Fulltime Mama
My name is Elizabeth, and I am the happy wife of ten years to Fabio and fulltime mama to four beautiful children: Joshua-9, Dominique 7, Israel- almost 5, Johann-3 and expecting a new baby in April 2012! We are currently living in Brazil as missionaries and life never ceases to be an adventure!!!
I love motherhood with a passion and am passionate about providing a place here at MamaKnowsBest where mothers can learn, grow, and share ... pooling the wisdom of many into one big jackpot for mothers.
This is an exciting moment for me -one I have been looking forward to for some time - the chance to introduce you to Mrs. Margy Tripp!
Many of you may have heard of the book Shepherding a Child's Heart, which was written by her husband Tedd Tripp. He said at a recent conference at our church that even though Mrs. Tripp's name does not appear on the front of the book, her voice can be heard all through it as well.
More recently they have co-authored another book, Instructing a Child's Heart. These books are invaluable resources for parents who are interested in shaping their child's character from the inside out, rather than just requiring behavior modifications. Mrs. Tripp has generously agreed to donate some of these books to MamaKnowsBest readers, so check the bottom of this interview for details on how to win your copy!
It has been such a pleasure for me to hear from Mrs. Tripp's heart, and I am certain that you will enjoy it as much as I have. She has been so gracious in really taking time to deliver some deep truth to us in her words - in fact, so much so that I want to be sure that we all have time to properly digest what she has to share with us. Therefore, I have decided to publish the interview in several parts. Stay tuned for future segments within the next couple of weeks! And I hope you have read part one of the interview as well.
INTERVIEW WITH MRS. TRIPP
5. Looking back on your marriage what things did you learn that helped make your marriage more enjoyable? Pre-marriage romance is blind to or overlooks in the "loved one" those qualities which post marriage love tries to manipulate and change.Frustration, anger, and nagging are the result of disappointed expectations in the spouse.This is especially true of the wife toward her husband's foibles! The reality is that we cannot change our spouse!Personality is resilient.We can pray that the ways sin has affected us and our spouse will change by the work of God's Spirit.The happiest marriages are those where we accept one another unconditionally, rejoice in and enjoy one another's strengths, and pray for God's Spirit to bring conviction and change in one another in areas where sanctification is needed.This has brought us great appreciation for and enjoyment of one another and patience with one another's weaknesses. 6. What does submission within a marriage look like in day to day interaction? Submission is an attitude of heart, first toward God's overall purpose in our lives, and then to the ways His purposes are worked out in the relationships and circumstances of our lives.I believe that submission has been misinterpreted by the secular culture as slavish servility, rather than a rational and intentional determination to live in light of God's law and grace.If I am truly trusting my Heavenly Father's sovereign and loving care of me, then I can live in the daily joys, challenges, and disappointments without fear and anxiety.I can bring my insights, wisdom, and suggestions to my husband in a respectful way that does not demand his compliance to secure my support or contentment.I can pray (if he is a believer) that God will guide and protect my husband and me and my children.I can pray (if he is not a believer) that God will overrule the secular mind and bring wisdom and insight to blind eyes.If my hope in a particular decision or circumstance is not realized, I can be assured with the prophet Habakkuk in 3:17-19, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go to the heights."Or with the prophet, Isaiah, in chapter 26:3, 4, "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Submission in the daily stuff of life will exhibit the relational qualities of wisdom outlined in James 3:17, 18."But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."Lack of biblical submission will exhibit the relational qualities of this world in James 3:14-16, "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it in the day of truth.Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." Successful submission is based on hope in God, not the people and circumstances of our lives. 7. What are some ways you were able, as a mother with small children, to spend time with the Lord? I cannot say that I did these things well, but I have learned over the years, new ways to spend time with the Lord in the busyness of life.We must learn to take advantage of many means of grace available to us.Let me mention a few. ~ Learn Christian hymns that are theological digests of truth and self counsel.Hymns generally fall into two categories, those that rehearse poetically the theology about God and the Scripture and those that give human testimony to that truth.We need to memorize these hymns for the moments and hours when our nearness to God depends on the places our hearts and minds can retreat as we undertake the tasks before us. ~ The same is true of Scripture memorization.Concentrate on memorizing passages that minister to your pressing needs.Identify your struggles of heart and find God's spiritual remedies.Put them on 3x5 cards and set them on the counter where you do dishes or fold the laundry.Read and pray rather than catching Oprah or even the 700 Club (not a critique of the 700 Club – but a priority item).Time alone with God will be eminently more satisfying. ~ Determine to have the moments when you are in the worship service be focused on seeking and finding God rather than tomorrow's grocery list or what you can throw together for lunch today.Learn to concentrate on the words of the service leader, the hymns or songs. ~ Learn to use phone time or visiting time with friends and family to rejoice in the Lord and talk about spiritual things sometimes rather than just small talk. ~ Recognize that there are seasons of life.When your children are young, you may not have long periods of uninterrupted devotional time.I am now at a time in my life when I can spend as much time as I would like in God's Word and prayer.Your day will come. 8. How would you encourage stay at home moms who are tempted to be discouraged that they aren't able to be as actively involved in church life as they'd like to be? Here again, I want to remind us that there are seasons in our lives.Your mission field is your home when you are raising children.You ARE building the church as you raise your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.These are not unimportant years for you as you live in the body – but years of ministry to your family and years of preparation for future ministry.Perhaps you could choose one suitable and doable area of ministry in the church – perhaps mentoring a younger believer by a monthly note or a weekly (5 minute) phone call of encouragement.Ask someone to partner with you to write down for you or call you with needs you can pray for when you cannot attend prayer services. Ladies who can't dive into church life are tempted to feel that, "I just don't fit in."That is not true."Fitting in" may mean being served for a time, while you raise your children. You will have plenty of time to serve younger mothers who come after you.Choose areas of service that are doable in light of your primary calling to parent.Trust God to be satisfied with what you can do, and pray for and support those who can do more with a thankful spirit for their service to you.
