When I was pregnant with our son 8 years ago, I remember a new friend asking me “How will you do it?” I muttered “Huh?” “They said “You know…..taking care of him and any other children you have.” I didn’t know what to say so (as per usual) tried to joke my way out of it.
For Brian and me , we were older when we married..I was 27 and God blessed me with the man of my dreams. Brian was almost 31 and ready for marriage! We thought we would do the standard American gig…be married about 2-5 years and then we have kids. Isn’t that how it works? YOU make the plan, right? Wrong.
God had 4 years of painful infertility planned for us. He called us to learn suffering, pain, and loss in a way we’ve have never experienced before. God gave us our miracle boy, Benjamin after much prayer! After having Ben, I got pregnant 3 more times and lost all these precious babies. One was a tubal pregnancy that ruptured and almost cost me my life from internal bleeding. Thank God for our Dr. Ben Zivney! We had always prayed for a sweet little girl and God granted us that request when our miracle girl AnnaJoy arrived!
Because I had worked in television and radio news, and (most wonderfully!) been on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ for nearly 5 years after college graduation, I had enjoyed an exceedingly FULL career that changed my life. I loved it and it was a joyful investment in eternity!
Brian and I had committed that when (which sadly started becoming an “if!) we had children, I wanted to be home with them as much as possible. After spiritual mothering for years, I realized how short these years are and how FAST they go.
In my mind, I thought…”OK, we have a good 8-10 years of training and then it’s GO TIME. After that, my son and daughter’s friends will be a primary influence, as well the culture. So, the decision was made…I would make the most of all given…time with them , domestic labor ( Yipe! Ha!), training and discipline, and most importantly, preparing them to know GOD and obey Him. (PLUS…lots of jokes, laughter, silliness and chocolate as any appropriate childhood would have! 🙂 Needless to say, my husband is my candidate for “Hands-On Father of the Year—every year!”
For many wonderful women, being at home all day with your children is NOT an option…you have been abandoned, widowed, or need extra finances to put food on the table. Your children will always remember the sacrifice you made for their well-being..that you put their needs above your own!
Being at home all day with your children is hard…and challenging ….and rewarding. I have never needed Jesus like I do now. When you are in your home and struggling with patience and that same DISNEY princess machine playing over and over, you beg God for silence. When you step (for the 15th time) on those LEGOS because no one picks up, you cry out for help from God. This is the REAL DEAL. THIS IS THE TEST. NO ONE IS LOOKING. Now, how will I respond?
I have one recourse….TOTAL DEPENDENCE and a RESPONSE OF HUMILITY. This is a GREAT GOD we are dealing with. HE has GIVEN you the most blessed gift of children for you to show them God . This is the next generation that we are training up…with a society that needs HIM SO MUCH. Don’t you love it that your children see YOU are not Jesus?:) They get to see you ask for forgiveness, struggle with anger, sigh because your are sick of laundry, and be brain dead in the morning! 🙂
MAY YOU BE BLESSED AS YOU ARE GIVEN THIS MOST NEEDFUL TASK! Your REWARD will be great!
tristie fisher
Tristie,
Tristie, No doubt, it is a blessing to be home with those little buggers. The days are so long but the years fly right by, diapers to driving, really? What happened to the decade in between there, I know I experienced it I have the photos. Enjoy these days, laugh loud, dance/jam/boogie, get muddy and don’t fuss about it, let them spray you with the hose and enjoy their laughter – we dry off well. These are the days that are answers to my prayers and I am thankful for the generosity of my Father. I am their hero when they have fevers, and I am the lucky girl who gets to hear about EVERY tackle made in the game and it is my joy to be the ONE they want to tell because his wife will come one day soon and I will rejoice in that, but revel in these days for sure. These are sweet days, then the house will be quiet for a bit, and maybe I’ll have a convertible again and then to the grandkids. Riley already said he’d have 4 and let me have them all I want:))))) Does that mean I go back to an SUV? Or maybe I’ll just sport one grandchild at a time in the convertible, that’s better.
emailed you, tris, and appreciated your post. had to also respond to rhonda…loved your encouragement to laugh loud and embrace the messiness that marks a happy child 🙂 such precious reminders to redeem these fleeting days…. can’t wait to see you behind the wheel of that convertible 🙂 love you both xoxo
Love you and your encouraging, edifying spirit.
(for some reason I am not getting your updates through reader. Mysterious.)