"Repeat after me", my young pastor instructed from behind the pulpit. "I do NOT belong to myself!"
"I do NOT belong to myself", chanted the congregation in stunned obedience. And that's when it hit me, again. I'm simply here to serve so that I can fulfill my earthly purpose. Once I have, it'll be time for me to go live with Jesus.
You see, until I fulfill my requirements, I'm going to remain here. Regardless of the lupus I have, the neighborhood I live in and/or the obstacles I face. Therefore, none of those things should take up more time than what's needed to move pass them, so that I can keep moving along. In fact, I am certain that each of those things are distractions meant to keep me from reaching the goal.
I'm fortunate in that, I know what my spiritual gift is. I was made to be a teacher. But not in the traditional way. The funny thing is, I never wanted to be a teacher, but life's circumstances put me in the field for 13 years. And I loved teaching small children. They were never a problem. Whenever problems arose, it was with the parents or guardians, not the children.
These grown people irritated me to the depths of my soul!!!
I often found myself wondering, "why did you procreate, again?"
And even with all of that frustration, I still became a Sunday School teacher and Youth Director within my former church. This meant that I taught children 6 days a week. Every. Single. Week. For. YEARS!!!
What I didn't realize was, I was also teaching adults.
My education, experience, on-going professional training, natural observation skills, self-motivated research, love of reading and uncanny ability to remember random bits of information molded me into a cornucopia of valuable information for all types of people.
What I also didn't realize was this... God used those 13 years to finesse my ability to communicate with all kinds of people. At the beginning of those 13 years, if I knew I was right, and you were wrong, that was how I was going to make you feel. I lacked patience and could not empathize with things I deemed stupid.
The main growth point for me was having my daughter. What it took to get her here is a miracle of it's own rights. I have never felt the need to protect so strongly in my life. Because of her, I was able to understand most parents, because I was willing to.
After her arrival, I would take an extra moment to feel that parent's emotional weight, before answering questions that I felt had an obvious response. As a parent, it can be so frustrating not having the answers and embarrassing to admit it.
By the time I left the field, I was one of the BEST in it. And if I'm totally honest, I'm probably selling myself short. I just want to stay humble because, "I do NOT belong to myself."
The truth in this has been revealed to me each week since I've become domesticated. Recently, I felt compelled to drop some knowledge on a group of moms who had met up for a play date at the park. I wasn't even part of the group, but I heard them discussing parenting struggles that I have knowledge and tangible tips for, so I shared this information with them.
Just yesterday with my group of dance moms, I was answering questions about speech delays, educational resources, autism, behavioral issues, what to expect when, signs of neglect and the declining public educational system. And in all honesty, I have these conversations with more people, more often NOW than I ever have. Then these people go and tell other people what I've told them.
I realize that my impact has grown a little larger. God didn't allow me to become domesticated just so I can use everything I've been given within my own little circle. He wants me to leave my mark in as many circles as I can. This is my mission and every time I drop this secular knowledge, I also share my love of God.
If you've got a lot, you've got to give a lot!!! And I will give, until I can't give anymore.
Signed,
A Newly Domesticated Lady
"I do NOT belong to myself", chanted the congregation in stunned obedience. And that's when it hit me, again. I'm simply here to serve so that I can fulfill my earthly purpose. Once I have, it'll be time for me to go live with Jesus.
You see, until I fulfill my requirements, I'm going to remain here. Regardless of the lupus I have, the neighborhood I live in and/or the obstacles I face. Therefore, none of those things should take up more time than what's needed to move pass them, so that I can keep moving along. In fact, I am certain that each of those things are distractions meant to keep me from reaching the goal.
Well, not today Satan.
I'm fortunate in that, I know what my spiritual gift is. I was made to be a teacher. But not in the traditional way. The funny thing is, I never wanted to be a teacher, but life's circumstances put me in the field for 13 years. And I loved teaching small children. They were never a problem. Whenever problems arose, it was with the parents or guardians, not the children.
These grown people irritated me to the depths of my soul!!!
I often found myself wondering, "why did you procreate, again?"
And even with all of that frustration, I still became a Sunday School teacher and Youth Director within my former church. This meant that I taught children 6 days a week. Every. Single. Week. For. YEARS!!!
What I didn't realize was, I was also teaching adults.
My education, experience, on-going professional training, natural observation skills, self-motivated research, love of reading and uncanny ability to remember random bits of information molded me into a cornucopia of valuable information for all types of people.
What I also didn't realize was this... God used those 13 years to finesse my ability to communicate with all kinds of people. At the beginning of those 13 years, if I knew I was right, and you were wrong, that was how I was going to make you feel. I lacked patience and could not empathize with things I deemed stupid.
The main growth point for me was having my daughter. What it took to get her here is a miracle of it's own rights. I have never felt the need to protect so strongly in my life. Because of her, I was able to understand most parents, because I was willing to.
After her arrival, I would take an extra moment to feel that parent's emotional weight, before answering questions that I felt had an obvious response. As a parent, it can be so frustrating not having the answers and embarrassing to admit it.
By the time I left the field, I was one of the BEST in it. And if I'm totally honest, I'm probably selling myself short. I just want to stay humble because, "I do NOT belong to myself."
The truth in this has been revealed to me each week since I've become domesticated. Recently, I felt compelled to drop some knowledge on a group of moms who had met up for a play date at the park. I wasn't even part of the group, but I heard them discussing parenting struggles that I have knowledge and tangible tips for, so I shared this information with them.
Just yesterday with my group of dance moms, I was answering questions about speech delays, educational resources, autism, behavioral issues, what to expect when, signs of neglect and the declining public educational system. And in all honesty, I have these conversations with more people, more often NOW than I ever have. Then these people go and tell other people what I've told them.
I realize that my impact has grown a little larger. God didn't allow me to become domesticated just so I can use everything I've been given within my own little circle. He wants me to leave my mark in as many circles as I can. This is my mission and every time I drop this secular knowledge, I also share my love of God.
If you've got a lot, you've got to give a lot!!! And I will give, until I can't give anymore.
Signed,
A Newly Domesticated Lady
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