MOPS: Fall Fun House

Trick or Treat! We are in that time of the year where tricks and illusion come to the front of everyone's minds. There seems to be something in the human psyche that is forever drawn to masks and costumes, and to the thrill of surprise inherent in things mysterious and hidden. As a child, I remember dressing up as Princess Tiger Lily for several years running. Oh, the adventure of putting on that costume and pretending I was about to be rescued by Peter Pan!

While games of pretend and imagination can be fun and entertaining, they can also wear us down when we try to make the illusion become reality. Almost three decades removed from those Tiger Lily days, I sometimes find myself still pretending I am someone else: these days, it's the PTO-involved, fresh-cookies-after-school, never-yells-at-the-kids, folded-laundry-clean-house Perfect Mommy. The only problem is, I lack the sophistication or energy to pull off that kind of illusion. And being a mommy has clearly exposed some aspects of my self that I would actually prefer to be completely changed, not just masked.

The truth is, an even greater adventure awaits us in our journey with God. In Romans 12:2, the apostle Paul exhorts believers to “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” I have a choice to make: I can work hard to present an image that I am that Perfect Mommy, or I can allow God to transform me into His idea of the mommy He intends me to be.

Transformation is defined as a change in form, appearance, or character. Boy, could I use some of that! Paul tells us that transformation comes from the renewing of our minds. This renewal is the result of the Holy Spirit at work within us, which is facilitated by spending time reading and meditating on God's message in the Bible. The transformation that comes from allowing God's Word to percolate through our minds is so much more satisfying than trying to present an illusion. We learn to identify ourselves as uniquely created children of God. We become comfortable in our own skin, and can release the pressure of pretending to be someone we are not.

Why not take time during this “tricky” season to allow yourself to be transformed by the truth of God's Word? Psalm 139 talks about the wonder of being uniquely made by God, just the way you are—no illusion. I suggest you try this out for the next couple of weeks: if you can find even a few moments each morning to read a verse or two of this amazing chapter and ponder it, you will find that the truths you read bring the ultimate “treat” of real and lasting change in your heart. This thrill is something every mommy needs, and is the greatest adventure of all!

This article was first published in the newsletter of my local MOPS chapter, targeted at mothers of preschoolers. This year's theme is "Adventures in Mothering."