Seasons

Every 5 weeks I start a new class at college. In order to get everyone acquainted the first week of class it’s common for the professor to ask us to tell a little bit about ourselves.  I have been going to school since the fall of 2010. The first year of college I dreaded being the only one in class who wasn’t working full time.  When I went back to work I proudly shared about work.  Earlier this year I stopped working due to health problems.  I was grateful that my last few professors have assumed we know one another and not had us introduce ourselves during the first week of class.

As a stay at home mom I’ve always struggled, like most women do, with defining my identity.  My first priority is always my family.  I have devoted 12 years to being a stay at home mom, give or take a few years when I worked off and on.  Currently I’m a stay at home mom with kids who are in school every day til 2:45 p.m.  It’s kind of hard to be a stay at home mom when there’s no one home to take care of all day. Granted there’s always things to be done, like laundry, cleaning, managing the checkbook and running errands.  I could easily fill a majority of the school hours with these things as well as exercising every day.

I prefer to spend my time serving others, outside of my home.  The last two weeks I’ve managed to spend little time taking care of my home and kids but have poured my time into doing things for others.  I have been able to do some ministry work for our church, spend time in community with other women, offer help to those who need it during the day, and occasionally try to work on my homework.

Years ago I decided to go to a Christian college because I wanted to feel prepared to do full time ministry.  The church we were attending had many job openings but I was not making any progress without a degree, so I returned to college to obtain a degree. My focus is on Biblical studies and business management.  My ideal job would be as an admin for a church or as an admin in a small groups ministry.  Today I spent a majority of the school day working on tasks for our church.  I love feeling like I’m using my gifts and the knowledge I’ve learned at college. It feels great to have a finished product at the end of the day.  I also like feeling like I’m helping others.

A wise man once said, “I’m living the dream, but it isn’t mine… It’s better!” Today, I feel like this is so true.  We may struggle financially, but emotionally and relationally we are richly blessed.  The ability to stay at home, focus on my health, and serve in ministry is a gift.  I may never feel 100% prepared for ministry, but God has given me all I need to fulfill his call on my life.  Thankful for the opportunities to serve alongside some awesome leaders.

Next week when I start a new class at school I’ll be glad to share I am a stay at home mom and devoted wife who volunteers at her church.  I am doing exactly what God has called me to do for this season of my life and I’m loving every minute of!