by sherricrandall | May 9, 2025 | General
There’s a holy rhythm to motherhood—a divine dance that begins with that first cry in the delivery room and continues long after your children have children of their own. As I have journeyed through the seasons of mothering, each phase offered its unique challenges alongside moments of indescribable joy. For me, the title “Mom” is perhaps the greatest honor I’ve ever been given, a responsibility bestowed by God that transformed me in ways I never imagined possible. I have experienced my mothering phases like this…
The newborn fog – Those first precious months were a blur of midnight feedings and overwhelming love. Your body is healing, your heart is expanding, and sleep becomes a distant memory. The challenges are real—the physical exhaustion, the constant worry, the feeling that you might be doing everything wrong. But oh, the joy of those tiny fingers wrapped around yours! The miracle of watching your baby’s first smile, knowing that God entrusted this perfect soul to your care. In those exhausted moments, remember that you are exactly the mother your child needs.
The toddler whirlwind – As your baby grows, so does their determination and curiosity. Suddenly, everything is “mine” and “no” becomes their favorite word. The challenges shift from physical demands to emotional ones as you navigate tantrums and boundless energy. Yet this phase brings the delight of witnessing your child discover the world—their contagious laughter as they splash in puddles, their pride in mastering new skills, their uninhibited joy in the simplest pleasures. These are the days when a kiss truly can heal all wounds, and when you’re reminded how God sees each of us through eyes of unconditional love.
The shepherding years – The days of sending them off with lunchboxes and watching them forge their own friendships brings a new complexity to motherhood. They are able to dress themselves and brush their own teeth and most days feel like you are on repeat. You’re guiding them through friendship troubles, academic pressures, and growing independence. The challenges can be heartbreaking—you can’t solve every problem or shield them from every hurt. But witnessing their character develop, their confidence grow, and their unique gifts emerge brings immeasurable pride. In this season, you’re really guiding them to hear God’s voice alongside your own.
The teen years – Perhaps no phase tested my mother’s heart quite like adolescence. The push-pull of wanting independence while still needing guidance can create tension in even the closest relationships. Yet these years also bring deep conversations about faith, values, and dreams. The joy comes in glimpsing the adults they’re becoming—their convictions, their compassion, their courage. Trust the foundation you’ve built and the God who loves them even more than you do. I know, easier said than done.
The adult children blessing – The relationship shifts again as they build their own lives, perhaps becoming parents themselves. The challenge becomes finding your new role and navigating this adult relationship with grace. But oh, the profound joy of friendship with your grown children! Of seeing them walk in their purpose and perhaps passing on your legacy of traditions and faith to another generation. Remembering to allow them to make their own mistakes which leads to their mark on this world.
Through every season, I have found that motherhood is a mix of ordinary daily tasks and a sacred calling. Whether by birth, adoption, fostering, or mentoring, the privilege of nurturing the next generation is a reflection of our Heavenly Father’s love. On the hardest days and the most beautiful ones, you are doing meaningful work and your investment matters. You are leaving a legacy – because once a mom, always a mom.
To every mother reading this—you are seen, you are valued, and your love is making an eternal difference.
Wishing you all a very Happy Mother’s Day!
Blessings!
Sherri
by sherricrandall | Apr 18, 2025 | General
The other day I walked past a chain link fence in downtown Nashville adorned with prayer ribbons gently moving in the breeze. In the midst of honky-tonk music, traffic, and tourists, these silent wishes stopped me in my tracks.
We rush through our days making noise, chasing goals, scrolling feeds—while prayers like these form the quiet backdrop of our humanity. Whispered hopes, silent gratitude, desperate pleas—they’re happening all around us, even when we can’t hear them.
In our loudest moments, these threads of connection remind us what matters most. The noise fades, but our prayers remain, tying us together across time and circumstance.
What’s your quiet prayer today?
by sherricrandall | Apr 12, 2025 | General
I love the changing of the seasons and springtime provides such beautiful metaphors for life…
In the heart of every person lies a cycle much like the seasons, where winters of doubt and hardship inevitably yield to the springtime of possibility. The cherry blossoms that explode into pink clouds after months of bare branches remind me that our moments of greatest beauty often follow periods of apparent emptiness, teaching us that patience is not merely waiting but the invisible work of renewal happening beneath the surface.
Are you ready for spring?
by sherricrandall | Feb 21, 2025 | General
I recently spent 10 days in Africa, Kenya to be precise. It truly was an amazing experience. As I have reflected on my time there , I keep returning to the unbelievable thought of how joyful the people are. I witnessed real hardship. Families living without electricity and running water. A shortage of food and medical care. Lack of schooling opportunities and unsafe living conditions due to crime and shelter inadequacy. So how can people be so joyful when I just told you all they have to overcome to survive each day?
I believe one of our MomCo leaders gave me insight to answer that question. Her name is Favour and she is an incredible woman. She lives in Zambia and her heart for Jesus and young moms is truly inspiring to me. I have had the pleasure of spending time with Favour several times now over the last few years and each time I leave her presence inspired. On our first day together I asked her how she was doing and she answered, “ I am doing well, by the grace of God.” When asked if she had a good night sleep or if she was learning a lot at the leadership summit she would answer, “Yes, by the grace of God.” Favour has a deep faith in God and truly lives out her faith even in her genuine responses to ordinary questions. She lives every day by the grace of God. Reality is if you are reading this, you are alive, by the grace of God.
