A monthly spotlight to celebrate real motherhood, anchored in grace.
Name: Kathleen Rago
City/State: Austin, TX
Church: Hill Country Bible Church, Austin, TX
Years with momQ: 2 years
Family: Angelo, Nick 33, Elizabeth 30, and Julia 28
💛 Her Calling & Faith Journey
What inspired you to become a Mentor Mom with momQ?
My faith journey has been sprinkled with many Godly women who have inspired and encouraged me to be more like Jesus. However, as a young Mom I didn’t really have that strong influence in my life. God led me to see how I could be used by Him to be this for other women both in mentoring young women as well as in various relationships with older women. I love God’s word and I also love teaching it. momQ is a perfect combination of all God has trained me to do and in do so I brings me great joy and glory to my God.
How has God used this role to strengthen your own faith and trust in Him?
God has shown me that to be used by Him I must first be in close relationship with Him, then I can be used as a vessel which He works through. This is such a powerful truth that keeps me dependent on Him and not on myself. It is critical to me to teach truth, I can only do this through the Holy Spirit within me and by increasingly knowing God’s word.
Is there a Scripture that guides you as you mentor other moms?
Colossians 3:16 Tells us to Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. I am a firm believer that I need to be filled and humbled before God then He can use me as He sees fit. I can not expect to speak truth, model love, or listen with patience if I am not first filled by His word and surrendered fully to Him. I also then teach this to my mentees, God will use them in their families and circles of influence if they sit at the feet of Jesus, being filled with His word and fully surrendered to Him and His purposes. When we give God the priority in our lives, we then walk in wisdom to bring Him glory, whether that means juggling the daily of motherhood with patience and joy, loving and encouraging our husbands, serving a friend in need or just returning a smile to someone who is lonely. This in turn allows us to see our struggles with a thankful heart no matter what we are asked to face in our day.
🌾 Wisdom for Moms
What’s one piece of encouragement you often share with moms who are in the thick of motherhood?
God has given me nuggets of wisdom that have become sayings that I repeat often to my mentees, one of those is “You can do hard things”. That comes directly from Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Being a Mom is hard, but in Christ, who always goes with us, we can do those things that God is calling us to. We don’t do it in our own strength but in His strength.
How do you help younger moms find peace in the chaos and grace for themselves?
As a mentor, I am many things, but one important one is I am an accountability partner with my mentees. They know that I will always ask if they are in the word daily, if they are giving God priority in their day and trusting that He will then help help them get all the other things they need to do done. When we ground ourselves in God’s word we are starting from a place where God can work in and through us. We have the potential for peace in our day. I also encourage them to pray truth over themselves. Claim the truths and promises of God for themselves and their families. In doing this they learn to recognize Satan’s lies that He whispers to us, and instead of believing them and allow our peace to be robbed, we claim the truth of God’s word and live in the peace that truth provides.
What’s one practical way you help families keep Christ at the center of their homes?
I encourage my mentees to incorporate God, His promises and scripture into normal activities of the day. When they are talking with their kids, be talking about God, make sure they know the reason why, not just do the behavior. I remind them that they are always modeling Christ’s love to their kids, their spouse, and their neighbors.
🌸 Living Bold Faith
What does bold faith look like in your life right now?
Bold faith for me looks like trust and contentment. I recently have entered my 60’s and life looks very different than I had expected. My husband and I found ourselves moving to Texas, leaving our 3 adult kids and our old lives, back in California. Although many of my friends are celebrating weddings and spending their time taking care for grandchildren, that is not my present reality. God has asked me to trust Him and lay down many expectations I had for my life. I could sit in discontent asking God why? But by His grace I have come to surrender my expectations and to be open to what He has instead. In doing that I have been blessed beyond what I could have ever imagined. One of those blessings has been momQ and my mentoring ministry. Here I have found woman to pour into which gives me purpose and such a great blessing.
Can you share a time when you had to trust God with something beyond your control?
Everyday is a time to trust, truly. As I mentioned earlier, God brought us to Texas just over 3 years ago. We had been living in California and knew God was preparing us to go but had no idea when or where that would be. Eight years before He finally moved us, God lead us to make some big changes. We sold our lovely home, changed churches, lived through Covid, and learned to trust God in ways we never had in the past. Eight years was a long time but it was so fruitful and we learned that God works in ways you can’t even imagine but it required us to trust Him. When we got to Texas we were overwhelmed by God’s hand upon us. Doors opened and we were welcomed into so many areas for Him to use us in. It also allows us to share with others that God can do more than you can dream or imagine. It fuels us on those days when it is hard and we miss our kids, and so many other things. But God!
🕊️ Heart Reflections
What do you love most about being part of the momQ community?
I love so many things about momQ but one in particular is the teaching. Each week the teaching is so rich and applicable. I have woman at different places in their faith journey in our group, but each one, as well as myself, come away with truth and inspiration to walk the life God has called us to. The teaching is based in scripture and is so wise and encouraging.
What’s bringing you joy in this season of life?
The joy of my life is to be used by God for His good purposes. I am a relationship gal, my sweet spot is spending time with woman, a coffee in one hand and a cookie in the other, talking about God. I love God’s word and I love encouraging other woman and myself to apply His word to our lives. There really is nothing better than to know that God worked through you to encourage another, that He saw fit to use you to point others to Him!
📖 Favorite Scripture or Prayer
Father in your word we see Jesus pray and tell us to come to Him if we are heavy with burden and He will give us rest. Father will you take my yoke and teach me to rest in you. Will you show me how to be a humble and gentle follower of you. Will you show me what you have for me to do and not to do today and will you help me to do it all for your glory.
In the precious name of Jesus – Amen
At momQ we believe that motherhood is a calling from God. While it is both a privilege and an honor, it is by no means easy! Moms have a lot of questions/concerns and need caring support along their journey. Whether you are a brand new mom or a little more seasoned, momQ is here to help you fulfill your God given role. Don’t see a group in your area? Contact us today about starting one in your community!
