother-Servant-Queen Miriam

Mommy M.I.A.

Motherhood Memorial #6: 

2012 is the Year of the Harvest!! Are you experiencing a bountiful harvest in motherhood and beyond? If not, then what are you waiting for? John 4:35 says, "lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

Can you believe that it has been almost a full year since my last blog entry?!! When GOD says take a Sabbath break...you take it! Since last August I have increased my commitments in edifying the Body of CHRIST. Also, it was quite an adjustment, having my daughter in part-time kindergarten while home-schooling my younger two children. GOD has taught me much about achieving and maintaining a balanced life with motherhood and everything else! Praise the LORD!

Do you find yourself telling people, "If I'm not with my children or working, then you can probably find me at church or preparing to serve?"  If that's you, then you likely qualify as a faithful servant, diligently using your unique, GOD-given gifts, time and energy to BLESS the Body of CHRIST and to bring heaven into the earth. If you aren't wearing your Mommy hat then you are wearing your Servant cap! If you have been a Mommy Missing In Action (M.I.A.) or perhaps you desire to be one, then this message shall encourage, inspire and transform you!!

On one BLESSED Sunday, my six-year-old prayed the salvation prayer for a few seven-year-olds to receive CHRIST JESUS as their LORD and SAVIOR! At such a young age, the gift of evangelism is being developed in her. I did not know that if I allow GOD to mature me as a servant, then I am able to model this for my children.

How did GOD equip me to model an evangelist's heart for my children? Weekly evangelizing with my church and sharing these experiences with my little ones was the humble beginning. One time, while on the way home from church with my children, I shared the Gospel of the Kingdom with someone and then explained to my children how the gift of salvation operates. Also, I expressed to them the joy I experience when I have the opportunity to administer the altar call for the 8-12 year-olds in the Children's Ministry of our church. I have been privileged to teach, minister, praise, worship, and serve the children at our church in the presence of my own entrusted children.

As we are made to be imitators of our Heavenly Father (Ephesians 5:1), our children will imitate us as mothers. Do your children witness your love for GOD, exhibited by your service to the Body of CHRIST?

Here are some self-assessment questions (Now, don't condemn yourself, but do take account! Like my Pastor says, you cannot manage what you have not measured!):

• Are you a member of a local church (having completed all of the prerequisites for membership)? 
• Do you attend church weekly (honoring GOD with your willful, obedient and consistent tithe, first fruits offerings, and seed sowing)? 
• Are you excited about going to service? 
• Are you an integral part of a church ministry? 
• Do your children see you serve, with a joyful countenance and positive words of faith? 

With the living WORD of GOD, we are growing from faith to faith and glory to glory!  So appreciate how far GOD has brought you, and the greatness that HE has predestined for you!!

A few scriptures that have helped me to increase my capacity to demonstrate Christian living and walking by faith in the are of service are the following:

• Luke 16:10 "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." 
• 2 Timothy 1:6 "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of GOD, which is in thee..." 
• 1 Timothy 4:14 " Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy..." 
• Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and calling of GOD are without repentance." 
• 1 Corinthians 7:22 "For he that is called in the LORD, being a servant, is the LORD's freeman (made free): likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant." 
• Colossians 3:23-24 "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the LORD, and not unto men; knowing that of the LORD ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the LORD Christ." 

If ever you are a Mommy M.I.A., make sure that you can be found serving our LORD and HIS Body!

How is your experience of serving the CHURCH while balancing mommyhood going? Please share your thoughts, issues, concerns and praise reports with us!!

Thanks in advance for sharing and BE BLESSED!!

Until the next MM...Daughter-Warrior-Priest-Queen Miriam

Mommy Boot Camp...Attention!!

Motherhood Memorial #5:

I'm back!! Well-rested!! Rejuvenated!! 

I was on an Internet Sabbatical, these last few months, and experienced a period of restoration, preparing me for this New Season of God's miracle-working power in my life, and especially in Motherhood. Thanks for your patience!!

Recently, I attended a brunch for moms. One of the speakers commented that God grows us moms while we grow our children. Proverbs 22:6 says, "train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." So, God trains us mommies, while we train our children. I like to think of this training as Mommy Boot Camp. It can span a minimum of 18 years (if you have one child) to over 30 years, depending on the age gap between your children.

