there are days that i do "my" stuff and my kids fit in around the edges.
and there are days that i am fully engaged and "my" stuff fits in around the edges.
the latter type days sit well on my heart. the early type days? those are not what is intended for me.
think about one of your good friends. that relationship takes time and energy to nurture, right? or do you just fit it in around the edges? how about your husband?? does he get what's left after everything else has sucked you dry? or do you intentionally plan out your day so that you have something of worth left to give him at the end of the day?
we need to take our relationships with our children (and husbands!) seriously. i have 7 precious, individual relationships that i'm nurturing right here in my own house. i have my limits, and can only foster {well!} so many relationships, so this means that because i have 7 here, i have less elsewhere. i'm ok with that. i take these people in my home VERY seriously. that means i don't work (NO judgement. please hear me, NO judgement. just sharing MY decisions!) i don't volunteer for every committee (even if it IS in my kids school...it takes my time away from just being with them). i stay home a lot so that i can get a lot of the administrative parts of taking care of our home done and be ready to ENGAGE with them when they are home.
have i lost myself in my kids? no way. i have FOUND myself in my kids. He has used my children to show me my weaknesses (and strengths). He has taught me so very much through them. even Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me." there is POWER in a child that we can never have. if you don't have children, make sure that you somehow have them be a part of your life.
is my life centered around my kids? most days it is. anything "extra" i commit to - i.e. raising money for clean water - is done only in thinking about how to do it WITH my kids. not how to squeeze it in around my kids.
God has given me this life and these children. they go together; intertwined. i pull them in, not push them to the edges.
7 comments:
love this so much. a good friend and i were chatting about this very thing just last night. you put words to what our hearts were trying to communicate. i already sent her the link :) love your heart.
love this!! and my heart and mind have been wrestling with this exact thing.
Amen.
you write this so well. exactly how i feel!
You don't work OUTSIDE THE HOME.
Love these words Courtney!
Exactly. This is your mother's day post, too! I love the way you think and the way you parent. Thank you for inspiring me! -
tonya-serendipity.blogspot.com
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