This concludes this portion of the interview. I hope you have gleaned much from Mrs. Tripp's wisdom, as I have! Please stay tuned in the coming days for forthcoming portions of the interview. In future segments, Mrs. Tripp will be sharing on the following questions:
9. What's your favorite book of the Bible and why? (or if you would prefer to talk about a favorite verse, that is okay too.) 10. What have you found most challenging about motherhood, and how did you handle this challenge? 11. When life gets hectic, how did you maintain a feeling of connectedness with your children? 12. What book or resource helped you the most as a mother? 13. Have you ever done a home business or worked outside the home, and if so, how did you balance that work with your responsibilities in the home? 14. Looking back, is there anything you have learned since the time your children were small that you would pass on to younger mothers in regard to prioritizing marriage, housework, child training, etc.? 15. Please tell us a little bit about Instructing a Child's Heart.
ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF THEIR BOOKS!!! If you would like to be registered to win a copy of Shepherding a Child's Heart and/or Instructing a Child's Heart, please leave a comment below, including your email address so we can contact you. You can be entered for one comment per interview segment, so continue to read and leave comments on the forthcoming segments as well. And even if you left a comment for Part One, leave a comment here as well to increase your odds! We will do the drawing after the last segment has been published on the site. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER AT MKB TO LEAVE A COMMENT! I DONT MIND SHIPPING INTERNATIONALLY AS WELL, SO FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN THE USA! One set of these books will be placed in a separate drawing exclusively for those who have added our button to their blog or website! If you have done so, please let us know so we can check out your site for confirmation.
I really enjoyed what you had to say on prioritizing our families over other outreaches.
Posted byJessica on April 21, 2009
I enjoyed the section on how we cannot change our spouses. I will most definitely pass this on to my sister and mother particularly! God is so good.
Posted byAnna on April 14, 2009
I think the greatest part of the interview, for me, was during part two, when she talked about spending time with God while being a young mama and feeling like "where do I fit?" at church. I actually was thinking about those things earlier today, so that really spoke to me. Sometimes I feel so bad because I feel like I should be doing more to help others/volunteering/keeping up with a mommy group I have joined. It kind of overwhelms me, but I know ultimately what I need to be doing most is be a mommy and a wife right now...those other things will come and Esther being a little one will not last but a short time.
Posted byMichelle on April 10, 2009
I also enjoyed her thoughts on memorizing hymns, etc. It was refreshing to remember that time with the Lord isn't confined to a method but is based on communing with Him throughout the day. Thanks Mrs. Tripp!
Posted byLady Roadkill on April 10, 2009
This was very interesting and refreshing. I like the ideas she gives for finding time with the Lord.
Posted byAbby on April 10, 2009
I really enjoyed this article from a wise and Godly woman. Looking foward to reading the next part!
Posted byPhyllis on April 09, 2009
I would like to enter the drawing again. :-) And I have a MamaKnowsBest button on my blog, too:
http://fylliska.blogspot.com/
Posted byTerri on April 08, 2009
Thanks for sharing the wisdom accumulated over the years.
Any information found on this website do not dispense medical, legal or professional advice, nor do they prescribe any treatment or strategy that should be tested without the advice of a professional. Information presented on this site is for educational or entertainment purposes only. You are responsible for your own actions should you use any information found on this site. Please use common sense and good judgement and be always cautious and wise in everything you do. Remember, "A Wise Mama is A Good Mama."
...Tedd Tripp speaks on parenting...
Comments and Discussion Wall
Posted by Debra on April 22, 2009