Do you find that there are new sets of rules, regimens, and restrictions in motherhood? Are you being tried in discipline, structure, consistency and strength-training exercises (how long you can go before your next "mommy-break"? Ever feel like you are holding your breath...waiting for the tiredness, nonstop demands being made on you, and the scroll-length to-do list to end? Well, welcome to Mommy Boot Camp!! Now, you probably didn't get a proper welcome and instruction manual indicating what you were really in for. But don't fret--I'm here to help catch you up to speed!! 

The real victory in succeeding in the training course called Mommy Boot Camp, is that You become fully dependent on God's grace, which is sufficient for you to prosper in this season of life. (2 Corinthians 12:9) What you must keep in mind is that your success in training up your children depends fully upon your development into the matured daughter that God has predestined for you to become. That should actually help you to breathe a little easier--knowing that you fulfill your call to motherhood by focusing on your own personal spiritual maturity, hearing God and obeying what He tells you (James 1:25). Just as we are to "imitate God, therefore in everything [we] do, because [we] are His dear children" (Ephesians 5:1), our children are going to imitate us. Thus, the best gift you can give your child or children, is not love, but your most genuine and sincere imitation of God and reflection of His Word (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). Remember, you are exchanging your conditional, worldly "love" for God's unconditional agape love as you are rooted and grounded in the sacrificial love of God through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:17).

Now, I'm just here to explain the basic details of Mommy Boot Camp...but the Holy Spirit of Grace is truly your Guide and Helper. There are five essential steps that GRACE is going to take you through, and at the end, you will repeat the process...over and over again...until you have arrived. And if you are towards the conclusion of this training course, think of Apostle Paul, who said, "I don't mean to say that...I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." (Philippians 3:12)

Grow--Our primary objective in Mommy Boot Camp is to grow up spiritually!! We all know exactly how "old" we are according to our calendar age, but how many of us take a periodic assessment as to which category we fall in when measuring our spiritual maturity? Are you a newborn, infant, toddler, preschooler, school-aged, adolescent, young adult, or matured adult? How long have you been exercising your faith-muscles? God instructs us to be equipped "until we attain...to a mature man [or woman]...as a result we are no longer to be children...we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:13-15). To excel in this first phase, we must commit ourselves to this maturation process. We must prioritize God first, which includes maximizing our time with God through diligent and daily prayer, praise, worship, devotional reading, Bible reading, attending church services, and being active in serving our local church and neighbors.

Reverently fear God--Mommy Boot Camp promises to bring you into deeper fellowship with the Almighty God. And as you are humbled in God's presence on a more consistent and frequent basis, you learn to rest in the reverential fear of God. As you learn to trust God and grow in your love for God, you are positioned to experience God in a greater way. Psalm 34:11 says, "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." Also, Pslam 86:11 says, "Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name." After setting yourself to grow spiritually, the Holy Spirit of Grace can then teach you about who God is, who You are in Christ Jesus and what God has promised you in His Will.

Acknowledge areas of sin & weeds in your heart--Humbling yourself before the awesome greatness and power of God sets your mind to receive the truth regarding the various areas of weakness in your unrenewed mind and the unkempt sections in the garden of your heart. If you do not assess your areas of weakness, you are not aware of the places to apply God's strength, His Word. The reverential fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge or wisdom, according to Proverbs 1:7. Now, the Holy Spirit of Grace can begin to reveal to you the places in your heart that require the Word of God. "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind," says Jeremiah 17:10. I like to pray, "God, show me me!" So, let the Holy Spirit inform you of sins and all ungodliness in your thought life and actions. Confess those sins and God is faithful and just to forgive you (1 John 1:9)! Jesus said that every plant that His Father did not plant would be rooted up (Matthew 15:13). So, let God root up any pride, rebellion, depression, or whatever he reveals to you that Satan is responsible for sowing into your heart.

Change/repent--Once you confess those sins, use your free will to decide to change directions. If you were going South, it's time to go North! If you used to "cuss" to explain how you felt, then it's time to get out a thesaurus and clean up your language. If you never liked to clean your dishes, it's time to make a daily appointment to clean them. Always late? It's time to prepare two nights in advance, and leave your house an extra 30 minutes earlier!! After Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness, He entered His ministry preaching these words, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) You cannot overlook this important step!!

