When Questions: What’s Your Outlook?
by Shelly Radic

Whenever I view the painting “Outlook” by Peter Quidley, I’m curious about the woman who’s portrayed gazing out across the water through her telescope. While some people search for answers to their who, what and how questions, I imagine she’s looking for an answer to her “when” question. When will my husband’s ship come in? She couldn’t discern the answer from her kitchen window or even through the window in her upstairs bedroom, so she peered across the broadest possible horizon, hoping to find an answer.

All the moms I know ask “when” questions. Questions such as:
When will my family’s income stretch to cover our monthly bills?
When will I have enough patience to deal with these tantrums?
When will my kids keep track of their own things?
When will I find a friend who understands me?
When will God heal my broken heart?

As moms, we’re constantly waiting for answers to our “when” questions. One I asked through years of wrangling multiple car seats was, “When will my kids be able to get in and out of the car by themselves?” I’m not sure of the exact date, but now all my kids not only get in and out of cars by themselves, but also they can drive. It was a pain at times, waiting for an answer to that “when” question.

Other “when” questions are pain-filled. One of my friends had just experienced a still birth. Having experienced infertility for several years, she asked, “When will I have a baby?” And now she continues to ask. Today, my friend’s “when” question is more pain-filled than ever.

“When” questions. Like the woman gazing across the water with her telescope, a mom often finds hope by expanding her outlook. That’s what’s good about MOPS and MOMSnext. Better than a telescope, MOPS moms expand their outlook as they know and grow their core and as they develop finesse in handling things such as car seat safety. MOPS moms expand their outlook through a circle of friends who send cards and bring meals during the pain-filled times when the answer to a “when” question seems like never. MOPS offers moms the hope found in God who created the grandscape, who knows the exact answer to every “when” question and offers the resilience to deal with that answer.

Outlook. Momology provides a foundation of learning for all the years of mothering. Kids grow, issues change, but the art and science of mothering continues. While you learn and grow, you’ll find answers to some of your “when” questions. As for your other questions? Our prayer is that through MOPS, your outlook includes the hope found in a supportive mom community and a growing relationship with God. That the answer to every “when” question includes the hope found in Psalm 139:10, “Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Shelly Radic, is the Interim CEO of MOPS International and and author of Momology.