Often times I find myself wishing that I was a better writer; I wish I could express my thoughts more fully, explain what I see with more intricate and interesting detail, and could write with a methodical flow.  Then I remember: I'll only become a better writer by simply writing. I had a friend stop by earlier this week while she was in town who encouraged me to start blogging. My hubby agreed and so, here I am. :) Hopefully I will be more diligent and dedicated to my blog so that it is a benefit, both to helping me become a more skillful writer and in keeping up with distant family and friends.

This past Christmas my mother gave me a book entitled A Mother's Wages. Written in 1957 by Elizabeth Walker Strachan, it offers advice to mothers who are seeking their reward from God in raising their children. It contains 31 brief chapters on subjects ranging from conversion to kindness to self-determination to health. I haven't gotten too far into the book, but already am finding the nuggets in these petite passages.

As a new mother I was quite encouraged by Strachan to persevere in prayer for my child (and future children). I have to admit I found her writing challenging to me because I don't pray as I should; and, I often squander time on other frivolous things when I should be praying. Even when I feel like I can't be doing anything (like feeding my child) I can always be praying which accomplishes much more than anything else. I thought I'd share a brief snippet of her writing.

"How understandable it is that the spiritually-minded mothers would bring their children to Christ for His blessing (Mark 10:13-17)! How difficult to understand that so many mothers who profess devotion to their children fail to do so today! The truly wealthy children, the children to be envied, are the children born of praying parents...Prayer prepares a child's heart for early conversion. Prayer can solve the many difficult problems of child rearing. Prayer enriches every single phase of a child's life. Prayer brings our children that 'blessing of the Lord, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow to it' (Prov. 10:22)."

Another portion of the book focuses on preaching the Gospel to our children. So often it's easy to feel useless in the kingdom of God when I'm kept home or in the nursery with my child (countless moms have told me they have felt the same way). Not that I can't find ways to minister outside the home (I'm always brainstorming about this one...and it is a little more challenging with a nursing child), but, as a mother, my primary responsibility is with my child. Here's another snippet from the book:

"I love the story that has been told about Dwight L. Moody. Apparently, a zealous woman of a large family came to Mr. Moody with the news that God had called her to preach. Moody listened sympathetically. Then he said, "I agree with you. God has called you to preach. And your congregation is waiting for you outside - your six children."

I'm so thankful that my mother, who has taught me so much by her example, gave me this book. It has been such a blessing and encouragement to me as I learn how to be the mother God wants me to be.

The name for this blog is simply the meaning of my two names put together. My mother tells me that upon birthing me, her seventh child, she and my father realized how much grace they had been given from God and how much more grace they needed to raise their children to fear Him. To remind themselves of this abundant grace that they received they decided to name a child Grace. My middle name comes from my great-grandmother, Genny Florence. Ironically, she also went by her middle name too, I think. When I was young I didn't care too much for my known-name, "Flo." I tried to get people to call me Grace; I felt it was much prettier of a name. However, as I grew and developed I found that Flo stuck and now feel it better portrays my personality.

When I got married in the fall of 2010 I decided to ditch the name Grace. It was a constant hassle when dealing with legal issues, banks, doctors, and teachers - I constantly had to explain my preferred name versus my legal name; I thought enough was enough. My sister, who had successfully dropped her unused first name when she got married, told me that all she did was tell the social security office to drop it and make her maiden name her middle name. It seemed all too simple. A couple weeks after beginning married life I went to the SS office to claim my new card and my new name. However, when I got there the lady across the counter told me that I could not simply write off my first name. I would have to pay $130 and go through the court system. "Ridiculous," I thought. I'm not one to put up a fight; so, I simply said that it really didn't matter and that I would just keep my first name. It was at this point I realized how truly attached I was to my maiden name, Faris. I found a sense of pride in it. I was born a Faris, and in my opinion, would always be one. Those first few weeks of marriage were particularly emotional already for me, and when the lady told me I had to drop my maiden name completely I almost broke down crying in front of her...don't worry, I held off until I got in the car. :)

Now, it's been over a year since I said, "I do," and now I am just as proud to be a Blackwood as I was to be a Faris. Yet, I know that my last name is not my ultimate identity. I am a sister of Jesus Christ who has been forgiven and redeemed by His blood.

I write mostly to remind myself of the promises and purposes of God - finding joy in the life He gives. But, to any who stumble upon this blog, I hope that you find encouragement and that what I write about, whether my thoughts or the daily happenings of a stay-at-home mother and wife, is used to point you to Jesus Christ, the King of all the nations.