Mom Up by Kara-Kae James

Author:Kara-Kae James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mom;Mother;Motherhood;Parenting;Thriving;Grace;Chaos;Kids;Children;Kid;Child;Mom Up;God’s Word;Parenting advice;Kara-Kae James;Kara Kae James;Thrive Moms;Thrive;Intentional parenting;Intentional motherhood;Community;Genuine community;Rest;Refreshing rest;Embracing chaos;Building relationships;Abundant life;Family;Family life;Founder of Thrive Moms;Survival mode;Perfection;Loving motherhood;Empowering motherhood;Calling of motherhood;Live in abundance;Living in abundance;Motherhood stereotypes;Stereotypes of motherhood;Mom stereotypes;Thriving with grace;Higher standard of parenting;Following Jesus;Parenting kids;Parenting children;Pace of motherhood;Full vision of motherhood;Thrivemoms.com;Rest in the chaos;Joy in the mundane;God’s plan for motherhood;Help for moms;Encouragement for moms;Advice for moms;Hope for moms;Peace for moms;Community for moms;Rest for moms;Thrive: A Coloring Book Devotional for Moms;Thrive: A Coloring Book Devotional for Moms (Journaling and Creative Worship)
Publisher: David C. Cook
Published: 2018-11-06T21:11:05+00:00

Begin Somewhere, and Then Do Life Together

You don’t go from being strangers one day to being best friends the next. It takes time, energy, and occasionally some blood, sweat, and tears to get to a place of genuine community with another person. But you have to begin somewhere.

Our family moved a few years ago to a city where we knew no one. We were craving some community but didn’t want to just jump into a Bible study at church (and yes, my husband was a pastor on staff). We’d been in groups that felt awkward and forced and knew that when random people were placed in a room together, it didn’t always click. (But that’s really okay!) We wanted deeper connections that went beyond the surface. But it takes time to find people who mesh with you, who you are willing to share the ugly parts of your heart with, and who challenge you on a deeper level.

So we decided to start small and just begin.

Everyone loves food, right? Our first step was to invite a few people over for conversation around a meal. I think one of the reasons God created us to need physical sustenance is so that we would come together in community. Many of our relationships begin around a table. In some cultures, meals are an affair that takes place over many hours. In biblical times, tables were low to the ground and people would lounge next to the table while they ate and enjoy the company of those around them. (I think we should bring this back!)

Brook and I had over to our house a few couples with kids of similar age as ours. We ate dinner together, got to know each other, and talked about the kind of community we wanted to form. This group now meets weekly to discuss the Bible and encourage one another as couples and as parents. We are there for each other when someone has a cancer scare or a sick child, or needs a shoulder to lean on. When Brook and I found out that Kendrick needed a risky surgery, these couples immediately got on their knees and prayed for our family, helped out with our other kids, cooked for us, and supported us emotionally. We never would have experienced their care if we hadn’t begun somewhere and simply started doing life together.

At Thrive Moms we talk a lot about “doing life together.” When I started this ministry, I knew women were stronger and better together, and it was my desire to help other moms make that happen. Then I met Ali. And she was really good at building community. I was so blessed to have her join our team, and she brought a fire for relationships like I’d never known. She taught me what it truly looks like to be a friend and to “do life together.”

Ali explained it like this: “Doing life together creates space for ministry to bleed into life. Instead of forcing time to

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