Latest / The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom / 196. Glory All Around: Finding Gratitude in Every Season
Transcript
- 0:02[SPEAKER_00]: Christian parenting.
- 0:09[SPEAKER_00]: Hey, Mama!
- 0:10[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Pamela Hinkelman and you're listening to the Midlife Mama podcast.
- 0:14[SPEAKER_00]: The show for Christian moms who want to let go with grace and actually enjoy their emptiness.
- 0:20[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a certified emptiness coach, speaker, and mom of five grown kids.
- 0:25[SPEAKER_00]: I know the challenges this season brings from letting go to setting healthy boundaries, to rediscovering your purpose, and reconnecting with your husband.
- 0:34[SPEAKER_00]: Each week I'll be your guide.
- 0:36[SPEAKER_00]: offering heartfelt conversations, faith-filled encouragement and practical strategies to help you thrive in this next chapter.
- 0:43[SPEAKER_00]: My husband and I are loving the emptiness years and I have strong growing relationships with my adult kids and I want the same for you.
- 0:52[SPEAKER_00]: Don't miss the end of each episode.
- 0:54[SPEAKER_00]: I'll share a quick coaching tip you can apply right away
- 0:57[SPEAKER_00]: to improve your relationship with your kids or your spouse.
- 1:01[SPEAKER_00]: One favor before we dive in, if you find this episode helpful, would you leave a rating and review?
- 1:07[SPEAKER_00]: It helps other moms discover the show.
- 1:09[SPEAKER_00]: There's a link in the show notes with instructions.
- 1:12[SPEAKER_00]: Make sure you're following the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.
- 1:16[SPEAKER_00]: Now let's get started.
- 1:18[SPEAKER_00]: Come back to the midlife mama podcast, the place for faith friendship and real talk for empty-nast moms.
- 1:24[SPEAKER_00]: As we gather around the Thanksgiving table today, my heart is full of gratitude with you.
- 1:30[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you're listening this morning as you are preparing your Thanksgiving meal or you're catching up later.
- 1:38[SPEAKER_00]: I just want you to know that my heart is full of gratitude for you, this beautiful community of women, learning to trust God in every season.
- 1:46[SPEAKER_00]: The holidays can stir up so many emotions.
- 1:50[SPEAKER_00]: Joy, nostalgia, even a little ache for.
- 1:53[SPEAKER_00]: what once was, but there's something powerful about pausing to notice God's presence right where we are.
- 2:00[SPEAKER_00]: Today, I want to invite you to pause the meal prep, slow down, breathe in his goodness, and reflect on the simple truth found in Psalm 9-1.
- 2:09[SPEAKER_00]: I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart.
- 2:13[SPEAKER_00]: This episode is called Glory All Around, and it's a gentle reminder that God's Glory is breaking through our ordinary moments and gratitude helps us see it more clearly.
- 2:24[SPEAKER_00]: So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's talk about how gratitude changes everything.
- 2:31[SPEAKER_00]: I wait for my morning coffee to finish brewing as I open the large blind in my living room picture window and I look past my cozy front porch to the horizon and I gaze to the neighbors yards and in the distance God's glory breaks forth.
- 2:45[SPEAKER_00]: The dawn greets me with brilliant shades of pink and purple wisps.
- 2:49[SPEAKER_00]: What is it about the sunrise that captures my soul each day?
- 2:53[SPEAKER_00]: It's newness, it's life, the darkness is pushed back, and God is simply showing off for me.
- 2:59[SPEAKER_00]: I hear Papa Whisper, I'm here, I'm with you, I hold this day and everything that will happen.
- 3:07[SPEAKER_00]: I'll never leave you.
- 3:08[SPEAKER_00]: The beauty is arresting as the light filters through low-lying clouds.
- 3:14[SPEAKER_00]: All I can say is thank you, God.
- 3:17[SPEAKER_00]: My first inclination each morning isn't to grab my phone or rush headlong into my endless to-do list.
- 3:25[SPEAKER_00]: I want to create space and remove all clutter that keeps me from God.
- 3:29[SPEAKER_00]: The first thing I want to do each day is experience God.
- 3:32[SPEAKER_00]: I'm on the lookout for his presence.
