Moving Forward

"The Lord is always working to take His people forward into greater revelation of who He is, that we might share in the experience of His presence, discover the joy of committed, loving relationships, and find the inner fulfillment of living with purpose." 

I spent a lot of years trying to "figure" things out. The crazy part is that I knew exactly what I should have been doing, but somehow my mind would not allow me to do them. I would hold grudges, worry myself half to death about the most minuscule thing, and I was very selfish. I've moved into a place now that has me less worried, loving, and unselfish. The weird thing is  that I haven't learned anything any different. The word of God that I have been reading for years and years has remained the same. The sermons that I listen to, all the same.Circumstances in my life, they all are pretty much the same. My kids didn't leave, my husband didn't leave, and people around me haven't changed. The thing that has changed is me. I have decided to not live in fear and not allow myself to fall victim to negativity. It's called peace. It's call surrendering everything to the Savior and allowing him to lead your life.

How do you get there? As my husband used to tell me, "Nike". You just do it. There is no formula. No amount of good deeds will get you to peace. You have to truly want it. You have to truly become sick of yourself and have a desire for God's will to be done in your life. Until then, you'll stew in your mess which in turn prolongs the time you arrive at peace. "Stewing" creates more problems which makes it harder to move forward. The decision is yours stew or move.

Embracing Our Rewards

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

For years I murmured and complained about the things that I had to do around the house. How I had no time for myself, and most importantly (in my eyes) how no one in my household appreciated me and the things that I was doing.  This mentality nearly destroyed my life.  As I approach my 13th year of marriage and motherhood, I realize the one thing that I have done wrong. I have not had a servant spirit toward my husband and my children. If you dread cleaning, cooking, and all of the other numerous responsibilities that we have through the course of the day, then you view your life and your family in a negative light. This is detrimental to the entire family structure.

A co-worker and I were talking not too long ago and what came out of that conversation was that we are not cut out of the same cloth that our ancestors were. The women! Oh those beautiful proverbial women! They didn't go to the spa. There was no such things as time off.  They didn't indulge in girl getaways. In fact, in the midst of being raped and enslaved, they cared for their families. They worked while the sun beat down on them. They worked their fingers raw sometimes carrying their children on their backs. Their husbands were taken away from the family, leaving them to carry the burden of providing for a number of children.

Nowadays we come apart at the seams when we have to clean our own homes and work.  God forbid we clean up and no one notices! On top of that, we run our husbands off because we are too overbearing and selfish. If only we could reach back and grab a hold to some of that faith that those women had. What a difference we could make in the lives of our families. They endured all of those awful things. Can you wrap your minds around the prayers that they prayed....some were probably even for us.

As mothers, as wives, we are the backbone in our families. We hold it all together. We have the ability to be the greatest impact in our families day to day lives. We have the ability to show them through our actions, through our speech what God's love looks like. Our husbands and our children are rewards from God. We see their flaws and we have the ability to take that straight to God on their behalf.  We can speak peace into their lives. This should not be looked upon as a burden, but as an opportunity to make a difference just as the women of old.

What we allow to happen is for society to tell us that caring for your family is wrong. "Be an independent woman! You shouldn't have to cook and clean and pick up behind them.", they say. This is the devil in them trying to deter us from God's true purpose for our lives. Keep serving your family. Be that stability that your children need. Be that helper for your husband and stand in the gap when he can't quite find his way. The reward is so great if we just hold on. Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart."

Peace and Love.