I hold fast to a belief that educational moments present themselves to us regularly, and in all sorts of unlikely circumstances, as long as we are attuned and willing to listen.
That being said, a business conference, geared toward coaching leaders to "take it to the next level,"so to speak, would appear to be an unusual place for someone such as myself - a homemaker and full time mother - to gain wisdom. But I like to keep my eyes and ears open, and was therefore able to come home having learned two incredibly important lessons.
The first is this:
I was never meant to be a full time businesswoman. Despite my most sincere effort to conform to the corporate standard of rising at 5:00am, preparing myself to be groomed, witty, and intelligible by 6:00am - then staying that way All.Day.Long.- I have come to the conclusion that this is not the path on which I will find my bliss. I'll take the tantrums, the spit-up, and endless barrage of diapers, as long as I can stay in my sweats.
Amen.
The second {and more applicable} lesson I gleaned from the seminar came from the session led by Andy Stanley. Amid then gems he sprinkled into the laps of the professionals came this simple, yet quite profound piece of advice:
Contrary to the seemingly shallow meaning behind that one-liner, it illustrates the cry I have heard echoing throughout our community, among women of all ages from around the world: the need to simplify our lives!
How incredible to release the trifles and drudgery that overwhelm, that distract, that pull us under as we struggle to tread water! How liberating to cast off the shackles of worldly expectations in order to focus on pouring our lives into the work God has fashioned us - uniquely, specifically - to carry out...and for his glory!!!
For me, this reiterates the importance of refusing to attempt to "people please," devoting my life to my family, and using my talents sparingly {but in a concentrated manner} in other activities outside our home. After all, only I can be the wife of my husband, and the mother of my children. Only I can shape the tiny lives he's entrusted me with in such an orphic manner.
Only I can use my voice.
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24 comments:
Thanks for sharing that! I really struggle with trying to be please everyone and do everything 'perfect' by everyone's standards....and in those efforts forget the purposes set out for me.
I love it! To me it means that only I can be ready to hear His call. Daily turning to Him and away from the wordly influences. Like what you said about not pleasing others, love that! Thanks for sharing!
That's a great point to take away! Only I can be mom to
my kids and wife to my husband. We've been working on stripping down our commitments and responsibilities to the things we feel God has specifically called us to. It's been so freeing to think, "I don't have to do it all just cause there's a need." It all comes down to focusing on what God asks of us.
This was sooooo good! While I don't find myself desiring to be anything other than wife/mom - I do find it so easy to forget the value in just that. It's not just what I do... it is rather just what I can do! and an awesome reminder to remember that we do all things unto the glory of God ultimately. I want HIM to find pleasure in the way I care for just what I have been entrusted.
You are a woman of intelligence and wisdom...you are blessed, as are your children and husband...they can trust their lives to you. God bless you always! :D
Wise words, Jessica!! In business, and in life, we take on all kinds of pressures we were never meant to! And I am with you on the 5 am thing. Blech!
I love that! Each of us has something that is uniquely ours to share and to do....something that only we can do.
I love this post of yours! It's empowering and oh so true! Keep these posts coming:)
Happy Monday and here's my post today!
You are so right! Only I can be the me God created me to be...isn't that freeing, especially when we yield to doing that through God's power and not our own?
Thank you for this fabulous post!!! Having worked for 3 years before having Ridley, I don't miss that life AT ALL! :)
Being a mom/homemaker is the best thing EVER! :)
Amen.
Woo Hoo! I love it! "Only do what only you can do." Amen to that! I just wrote a devotional about this very thing. If God makes you a fish, then swim, don't scale mountains!
That is a wonderful piece of advice. I struggle with finding meaning in my life and what God wants me to do with my talents all the time. But like you I enjoy being home with my children and being able to skip my shower every once in a while and wear my pajamas all day.
To me, this means that I need to find my focus, my direction, and stick to it. No more trying to do everything, or trying to be everything to everyone. Instead, I need to focus on keeping my family, and myself happy.
Easier said than done some days, but this is my goal.
I agree! We are all unique in our own ways. We should never measure ourselves up with other women. Some can multitask, while some can do one thing a day. If we just stay in tune with the Lord, we can't go wrong!
That reminds me of something my Bible Study leader said a few weeks ago, "Your home is your ministry". We were discussing spiritual gifts and a few ladies said that they felt like since they'd had kids that they hadn't been using their gift as much as they had before children. Our leader was telling us that our kids/husband/home is our ministry, we still have those gifts from God and He wants us to use them in our homes, to teach our children and to encourage our husbands.
Since then I've been trying to view my home as my mission field.
Nice information, this really useful for me. There is nothing to argue about.
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it. Thx.
So true! I read a book by Andy Stanley and really like his philosophies!
I like the idea of using my giftedness to bless my family first, my church and then my community. I always try to remember to try to make sure my service to the community is missional in nature!
I think you do what you do so brilliantly. There's nobody out here quite like you and I find that so incredibly refreshing and endearing!
That's wonderful advice. As someone who worked many years before becoming a mother, it's tempting to want to try and do it all, though I'm quite happy staying home to do the most important job in the world--raising my son. I am the kind of person who always sees greener grass in other pastures, so I'm sure if I went back to work that I'd be pining for the days at home. I'm trying to enjoy every moment here, even the difficult ones.
I am so going to write that out and post it in my kitchen. Thank you!
I am living a quiet life these days. It is such a change from how I lived for so many years. How I wish more women would realize this!
Amen to that! I've been learning that lesson this year, too, and it's changed my life!
Wow. So good. Can't even type through the tears in my eyes! Good stuff, Jessica!
I love this post. Beautifully written and well said.
Amen.
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