- 3:35[SPEAKER_00]: I whisper my thanksgiving, and I make an earnest attempt to remain in gratitude.
- 3:41[SPEAKER_00]: I capture the sunrise image on my gratitude list as a reminder of God's faithful presence, and I make a habit of recording my thanks, so my vision of God remains focused in pure, untainted by the cares of the world.
- 3:55[SPEAKER_00]: Gratitude makes God greater.
- 3:57[SPEAKER_00]: Gratitude doesn't deny our hard places.
- 4:01[SPEAKER_00]: It's simply
- 4:06[SPEAKER_00]: Let's face it, parenting is hard.
- 4:08[SPEAKER_00]: It breaks us and cuts us to the core, especially when our children struggle in their relationships, health, or their connection with God.
- 4:17[SPEAKER_00]: We worry endlessly, hands thrown to heaven.
- 4:21[SPEAKER_00]: We wonder why God isn't moving frustration and bitterness rise to the surface.
- 4:26[SPEAKER_00]: And in our pain, we sometimes turn from God.
- 4:29[SPEAKER_00]: But gratitude is the antidote for a bleeding mama's heart.
- 4:34[SPEAKER_00]: Gratitude is all about shifting gaze from self to God.
- 4:38[SPEAKER_00]: We get it wrong when we think we have nothing to be thankful for.
- 4:42[SPEAKER_00]: We mix up the order and think, well, if my life was my children was going, well, I too can be thankful.
- 4:49[SPEAKER_00]: And Vos Camp said, the light heart knows joy precedes the miracle.
- 4:54[SPEAKER_00]: Thanksgiving always comes before the divine moves.
- 4:59[SPEAKER_00]: Scoffers often struggle with gratitude, grumbling and wallowing are easy.
- 5:03[SPEAKER_00]: It's part of the human condition to focus on self to not have the capacity to see beyond the here and now, to see with eyes of faith.
- 5:13[SPEAKER_00]: But I am confident a thankful heart sees more clearly in
- 5:19[SPEAKER_00]: So let's talk about three reasons seeking gratitude, helps when parenting hurts.
- 5:24[SPEAKER_00]: The practice of gratitude helps us see God more clearly.
- 5:28[SPEAKER_00]: That's the number one reason.
- 5:30[SPEAKER_00]: It teaches us to know this God.
- 5:32[SPEAKER_00]: It softens our hearts and opens our eyes to God's goodness all around.
- 5:36[SPEAKER_00]: Gratitude helps us find God in the middle of the muck.
- 5:41[SPEAKER_00]: To practice gratitude, we slow down and become aware of beautiful things, because when we see beauty, we seek God.
- 5:49[SPEAKER_00]: We seek God in nature, in the smile of our loved ones, in the smell of a good cup of copy, in the inspired word of God, in the delight of your grandchild's giggle, in the light as it hits the wood floor, in the hug of a friend, in the kind words of a stranger.
- 6:08[SPEAKER_00]: Hey mama, if your house feels too quiet and your heart feels too heavy after launching your child, I've created a guide just for you.
- 6:16[SPEAKER_00]: It's called journaling through transitional grief.
- 6:20[SPEAKER_00]: A gentle, faith-filled resource to help you process the deep emotions of letting go.
- 6:25[SPEAKER_00]: Inside you'll find six reflection questions that will help you name your feelings.
- 6:31[SPEAKER_00]: invite God into the grief and experience his comfort in the middle of change.
- 6:36[SPEAKER_00]: Remember, transitional grief is only a season and God is leading you toward peace, purpose, and joy.
- 6:43[SPEAKER_00]: You can grab your free copy at the link in the show notes.
- 6:47[SPEAKER_00]: Now, let's get back to our conversation.
- 6:50[SPEAKER_00]: The second thing we learn is that when we focus on God, our troubles recede, as we narrow in and notice, God expands.
- 6:59[SPEAKER_00]: Our focus on Him makes our troubles shrink back.
- 7:03[SPEAKER_00]: We don't deny hardship, we simply elevate the goodness of God in the midst of it.
- 7:08[SPEAKER_00]: This is the key.
- 7:09[SPEAKER_00]: As we notice, we welcome a
- 7:16[SPEAKER_00]: Peace, joy, and delight are a matter of focus.
