I was listening to "MomSense" recently, which is the radio nugget from MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers). Elisa Morgan was talking about how a little 3-year-old girl was emulating the actions of her mother. She mentioned how "powerful" we are as mothers. We have the power to shape the way our children do things. We have power to influence them for good or for evil. What they see us do in public and in private will make an indelible mark on their little lives. The way they are treated will ultimately be the way they treat others.

That got me to thinking . . . How does what I do influence the three blessings God has brought into my life?

My quiet times have been sporadic and irregular at best through many of these past eleven years of motherhood. I have had seasons of true communion and intimacy with Jesus, and I have had times of true wilderness and dusty, dry moments. I have felt God as close as my skin, and I have felt like an orphan out in the cold that He's completely forgotten.

Yet, what never ceases to amaze me is that when my children see me spending time with Jesus -- it always encourages them to do the same. If my girls see me in the Word, they run to their rooms and get their own Bibles and devotionals so that they may "meet with Jesus" too. They know if it is important to me, then they want to do it as well. My son is also starting to get into the act with his own "learn to read" Bible -- how that warms this mama's heart.

Now, I can let these moments go by, or I can use them to teach my children how valuable it is to devote time each day to build my relationship with the Creator of the universe. We are working through a devotional during school each day that is taking us through the days of creation. The kids have all been amazed at what God was able to accomplish in one day. What we accomplish comes far short of God's creation, yet we are entrusted with each day for its given purpose. Beginning the day with God's purposes on my heart certainly increases my chances of accomplishing them.

My prayer for my family, as well as for yours is to set out to accomplish only what God would have for us on this day. He has plans for each of our days, and He already knows what we will do. May we be about His business today!

This post was originally published in Oct. 2005 and tweaked for viewing today.