My husband had a chance to reunite with a former co-worker a few days ago. It wasn’t too long ago that, after years of trying, she and her husband were blessed with children that are now 4 and 2 years of age. She’s 44. She looks amazing after an intensive high-impact aerobic regimen that has her thinner than she was before she had children. I was almost envious until I heard her talk about her 60-hour work weeks and the fact that her children are in day care for the full 12 hours that the facility is open, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner there.
I know other women who are avid readers and Bible scholars. They’ve forgotten more about the Bible than I will ever know. They are loving caregivers to husbands, children, and extended family members. But their bodies reflect the fact that they’ve not gotten up from a book and on to a treadmill in years.
I know other women at church who seemingly have it all together—the happy marriage, the big home, the nice car, they’re active physically and active spiritually within the body, and they light up a room when they walk in. But their kids. Oh, their kids.
It might be that this same group has kids that are wonderful. But maybe a few interactions with them would say that they aren’t as deep in the Word as it might first appear.
I’m not criticizing anyone. I’m just making the observation that I’ve never met a woman who did it all, and did it all well. Especially if you subscribe to the measure of success espoused by this world. Even if you don’t, it’s still difficult to be, as singer/ songwriter Chaka Khan describes it, ‘every woman,( it’s all in me’)… (okay, stop humming). Even the Proverbs 31 woman had help:
She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. (Proverbs 31:15)
So, what is the task of the Christian woman who wants it all, but is also woefully in touch with her realities? To submit each day’s priorities to the Lord God Almighty, knowing that as we acknowledge Him, He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). What’s most important on a given day may not be my children or my husband, but as I work on what is important for that day, He lovingly steps in and provides a way for the rest to be taken care of. Finally, this is the 34th Psalm, our memory scripture this year. May it encourage you as it has encouraged me.
1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking lies.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
I so needed this post. Don’t we all struggle with trying to do to much and letting our priorities get lost. I was struck by the thought of being apart from my children for 60 hours a week. What a horrible thought. I love the family picture. Everyone is getting so TALL!
Blessings,
Dawn
Next to our 7-yr-old, I’m the short one!
I was actually looking through my blog posts earlier and trying to find something else, only to realize that I talk about not doing it all ALOT! It must be a bigger issue for me than I’m willing to address–probably means that I need to turn my plans over to the Lord more often.
AMEN!! 🙂
Love seeing you all together!
You are so right. I have been struck once again this week by how some gals I know in real life seem to think that I have it all together. I suppose the surface is intimidating (she has six kids, homeschools and makes her own bread, oh my!) but not one woman has it all together. I know that I certainly do not. I’ve been thinking a lot about how we as women are so prone to comparing ourselves (and our husband’s and families) to what we perceive to be reality for others that we “know.” Why do we worry so much about what others are thinking and not enough about what God thinks of us and what He sees within us? YES, we should be seeking what He wants for us to do each day! I could go on and on…….
(I think i write better blog posts in your comments than in my blog!)
A very timely message for me this day, thank you for sharing.