I also learned a lot from the African culture which I think helped me to understand their joy despite their circumstances. Here are a few things I observed…
- Strong Community – Many African cultures emphasize communal living and close-knit relationships. This helps provide emotional support and a sense of belonging.
- Resilience and Optimism – Despite the many challenges, I watched the African women show up and work hard to provide for their families each and every day.
- Deep Rooted Culture – Music, dance, storytelling and festivals are central to many of the countries in Africa. These activities create shared moments of happiness.
- Connection to Nature – Many Africans live in close harmony with nature. I think this creates a sense of peace and appreciation for life.
- Faith is Important – Faith plays a significant role in many African societies. Having faith in Jesus and the promise of eternal life provides comfort, purpose and a positive outlook.
I am even more convinced that happiness comes from our circumstances and JOY comes from the Lord!
by sherricrandall | Oct 10, 2024 | General
This past week is one of my favorite weeks of every year… MOMCON! The organization that I work for ( The MomCo ) hosts a huge conference every year for moms. Yes, you read that correctly. It is a unique setting that caters to placing high value on motherhood and Jesus. It is amazing and thousands of women attend every year. Everyday is jammed packed with inspiration from gifted main stage speakers, worship music, workshops, networking and just plain fun.
After one of the workshops that I taught, a sweet lady came up to me and said, “ I wish I could be the same woman I am at home as I am here at MOMCON.” I asked her to clarify for me what she meant by that statement. She went on to tell me that at the conference she was open to learning new things. She was actually slowing down and enjoying her food, she was listening intently to what others were saying and she was relaxed and found herself laughing, singing and dancing. She said she was so uptight at home, always worried she wasn’t doing everything right, that she was robbing herself and her kids from having fun, from learning, from laughing, from experiencing joy. She cried when she thanked me and told me she wasn’t going to waste this mountain top experience.
I have thought a lot about this mom since I got back home. I wonder how she is doing. Is she making those changes she so desperately wants to make or has she slid back into the daily worries and grind of her mothering routine?
Many of us who are Christians, have experienced that mountain top moment when we attend a conference, a camp. or a special Sunday morning. It is a time when we really encounter God in a deep way. These moments are amazing and provide us with spiritual growth. I would caution us to not just seek the spiritual high or think we only can encounter God in those types of moments or settings. We experience God in the valleys or difficult times in our lives too. But, if we are being really honest, most of our days are not the highest of highs or thankfully the lowest of lows. Most days fall into the category of mundane, a wake up and do it all over again type of day. Guess what, God is in those days too. Sometimes we just need to make the effort to look for him.
So now what? We are home, back to our daily lives. Normalcy is about to kick in. The best mountain top experiences will be the ones that can propel us forward and help us find renewal. I think MOMCON can be a catalyst for this type of transformation. Here are a few ways to process your experience…
- If you took notes, review them. What really spoke to you?
- Revisit how you felt. What was it that made this experience so meaningful for you?
- Ask yourself this question… What from this experience could you incorporate in your everyday life so that you can more frequently encounter God?
I pray for those of you who attended MOMCON. I pray that because of your time spent there you are freed to live with a deeper love for God and a stronger connection for the loved ones in your life and those you will encounter in random places. All is orchestrated by God, let’s be open to receiving all he has in store for us!
by sherricrandall | Jul 12, 2024 | General
She sits at a welcome desk in the hallway of a dimly lit medical building. It is an older building, sort of a hodgepodge of confusing hallways linking together X-ray departments, oncology units, and physical therapy departments. Most people entering this building are there because they are injured or sick.
My first time to enter this building was two days post a total hip replacement and to say I felt out of sorts is an understatement. I shuffled my steps with the aid of a walker and my already bad sense of direction was heightened by the fog of pain medicine. I looked down the hall and the entry door to the physical therapy clinic felt like an impossible destination. Soon a very kind lady was at my side asking me and my husband if we needed assistance and encouraging me with the idea that it will only get better from here. She ended her encouragement with these words, “ I promise to be praying for you and I sure hope you start to feel better sugar.” When was the last time someone called you sugar?
Since that day I have been greeted over a dozen times with the same sweet smile and some form of encouragement. I have learned her name is Mary. Mary has big hair, big eyelashes, a stellar big white smile all on top of a very petite stature. I have witnessed first hand that her heart is the biggest of all. There isn’t a time I have walked into this building when she has not greeted me personally. At the same time, I have seen her assisting patients in wheelchairs, giving directions to lost patients and always with a big smile on her face. This past week as I came into the building I didn’t see her at first but then I looked over at a couch nestled in the entryway and there sitting with a couple was Mary. She was praying with them and they were all crying. I slipped past the door and into my physical therapy session not wanting to disturb this sacred moment.
On my way out, I stopped to tell her what an amazing lady she is. She was so humble in receiving my compliments and she told me her goal each day was to create an environment that helps people know they’re not alone – even in the most painful moments of their lives. Mary serves as an inspiration to me and I am sure so many others who have experienced her kindness and love.
My encounters with Mary have me asking myself how can I better show up in the lives of others to encourage and share the love of Jesus? How can you?
