When I was pregnant with my first, I read all the pregnancy books, but I was wholly unprepared for all the changes that would take place after birth. We were in the hospital for three days until a failed induction led to an emergency C-section.
On the fourth day, they sent us home. I didn’t feel ready to take care of this new life on my own, because I felt like I had no clue what I was doing. We drove home so slowly, with new precious cargo in the backseat, and me holding my c-section incision. I was so swollen with IV fluids that I didn’t even fit into my clothes.
And then began the sleepless nights, the internal monologue, the external loneliness - and two more children in rapid succession. In the darkness of that time, I listened to the lies about myself and my motherhood. What I didn’t have was this – a time set aside to consider the unique struggles of mothering young children, a time to pray and hear God’s voice, and hopefully to combat the loneliness by knowing you are not alone.
Over the last 15 years of motherhood and 5 kids later, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve failed a lot, but I’ve also prayed a lot. And I’ve heard God’s voice speak his truth to me, and it has changed my life.
My goal for this retreat is for God to speak His truth to you to conquer the lies that we all struggle with.
It is set up in two parts: a talk, then prayer time, then repeat. The idea is to listen to the talk, and then take the journaling questions to prayer (ideally a half hour, ideally in the chapel because hey, this retreat is for you). Maybe after that, you take a walk, call a friend, have a snack. And then listen to the second talk and again spend some time in prayer. If you do it with a friend, you can have a small group and verbally process. And then, since you’ve had your prayer, do something nice that you enjoy - exercise, shopping, coffee, etc.
This is your retreat, so do with it what you will. It’s flexible to fit into your schedule.
I led this retreat in person with 25 moms last year, and I think it went really well, so I feel pretty good about you liking it, too.
Feel free to reach out with any questions, and without further ado: your talks and reflection questions.
Topics include: Identity lies, comparison traps, gratitude, honesty, struggles in motherhood, hearing God’s voice. Poverty of spirit, giving all you have, loneliness, prayer, transformation through the difficulties, hope, praying with Scripture and the Magnificat.
Talk 1: Identity Lies
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-21:50
Wisdom 2:24 / Isaiah 31:3 / Romans 13:12-14 / 1 Cor 13:4
“It is easy to look on the gifts of others as a threat. We often want what we don’t have, and in doing so, forget the good that God has given us. But wanting what is not rightfully ours is the root of many serious sins. Let us instead look at how generous God has been to us and rejoice in his generosity to others.” – From the March copy of the Magnificat
Renounce the lies
I am not good enough
I am unlovable
I am too much
I am not smart
I am broken
I am misunderstood
I am ugly
I am worthless
I am forgotten
I will never get it right
Announce the truth
I am enough
I am lovable
I am wanted
I am smart
I am understood
I am beautiful
I am worthwhile
I am remembered
I can get it right
Talk #1 Questions for Journaling:
Pray to be filled with the light, truth, and consolation of the Holy Spirit.
1. What is a problem that can have a concrete solution?
2. What are the lies of the accuser that you have been listening to? Write an example of a lie playing into your experience of motherhood and then renounce it.
“In the name of Jesus Christ, I renounce the lie that I am . . .”
3. Is there a truth that God wants to speak to you today? Is there a truth about yourself He wants you to know? Write it down and announce it.
“In the name of Jesus Christ, I announce the truth that I am. . .”
4. In what ways has God been generous to you? What can you be thankful for?
Spend time receiving from the Lord.
Talk 2: Coins, Cracks, and Change
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-17:01
Luke 21:4- “But she, out of her poverty, has put in all she had to live on.”
Mark 6:30-44 – “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest awhile.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. . . Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. As he landed he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them because they were like a sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the hour is not late; send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.’ But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat. And taking the five loaves and two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed, broke the loaves, gave them to his disciples. They all ate and were satisfied.”
Psalm 65- “Thus you prepared the land, breaking up its clods, softening it with showers, blessing its yield.”
Talk 3 Questions for Journaling:
1. In what ways do you feel empty or lonely?
2. Pray over the words of the Magnificat. How can we become more like Mary?
3. Look back on your week. What are some moments that you could have offered to God?
4. Spend time reflecting on how God is blessing your offering and transforming you.
Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
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