Exercise the Word via Biblical meditation--Now it's time to exercise in diligence, consistency and patient endurance as you renew your mind. Apostle Paul instructed us to "not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind." (Romans 12:2) How do you renew your mind? Just follow the example outlined in Joshua 1:8 NLT, "Study this Book of Instruction [the Bible] continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." To meditate the Bible, is to ponder, to say aloud or to whisper repeatedly to yourself the Word of God. I usually write scriptures on note cards and carry them around. You might desire to set a goal to meditate and hence memorize 3-5 scriptures per week. Memorization is one sign that you have been feasting on God's Word through meditation. Another sign of fruitful meditation is a change in your speech and actions. Instead of yelling, you speak calmly. Instead of watching 1-2 hours of t.v. each evening, or spending countless hours on Facebook, you spend that time studying God's Word, attending Bible study or praising God!

Like I said before, once you've made it through all five steps, you repeat the process. I've been in the Mommy Boot Camp process for a few years now, and I am enjoying a close relationship with my Father God Almighty, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit like never before! I've had to end relationships, career paths, friendships and even take a hiatus from some family members, in submission to God and the promise of Mark 10:29-30 "There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." Be bold and fear not!  God is with you!

How is your experience of Mommy Boot Camp going? Any suggestions for thriving during this maturation process?

Thanks in advance for sharing!! Until the next MM...Warrior-Priest-Queen Miriam

Limitless Mommy

Motherhood Memorial #4:

A few days ago, God blessed me with an unexpected, yet greatly appreciated mommy-break.  I was treated to a night out, to see the movie Limitless (defined as "having no limits" or "unrestricted").  God led me to a fun exercise where I imagined myself with the limitless, supernatural power of God flowing through me, enabling me to successfully accomplish all that God set before me.

I'm sure you can imagine yourself as a limitless mommy--morning prayer time...fulfilled; house...clean; children...obedient; husband...satisfied; full-time/part-time work...complete; filing system...organized; grocery shopping...done; laundry...finished; bills...paid; daily Bible reading...done; errands...ran; Facebook skimming...you got it; phone calls/emails/snail mail...check, check, check; to-do-list...every single item on the scroll is checked off...in one day! Amen!

The Limitless Mommy is the Happiest Mom on the Block.  Why?  Because her agenda each day is to make others happy, beginning with her Heavenly Father.  And how does one please God Almighty?  The Bible instructs us that we are to fear the Lord and to love Him by obeying His Word. (Deuteronomy 10:12)

The two most important commandments given by God through His firstborn Son, Christ Jesus, is that we are to love God with all our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength, as well as, love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39)  The Bible says that it takes faith to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)  Whoever gives to the poor, lends to the Lord. (Proverbs 19:17)

In order to love others and make others happy, we must love ourselves.  That is the limit to how much we can love others.  I love myself each day by developing my relationship with my Heavenly Daddy.  These are a few things I do:

• have a morning quiet time with the Lord--whether its 30 minutes (until the children wakeup, requiring my undivided attention) or 2 hours and 24 minutes (a tithe of my 24-hour day) in praise, worship, prayer, daily devotional reading, journaling, speaking in tongues, and planning my day of victory; 

• say a list of confessions about who God is in my life...my Jehovah Jireh, my Rock, my Refuge, etc.  I use the Prayer Book  by Christian Word Ministries (pp. 154-159); 

• say a list of "I AM" affirmations from scriptures (i.e., I am righteous, I am supernatural, etc.) in addition to ones from the above-mentioned Prayer Book (pp. 149-153); 

• read books that the Holy Spirit leads me to for my spiritual growth in wisdom and knowledge.  In addition to the Holy Bible, some books include The DNA of Relationships by Dr. Gary Smalley, Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki, Blessed Beyond Measure by Gloria Copeland, and Children in the Hands of a Mighty Mom by Susie Stone...to name a few!!

I am a LIMITLESS MOMMY--equipped to be ALL that GOD has created me to be and to have ALL that GOD has set aside for me in heaven, NOW while I'm on earth...with NO LIMITS!!  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Until the next MM...Warrior-Priest-Queen Miriam

P.S. Are you experiencing life as a Limitless Mommy?  Please share your challenges and triumphs in the comment section below!

My Happiest Season of Motherhood...is Now!!

Motherhood Memorial #3:

Today I was speaking with a fellow mommy.  And she was recounting how her happiest time as a mother was perhaps a few years ago...when she was at-home with her son part-time, worked her business part-time and had a nanny. Although now, without the same abundance of support, her sentiments had changed.

