For Moms:
Being okay
with where I am today
As I’m
celebrating another year of life on this earth and beginning new endeavors, I am
questioning the progress that I have made thus far. I am not where I thought I
would be at the age of 32. I am the wife of a soldier in the United States
Army, a stay-at-home mom (who drives a minivan) to two beautiful children, and
I’ve recently started a small business. Who knew that this is where seven
years of schooling past high school would get you?
I was groomed
to do great things in life. Is this what that was for? Is this why I studied
so hard and denied myself so much of the “fun” that the world had to offer? Did
I waste my time and thousands of dollars pursuing an education that “I am not
using?” Am I doing a disservice to the women who fought for equal rights? Am I
wasting my God-given talent by staying at home and supporting my family? I’m
sure that many people will answer these questions with a resounding yes, but I
disagree. I believe that I am where God wants me to be. Acts chapter two
states the following:
26From
one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth;
and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should
live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for
him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
You see, in
my teenage mind, by the time that I was 32, I would be married, have at least
one child, and be a world-traveled research scientist teaching residents of
third world countries how to farm and feed their families. Creating a loving and nurturing
environment for my husband and children was nowhere in my plans. God? Well, I
guess that I would have still gone to church on Sundays, but He was not a
central part of my plans and to be completely honest, He was not even an
afterthought. My plans were very self-focused.
Thankfully
God had a bigger and better plan for me.
He did not just rip away my ability to gain an education. Instead He rounded
out my education by placing wonderful people in my life, Christian and
non-Christian. He allowed me to see the many options that laid before me and
then he stepped back and let me choose. As Acts stated, He put me in such a
time and place that I could seek Him.
So I submit
to you that I am not where I planned to be at 32. I am far beyond my wildest
dreams. I have peace and joy that I could never have imagined. Because of
God’s abundant love and grace, I am who I am today. I have had the
experiences that I have had so that I might be able to help someone make a
better choice or empathize with them when they don’t. I am able to contribute
to this wonderful website and prayerfully reach out to unknown numbers of my
sisters in Christ.
As you read
these words from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, know that you are where God
needs you to be at this point in your life. Reach out to Him because He is near
and waiting.
14For
this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a]
in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his
glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your
inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power,
together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is
the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that
you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in
the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for
ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21.
Moms- what
were your plans and aspirations for your current stage of life? Are you living
it? Are you happier than you thought that you would be? Have you missed the
mark completely? (See Lamentations 3:21-23) I would love to hear from you!
Please write and share some encouraging thoughts. I want this page to be
yours. I hope to hear from you soon.
ONLINE
RESOURCES:
I don’t know
about you, but getting out of the house isn’t as easy as it used to be. By the
time that you get everyone fed, cleaned, and clothed, it seems like it is time
to do one of the three again. So what is a busy mom to do? One of my saving
graces is the Internet. I bank online, shop online, do research online, and
most importantly I stay connected with friends and family online. So I only
thought it appropriate to share some websites with you that have been helpful to
me. If there are sites that you frequently visit and think would be of
benefit to other Christian moms would enjoy please contact me so that I can
share it.
Diapers
Don’t ask me
why, but I STRONGLY DISLIKE shopping for diapers. I know that they are a
necessity until potty training is complete, but having to handle those big boxes
while trying to get to the register and later into the house . . . let’s just
say that the process is not so easy for me. So I have found some sites online
that deliver AND offer competitive prices. One such site is Amazon.com (www.Amazon.com).
They offer a “Subscribe & Save” feature which allows you to determine how often
you want diapers, and many other household items, delivered AND saves you 15%
off of their listed price. Did I mention that you also get to use the “FREE
Super Saver Shipping” option? So what is the catch? Right now they are only
offering this discount on Huggies and Seventh Generation.
Do you have
any other suggestions? Has anyone tried Diapers.com yet?
FlyLady (www.FlyLady.net)
How many of
you are surrounded by clutter as you read this. Are you feeling overwhelmed and
wondering where to begin? This site is for you. Think of it as “your personal
online coach to help you gain control of your house and home.” Two of the best
things about this website is that you do not have to pay to join and that it
meets you where you are. Maybe you are not surrounded by clutter, but you are
looking for a routine to help you manage your daily cleaning or your trying to
prepare you house for the holiday season, then the FlyLady can help you too.
Take some
time to explore the website and see if it is something that can work for you.
Let me know what you think.
These are two
resources that I have found. Tell me yours!
