.MOM - Real life, real community
Sophie - January 26, 2011
It was almost a year ago when Paige Green mentioned the .MOM conference to me for the first time. I very specifically remember our conversation because I was circling the Walmart parking lot looking for a space while we talked. And I guess the detail about Walmart doesn't really add great meaning to this post, but I'm all about telling you way more than you need or care to know. I like to think that it's one of my spiritual gifts.
Anyway, when Paige explained the concept of .MOM, I was intrigued, mainly because I'm such a believer in cross-generational discipleship. We may get comfort from being in a room of people who are the same age as we are (and there is definitely value in that), but I'm at a point in my life where what I crave more than anything is wisdom. It's so important that all of us reach out to the generations ahead of us and behind us so that we can encourage each other and strengthen the body of Christ for His glory.
Last week, as part of an article that I'm writing for HomeLife, I was privileged and blessed to get a small preview of what .MOM will be like. I got to eat breakfast, hang out and talk with four precious women who are leading breakouts at .MOM - Esther Burroughs, Jean Castille, Dedra Herod and Heather Platt. All of us are in different stages of life: Esther is a mom of two and grandmother of five; Jean is a mom of six and grandmother of one; Dedra is an almost-empty nester mom of three teenagers; I'm the mama of a first grader; and Heather is the mom of two pre-schoolers. Truth be told, I was a little concerned beforehand about how well all the ages and stages would mesh, but oh my goodness - I need not have worried.
Because it was seriously one of my absolute favorite days ever. EVER.
I don't know when I've ever been a part of a group where the Holy Spirit enabled us to share our hearts so quickly and so openly. There was a transparency and a candor that only the Lord could have orchestrated, and our conversations were honest and heartwarming and convicting and helpful and healing. It blessed Heather and me so much to soak up wisdom from women who are a little bit farther down the wife and mama road than we are. It blessed Dedra to be able to voice her concerns about a whole new phase of life - and be met with encouragement. It blessed Jean and Esther to be able to share with us what, by God's grace, they've learned along the way.
I walked away from our time together with a renewed commitment to be intentional about the kind of wife I am to my husband and the kind of mama I am to our little boy. To stay grounded in the Word. To be faithful in prayer. And to laugh and live well through it all.
My morning with those four women was just a small glimpse of what .MOM will be. Just a teeny, tiny glimpse. And y'all, I am so excited about what's going to happen here in Birmingham on September 23-24. Because when you put women in a place where they have the freedom to share their hearts - and when you combine that freedom with God's Word and real-life wisdom - well, you get real community. Honest community.
It's gonna be so good.
Hope you'll be there with us!
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (2)
Amen! I love having godly friends of all ages. What a blessing to delight in the differences and learn from one another!
Posted on January 26, 2011 12:57 PM
I cannot tell you how excited I am over this!!! I plan on bringing some momma’s down for this!!! So happy that Lifeway is embracing this too….i need all the wisdom and insight I can get. It’s just plain hard being a momma in this world. Love you Sophie. Thank you for being a part of this!
((hugs) Fran
Posted on January 26, 2011 1:16 PM