My heart felt her pain.  It's the internal pain of any mother who desires to nurture her children on a full-time basis while developing the various gifts inside of herself, without compromising one or the other.  So, how can one be balanced and happiest all in the same breath?  Does the season of mothering children under five-years-old necessitate sacrificing other work that might gratify the at-home mother? Or is there an avenue called Have It All...Right Now?

How does one define happiness??  Well, the Good Book explains that happy or blessed is the one who delights in the revelation of God's Word, meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1:2). So a mom is only truly happy after receiving God's written and rhema Word regarding her plans and work assignments.

Well, I do not ascribe to have all the answers...but I am learning some useful wisdom from my Guide, the Holy Spirit.  Having been on the mommyhood playing field for merely five years and five months, I am always refining my techniques of experiencing bliss as a Career Mother.  To decide what to do each quarter of the year, God has revealed a process that works for me. Because every woman is unique, every family is one-of-a-kind and every child has particular needs, the system that works best for one is not guaranteed to work for another.  However, there is a blueprint that can assist us all. So, here it goes:

#1) Assuming that...a) you believe and have faith in Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior; b) you submit to the Heavenly Father; c) His written Word is the final authority on your choices and actions; and d) you are a maturing child of God who is made righteous through the Blood of Jesus being led by the Spirit...then

#2) Pray to God for His will and His plan (Jeremiah 29:11-13); fast (according to Isaiah 58 to decrease in the flesh and increase in your spirit); and give... vows or sacrificial offerings of thanksgiving and praise (according to Job 22:21-28) accompanied with acts of unconditional love and mercy, Luke 6:27-38.

#3) Now, let the Lord lead you into victory by acting on what you have heard.  Hear, obey and manifest the Blessing in your life. (Luke 11:28; James 1:22-25)

God, our Maker, knows best what He has planned for each us to do every season of our lives (Ephesians 2:10).  Furthermore, He is competent to lead us, guide our every step, perfect our every plan (Proverbs 3:5-6), and glorify us so that He can be glorified by those who witness our success and prosperity that comes from our Father (John 17:22).

This season of mommyhood has been my most enjoyable one because...my relationship with God is the closest that it has ever been.  I am intimately acquainting myself with His Word like never before, in meditation and confession.  I am hearing my Father and walking out His plans for my life.  With that said...am I sleeping more that four hours at night without a child requiring my attention? No.  (Did I say four hours...perhaps three?) Am I around three little ones non-stop for days without even a short break sometimes? Yep!  But am I experiencing the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)? Yes, I am.  And I thank God for having chosen me, loving me, hearing my prayers, giving me the desires of my heart, and blessing me (empowering me to succeed in all I do).  Praise God!

This is just the beginning of a rather relevant discussion for today's mom.  In the next MM, I will give more details on how God has empowered me to live on the street called Have It All...Right Now!! Amen.

Until the next MM...Warrior-Priest-Queen Miriam

Talking Up a Sweat

Motherhood Memorial #2:

Another day in the life of Mommy Miriam...My five-year-old Abigail truly keeps me laughing all the day long.  Her vocabulary and the manner in which she puts words together makes for tear-dropping, on-your-knees laughter. And after a long and hard days work in career mommyhood, these moments of joy are like happy pills. Proverbs 17:22 (Amplified version) says, "A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing..." Perhaps all this joy and laughter keeps me healed and healthy.  Praise the Lord!  So, on a typical weekday evening, I am sitting listening to Abigail give me a somewhat lengthy monologue about... well... everything on her five-year-old mind.  And I ask her questions and give my, "Yes" and "Really," so that she knows I'm giving her my undivided attention. Then she says, "Mommy, wow, I'm so hot, I'm sweating." I reply, "Well, yes Abigail, it was all that talking!" And her response, "Yes, mommy. You must be right!" She surely talked herself into a sweat!!  And I giggled.

There's no judgment here...I am quite a conversationalist myself.  So, to all the talkers of the world... who are quite content with monologuing for hours on end... I meditate James 1:19 to help me become a better listener, so my talkative daughter (and others like her) can have the privilege of my attentive ears and mind. The scripture says: "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."

So, if you feel yourself perspiring while conversing at length...perhaps you'll remember James 1:19.

Until the next MM...Warrior-Priest-Queen Miriam