A WOW Day!

By Sandy Pilotte

"Is it WOW day?" asks my four year old as he struggles to put on his socks. I nod with a grin. He turns to my almost two year old and exclaims, "Everyone on your head because WOW upside down spells mom!" "No time for headstands. Everybody up and let's get hustling," I say with an encouraging nudge towards the door. We have been up and active for three hours but still seem to be running late.

My husband was actually the one who turned wow into mom but the symbolism strikes me with a smile. WOW actually stands for Women on Wednesdays and has become a much-needed reprise mid-week to rejuvenate our spirits and energize our souls. There are five studies to choose from: Genesis, Parenting Teens, Moms Group, Women of the Bible, and a Prayer Group. Since last spring I have been attending the moms group, which has been studying Raising Great Kids by Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. The authors take us on an introspective journey through our childhood and how our past has influenced our parenting philosophies. In the end the authors emphasize that each child needs a balance between grace (Go ahead, stand on our head!) and truth (Time to go!) to become responsible, caring adults.

Each mom comes to this group with worries, struggles, and concerns, anxious that we aren't doing everything quite right, and every Wednesday we leave refreshed with confirmation from one another that we are okay, our kids are okay, and that God is with us every step of the way. In addition to being refreshed each week I reserve Wednesday mornings as a poignant time for worship. Before we split up into our individual groups we begin with a time of prayer and devotion. The words to the song "I Stand In Awe Of You" come to mind. It was at one of these services singing these very words that WOW changed my life. I found WOW last year at a lonely time in my life. My husband and I had relocated from Alexandria, Virginia the previous year and welcomed our second son two weeks later. Now with a newborn, a new house, and a three year old I didn't have time to be lonely or depressed. This was the first time since I turned 16 that I hadn't worked. I had certainly taken for granted the built-in social network of a workplace. I needed to meet moms and lots of them. Well, a year later, I still hadn't met any moms, I was still lonely and depressed and my newborn was now walking. I remember a conversation with my mom, "Oh, it always takes 6 months to adjust after a move." My sister told me it takes a year. I was at a year plus and still miserable. Now the saying goes, a happy mom makes a happy family so one day I woke up and decided it was time to get "Happy." That day was a Wednesday. I called Central and asked if they had a moms group and the person who answered said, "As a matter a fact we do and it starts in 15 minutes." I started to ask but she quickly chimed in, "And yes, they do have childcare." To say that WOW has changed my life is an understatement. WOW has changed the equilibrium of my family's life. Quite a powerful statement but it is indeed amazing what the Lord will provide if you just open the window to your heart. That same worship service someone read The Difference. It ends with... "I woke up early one morning and paused before entering the day; I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray." WOW has taught me to head into everyday with prayer, praise and grace. An envelope of calm surrounds me since I first attended WOW. Yes, at times my patience has run low and I am counting the minutes until bedtime but inside I am still and at peace eternally grateful for my husband, our boys, the women of WOW, and of course Central Presbyterian Church.