author francis chan wrote:
it is true that god may have called you to be exactly where you are. but it's absolutely vital to grasp that he didn't call you there so you could settle and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace. his purposes are not random or arbitrary. if you are still alive on this planet, it's because he has something for you to do. he has placed us on this earth for purposes that he orchestrated long before you were born. do you believe you exist for not your own pleasure but to help people know the love of jesus and to come fully alive in him? if so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are.
it is true that god may have called you to be exactly where you are. but it's absolutely vital to grasp that he didn't call you there so you could settle and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace. his purposes are not random or arbitrary. if you are still alive on this planet, it's because he has something for you to do. he has placed us on this earth for purposes that he orchestrated long before you were born. do you believe you exist for not your own pleasure but to help people know the love of jesus and to come fully alive in him? if so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are.
i am extremely confident that God called me to be a working mother. i am extremely confident that i am exactly where i am meant to be, being a mommy to my precious baby, a wife to my wonderful husband, and a teacher to the 150 students that i am blessed to work with each and every day. will it be difficult to balance the two? absolutely. will there be days when i wonder what the heck i am doing? absolutely? will there be days when i think it is worth giving up? without a doubt. but i am more sure than ever that i will be a better wife and mother because i also am a teacher.
there are plenty of people out there who would argue the opposite. who would say that by working outside the home, away from my baby, i am missing out on his childhood. although i understand this viewpoint, i completely disagree. i have the utmost respect for women who choose to/are able to stay home with their children. i believe they are able to spend valuable time with their children that working moms are purely unable to because of scheduling. i do not, however, think that one is better than the other. that being a stay-at-home mom is better than being a working-mom. they are simply two different options.
i firmly believe that i will treasure the time i spend with my children when i am away from work as the gift that it is and i trust that God will "shape how i live my life in the place where i am"...
after doubting myself and my ability to do both teacher and mother, reading my friend lissa's post and realizing that i am not the only one who struggles with this was extremely refreshing.what about you guys? do any of you struggle with the same issues?
happy friday everyone!
love,
maggie
8 comments:
I do.
I often feel like I'm wandering off somewhere and hope that I'll stumble upon the path God has for me. I'm in a bit of a transition phase here, almost done my masters and almost a mom. Will I be a stay at home mom? I don't know. Will I get a job when my mat leave is over? I don't know. If I get a job what kind will it be? Will I do more schooling instead? There are so many options. I feel lost when I try to pick one. So I've decided that I'm not going to pick one. I just pray that God shows me his path, the one I'm meant to be on. So I can do my part of it. I think right now, that's the best I can do!
good for you! I only work part time so I kind of get to be both for now and I feel that is where God has placed me. I just don't feel like it's my time to be stay at home full time especially with the financial situation at my school...I think I should stick it out with them. If I were to leave my job I would feel like I was abandoning them in a way. I've read a few blogs that make me so mad because they act like if you don't stay home then you're a bad mom but that's not the case at all. Everyone needs to do what is best for their family!
Hi! I've never commented on your blog before, but I enjoy reading. :) I couldn't agree more...one is NOT better than the other...as a mommy myself, I really hate the sometimes "warring" or misunderstandings that result around these issues. I am finishing up my time as a working momma and about to be a stay at home momma (for a lot of complicated reasons)...and I have no idea what the future holds...if and when I will work again. But, I will say this, I think both are equally challenging and equally difficult...one is not better than the other, and it's so refreshing to read your post saying just this...I find many more people really firmly entrenched in one side or the other. I am sure you will do a fantastic job...your words of pure love for your little boy are so evident. :)
I know I do. Will and I have had long talks lately about the future. Our plan is still the same, but I've been needing to talk it out because as much as I love the idea of staying at home full-time with Liam, I am still really nervous about all the changes. Financially and just lifestyle changes. While I know teaching wasn't something I was meant to do forever (I like it but I don't love it) if being a mom is my only job, what if I don't do a good job? It's the only thing I've ever wanted to do and I'm starting to feel like if it's my only job then I'd better do it perfectly and that's clearly not possible. And don't get me started on how much I'm going to miss the social aspect of having a job - this baby will be going to Mother's Day Out and any playdate I can make just so mommy can have some human interaction!
But in the end I think it's every mom's personal decision and I don't think one is better than the other either. I'm excited for you and your journey - you're already a great teacher and mommy, now you just have to learn how to multi-task even more which everyone already knows you're the queen of!
What a wonderful quote - thank you for sharing!!
I've always struggled to find my "purpose" in life. (I never had a calling for a specific career...I'm always struggling to figure out who I am and what I want to do with my life...etc) But it's helpful to be reminded that everyone is put here for a reason - and everyone has the same purpose: "to help people know the love of Jesus."
Anyway, thanks again for sharing. I love your blog and Baird is adorable!
That quote is fabulous and exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so much for posting!
mag, it's so funny the timing of this. last night one of your students babysat my girls. she went on and on about how much she adores you and how happy she was (even to the point of crying) when she met baird. those students LOVE you. the lord knows exactly where he wants us, and you my friend are faithfully fulfilling that. trust in him. even if that means you change jobs, or stay at home, or WHATEVER you do, if you are doing it for HIM and for HIS glory, you are on the right path. i don't think there is a mom out there- working outside the home or not- who doesn't struggle with this issue. god created us to be busy women- just look at the proverbs 31 woman! if we are singing praises to him and doing his work, nothing can keep us from being the woman he created us to be inside and outside the home :) love you so much. thank you for the encouragement...we are all in this together, my sister!
I kind of love this post! I have never commented on your blog but read it often! {found it when I was pregnant- at the same time as you}. Anyways this is something I struggle with a lot. I graduated last may with my Education degree but was unable to find a job this school year. Then I had my first baby in December and am really trying to figure out what to do about next year. I so badly want to teach and be in the classroom again but after being home for 8 weeks, I feel somewhat guilty for not being here all the time {even though I tend to go a little crazy after a few days of being home}. I think it will make me a better mom to be teaching but what if it just stresses me out so much... especially with me just starting out. Oh goodness, I have rambled just a bit! Anyways- love the quote and it reminded me that in my decision I have not really factored in what God might want me to do about this! So THANK YOU!
Post a Comment