- 7:21[SPEAKER_00]: They are the fruit of looking to God.
- 7:23[SPEAKER_00]: And as we turn to God, our cares become smaller while he becomes greater.
- 7:29[SPEAKER_00]: Our vision is focused on seeing God.
- 7:32[SPEAKER_00]: Reason number three is, we write it down so that we remember.
- 7:38[SPEAKER_00]: You may ask, why make a list?
- 7:40[SPEAKER_00]: Why do we write the gratitude down?
- 7:43[SPEAKER_00]: Well, there's power in recording what we see.
- 7:45[SPEAKER_00]: It makes it more tangible and believable.
- 7:49[SPEAKER_00]: And it's a reminder to continue to keep our eyes focused on God to rise above the cares of the world and to truly see Him.
- 7:57[SPEAKER_00]: The list reminds us of his involvement in our days.
- 8:01[SPEAKER_00]: He's near, he's right here, and we often suffer from spiritual amnesia when our hearts hurt for our adult children.
- 8:10[SPEAKER_00]: As we return to our gratitude list each day, we experience the fullness of God.
- 8:14[SPEAKER_00]: We remember His goodness.
- 8:17[SPEAKER_00]: There's no denying parenting is often heartbreaking, but seeking gratitude, buoys our spirits helps us be in tune to God's presence and teaches us to rehearse His faithfulness.
- 8:30[SPEAKER_00]: Clarity is sharpest for the thankful heart.
- 8:34[SPEAKER_00]: Do you see it?
- 8:37[SPEAKER_00]: Mama, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, whether your table is full or a few chairs are empty, know this.
- 8:44[SPEAKER_00]: God's glory is still all around you.
- 8:47[SPEAKER_00]: The same God who paints the sunrise is present in your living room, your kitchen, and your heart.
- 8:53[SPEAKER_00]: Graditive doesn't erase the pain of parenting or the ache of change, but it opens our eyes to seize God's steady hand holding us through it all.
- 9:03[SPEAKER_00]: And as you jot down your blessing today, may your list remind you, he is near, he is good, and he is worthy of all your thanks.
- 9:12[SPEAKER_00]: Here's your coaching tip for the week.
- 9:15[SPEAKER_00]: In each episode, I will give you one actionable step to improve your life.
- 9:19[SPEAKER_00]: Remember, you can't change everything, but you can take one step to be better.
- 9:24[SPEAKER_00]: If you haven't yet, start a gratitude journal.
- 9:28[SPEAKER_00]: Write down three things a day.
- 9:30[SPEAKER_00]: Ask God to expand your vision to help you see beauty all around and then write it down.
- 9:42[SPEAKER_00]: So you can see more.
- 9:45[SPEAKER_00]: Lama, I'm so grateful for you for every message, every download, and every moment we share here together.
- 9:51[SPEAKER_00]: Happy Thanksgiving.
- 9:53[SPEAKER_00]: And until next time, Grace and Peace to you, Mama, you've got this, and God's got you.
- 10:00[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for spending time with me on the Midlife Mama Podcast.
- 10:03[SPEAKER_00]: I hope you leave each episode feeling a little more encouraged, equipped, and seen, because that's what this space is all about.
- 10:10[SPEAKER_00]: Through the stories, insights, and conversations we share here, I'm coaching you through the ups and downs of the empty nest.
- 10:17[SPEAKER_00]: Helping you rediscover purpose, deepen faith, and enjoy this new season of life.
- 10:22[SPEAKER_00]: If you're ready for an even more personalized support, I'd love to invite you to book a free connection column.
- 10:27[SPEAKER_00]: The link is in the show notes and we'll talk about how I can walk alongside you as your coach.
- 10:32[SPEAKER_00]: And let's stay connected.
- 10:34[SPEAKER_00]: Follow me on Instagram at P-Hinkleman.
- 10:37[SPEAKER_00]: That's P-H-E-N-K-E-L-M-A-N or come find me on Facebook at Pamela Hinkleman, M-D-Nest Coach.
- 10:45[SPEAKER_00]: You don't have to figure this all out on your own mama.
- 10:48[SPEAKER_00]: I'm here for you when you're ready.