I know that many times in my life I feel overwhelmed and find myself at a loss as to how I could possibly pull my head back above the surface. At times it seems that my family is going through the motions of life without really feeling the love that exists. Day after day of screaming and fighting children, losing patience and feeling lonely and exhausted leave me empty and devoid of emotion.

And then it strikes me - when is the last time I really prayed to God? When is the last time I really studied the Holy Scriptures? And can these things really help to strengthen the love within my family?

Pray for them

Prayer is something that can be either routine and quick, or deep and heartfelt. The routine and quick kind are the ones that most of us probably would admit to doing much of the time. But ask yourself this, when is the last time I got down on my knees in a quiet moment and poured out my heart to God?

Prayer is one of the best ways to start getting out of those overwhelming life modes and can bring a struggling family back together. If you take the time to start having sincere prayers on your own and then make a concerted effort to pray together as a family, the Spirit of the Lord will come into your home and your family will feel it. Praying specifically for certain family members helps them know how much you love and care about their own trials. It often takes time, but God does hear your prayers and will answer them in his own time.

Study his word

Studying the scriptures is one of the ways that God answers prayers. If you are praying for your family to be closer and more tightly knit together, the answers you need are waiting in the scriptures. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (KJV Luke 11:9)

Practice obedience

Other simple acts of obedience are good ways to draw closer to God and subsequently strengthen the love in your family. Attend church services, visit your neighbors and friends, serve others in need. All these small acts of charity and love will demonstrate what kind of person you are to your family. The spirit of God will be in your heart and help you to be more kind and loving at home. And the others around you will feel the love that you have for them.

These small acts of obedience to God can sometimes be seen as a way to take away time from your family. But God will bless your family as a reward for your service to him. He will help things be a little easier for your family or give others the opportunity to serve your family. Your family will be blessed for your obedient acts.

You might be thinking, "That all sounds well and good, but if I don't have time for everything that is already on my plate, how can I possibly fit in time for God?" God is always there. It is always a good time for him to hear your prayers. Pray whenever you might have a moment to yourself, even if it's in the shower or driving in the car. Make a habit of reading at least one verse of scripture each day. These small efforts will be rewarded by continually keeping God's spirit with you, to help guide your daily decisions in all things. And your good decisions will help your family to grow and thrive and come together.

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Not only did I have my first baby and graduate from college, but then we moved to another state, far away from any family. My husband went away to grad school each day and the reality set in. I was alone at home, no car, no friends, with an infant. I was so lost, didn't know what to do with myself, and mostly just lonely. I didn't know who I was or what I contributed to society. It was a depressing, difficult year.

Then I started crafting. When I rediscovered my creativity, it awakened something deep inside me - my self-worth, my confidence, me. How did this happen? How did crafting help build my self-esteem?

1. Creativity focuses your mind on something productive rather than destructive

One of the common symptoms when depressed is self-obsession. People tend to focus on their own problems and issues, on what is making them sad, on why their life is not going well. It is destructive behavior, and the only way to get away from that is by doing something the opposite of destructive - to do something productive. Crafting, by the very definition, is to create something. To take everyday materials and put them together in intricate and interesting ways to make something useful.

By producing amazing things, I steered my mind away from negative thoughts and focused on making beautiful and useful things. And the more I created, the more there was to create. I decorated my living room mantle and then realized I hated the color of my couch. So I sewed a slipcover. And that was only the beginning of my decorating obsession.

2. Finished projects receive compliments and give you validation that what you are doing is good. Everyone loves a compliment. But when you are a stay-at-home-mom, keeping house and chasing after children, people rarely take the time to say "Wow! You do such a good job at keeping your children alive!" or "Way to get five loads of laundry washed today!" But people do give compliments on tangible things, even further impressed when you possess the skills to CREATE said object. And that is validating.

My house is clean sometimes, but with three little kids, it's virtually impossible to keep it clean all the time. And what a waste of energy. I'd so much rather make something amazing that people will notice and admire. Those compliments make my hard work feel worth it and even if I don't get a compliment, the very fact that I think it's awesome is enough. I try not to live for validation, but it has helped me to build my confidence and know that what I'm doing is a step in the right direction.

3. Accomplishing something by yourself gives you courage to tackle bigger projects and learn new skills.So you're thinking Yes, OK. I want to try creating something. But I don't know how to do it. Maybe you don't feel you have the skills but - you know more than you think. Just start small, maybe with a paper and glue project. Then educate yourself: read hobby books, visit craft blogs with tutorials, take a class. There are plenty of opportunities out there for people to learn new skills. And when you learn one thing, you can build on that knowledge to try other new skills.

I have always been ambitious and eager to try new things, so I started small and learned from my mistakes - of which there were many. Since I started, I have not only made more than 50 quilts, but I have started a business making and selling them. I am now the proud owner of a jigsaw and a circular saw and using them gives me a rush of power. I keep wanting to go bigger and better - my next project is to build bunk beds for my boys.

I personally still struggle with self-confidence issues, and probably always will. But developing all these creative talents has helped me realize that there is more to me than just being a mom. I adore being a mother and my kids are the biggest joy in my life. But every woman needs something that helps her feel like she has a purpose outside of motherhood - something that defines her as a woman. Something that gives her the confidence to say, "Yeah, I made that!"

Anyone can buy things, but the feeling you get when you make something amazing by yourself is indescribable. And those feelings give you self-esteem by being productive, validating you, and giving you courage to try new things.

The post Yeah, I made that! 3 ways crafting builds self-esteem appeared first on FamilyToday.