Meeting Recap - January 10th, 2013

Happy New Year MOPS mommies!  Our first meeting of 2013 featured a compelling guest speaker, Susan Wallace.  But first we had a delicious breakfast and some announcements!

• Congrats to Jeanne Duval on the birth of Mary Grace on Dec. 27th!
• Happy Birthday to Ivonne L. and Beate T.!
• It is not too late to join a Bible study.  Sisters Bible Study meets on Tuesdays at 9:20 am at First Baptist. They will be studying "Seeking Him" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  Childcare is available - click here to register.
• The Griefshare group will begin meeting on Wednesdays starting January 16th at 6pm at First Baptist.  Email griefshare@cvillefbc.net for more information or to register.
• In need of fellowship?  The FBC Women's Connection will be having "Sweet Mondays" on the second Monday evening of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in various homes in our area.  Contact Nancy Ryalls for more information.

We got to know some of our members a bit better on Thursday...did you know that Stephanie D.  completed the Boston Marathon last April?  Terri V. retired at just forty years old. Ivonne L. lived with a tribe in Columbia for a month...Rebecca A. once worked as a park naturalist, and Amy got her hunting license while in the 10th grade! 

Our door prize winners were Stephanie D. and Beate T.  Congrats ladies!

A "play date" skit

To get us "warmed up" for our speaker, a few of our talented MOPS moms presented us with a skit.  The skit transported us to a play date where each mom tried to "one-up" the other by comparing their kids, husbands, etc.  Thanks ladies!

Next we heard from Susan Wallace, a speaker, writer, mother of three boys, and former MOPS leader.  Susan talked to us about "The Comparison Trap".  She said that when we compare ourselves to other women, we take one of her strengths and make it our weakness. 

Susan Wallace

Teddy Roosevelt once said that "Comparison is the thief of joy."  And Susan agrees that comparing is wrong, destructive, and in some cases sinful.  Susan offers that there are four things at the root of comparing:  Insecurity, Fear/Worry, Deception, and Covetousness.  She says that comparing will keep you from truly seeing others, and thus forming lasting friendships.

So how do we stop comparing?  Susan says we need to remember to put others before ourselves, and "Love one another".  Secondly, we should let our guards down and be real with each other.  She says you shouldn't compare unless you are going to share.  In other words, if you are comparing yourself to that mom who is always dressed impeccably, share with her that you admire her style and have been in a fashion "frump" lately.  Ask her for advice and help!  You can get some tips and she will get a confidence boost.

Finally, when we are tempted to compare ourselves to another mom favorably and find ourselves saying, "I'm glad that's not me", we should turn that into "instant prayer" according to Susan.  Susan says that we all have "bumper stickers".  Your bumper sticker might say, "I am depressed" or "I've had several miscarriages" or "My husband just lost his job".  You never know what that other mom is dealing with. 

Susan urges us to bring up our children to know that they are exactly who God wants them to be.  When they are confident of this they will be less likely to compare themselves with others.  To that end, we should strive to not judge others, especially in front of our kids.  When you are out with your children, resist the urge to comment on a strangers clothing or hairstyle.  On the positive side, we need to make gratitude, not comparison, a part of our day.  If you are tempted to compare, think of something you are blessed with and thank God for it.

We concluded our meeting by discussing at our tables what our "bumper stickers" would say, and also by sharing a time when we took someone's strength and made it our weakness.  Thanks so much to Susan Wallace for this helpful and thought-provoking talk.  (If you are interested in Susan's book, Always There, click here for more information.)

Our next meeting is on January 24th.  We will be hearing from Dr. Scott, a local dermatologist and husband to one of our MOPS moms.  See you then!