Hello Bloggy Friends!
This is Mama Bear! I know... you don't hear from me much. I have so many thoughts I want to share during the day when my mind is ACTIVE, but alas, my hands are FULL! : ) At night, unlike my dear husband, I have mentally shut down for the night... no energy to write, but I am so thankful that he does.
I can't tell you how many times in my almost 28 years of marriage that I have filled out the box on innumerous forms that asks me for my "OCCUPATION". Hmmmm... OK, again, "Homemaker". Although I do have a Master's degree in Christian Education, I have largely been a stay-at-home Mama since Austin, aged 24, was born. We were blessed that we could manage this in our early years of marriage and it was NOT easy, but DO-able. So, in terms of "marketable-skills", I certainly don't consider myself particularly "skilled" and I often wonder WHAT I would do if I had to return to work... my resume would look pretty bleak! : )
BUT, I have recently been ENCOURAGED that the LIFE I do have as "Homemaker" has provided me with the VERY things we have needed to adopt! I have TIME, I have the ability to listen, to drive, to fill out paperwork!! : ) To cook, to serve others by keeping our home a place of refuge and comfort... I can provide clean clothing, snacks, counsel, did I mention driving??... TIME... I can make a warm bubble bath, get a band-aid, teach children to pick up their stuff! I can pray with/for my children, teach them to love/forgive one another as I continue to learn to do the same... Well, you get the idea! Some of the VERY things I have felt "unskilled" about in the past are the VERY things that enable me to GIVE a home, a life, a future (All by God's GRACE) to children who need just THESE things!
I am SO grateful for my life as a Mother! I am so glad that the Lord has taken my "skills", my talents as it were, and is USING THEM UP for His Kingdom and His Glory. I told my dear daughter Annie the other day that I feel such a keen sense of purpose now. Yes, I also feel/felt this when I mothered my 3 "BIO-kiddos" , but that was "the next thing" in life... you know, school, get married, have children... and it is ALL so very good! But THIS time, when we decided to RE-open a whole new season of parenting, intentionally, when we didn't HAVE to, when most people our age were almost "done" with this phase... THIS season has provided the sweetest sense of purpose.
OK, time to go DO all of these things I just mentioned...Poppy is here in her Cinderella dress saying, "I'm hungry Mom". I hear my little Willow whining in the family room... : ) I give it ALL to Him. And I RE-give it frequently when my heart grows stubborn.
Have you ever considered giving a HOME to "the least of these" as Jesus calls them? Do you have "the skills"? I encourage you to consider it... not out of guilt, but because you will be so blessed as you choose to bless.
If YOU have ever considered adoption or ever WILL consider it, challenge yourself further by reading this blog post from fellow-adoptee Amy... (WARNING: this is convicting!) : )
3 comments:
Honey,
This is the best post of all, really. I love it, I love it, I love it. And I love you.
As you said, this is the command performance. We cannot leave anything on the table.
Dying to self,
Your Loving Husband
Victoria,
You are always such an inspiration to me, and once again you've put into words so many of the thoughts I've had myself. While still in the throws of my "trial run" which is not easy, but Do-able as you say, I feel as though I'm still preparing my nest. I struggle with the same thoughts of "what is my occupation," but seeing you and the girls serves as a daily reminder that adopting is something I've wanted to do my whole life. Reading your blog serves as a reminder to Brad that it's something he wants to. So thank you for re-awakening that longing in us and for providing the guidance that leads us in that direction.
Serena
Victoria - we have never met - I am a high school friend of Tom's, but I felt that I had to write, you post moved me so much.
I work full time now, but gave up career aspirations when my children were little and didn't work at all or just part time to focus on them. I was blessed to have a husband like yours who felt that our children should come first and as you said, it wasn't easy, but do-able.
Now that my eldest is in college and my son is 16 and they are both well adjusted and great human beings, I'm so glad that my priorities were true and don't regret not being the "success" I envisioned a lifetime ago.
You're doing the most important job in the world and you and Tom have given three girls the biggest blessing possible - a loving home with loving parents.
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