Currently my husband and I are being mentored by an older married couple from church and I finally joined a seven week mentoring program at my church called Apples of Gold. I say finally because I have been wanting to do this program for probably five plus years but the timing never fully worked out for me. Honestly the timing now is a bit crazy too but Im starting to realize there may never be a perfect time in my life right now. This program is led by older women who have a passion for helping younger married women.
The two main focus scriptures is Proverbs 24:11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver Titus 2:3-5 Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in their behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic,kind, submissive to their husbands, the the word of God many not be discredited. Many of the women have been married for forty plus years and you can feel the love and their gift of hospitality as soon as you walk in the doors. It is held at one of the mentor's home and they teach many different lessons that I sum up to "how to be a good wife, mother, and woman of God." They cook a full sit down meal for us each week, give meal prep demonstrations, recipes, bible study, and host a sweet couples dinner/date night with our husbands. So far it has been such a blessing to be apart of and I am so thankful my church offers this program. At a recent Apples of Gold session, as prayer requests were circulating, I noticed that a common prayer among us younger ladies was for God to help us to not be so hard on ourselves. There was a feeling of not being enough; some in our work lives, at home as wives, or as mothers. It wasn't that anyone was telling us that we weren't doing enough, it was our own minds tricking us to believe that we were not. I know I personally question if Im being a good enough mom to my girls.. Am I letting my daughter play on iPad too much or do they watch too much tv. I'm guilty of using sesame street just to cook, shower, breathe! Are they getting healthy foods to eat? Am I praising her enough when I feel like I am always in the middle of some reprimand about not sharing with sister, or begging for her to finish her food, and pick up her toys . Society tells me that I am supposed to be this strong woman who can do it all. Im supposed to be able to work full time, be a mom full time, be a wife full time, AND have a booming social life, all while looking great the entire time. Sure there are women out there that can DO IT ALL but that doesn't mean that is what God has intended for my own life. Its ok for me to focus on the season I am in now and NOT be SUPERWOMAN all the time. I am learning how to embrace God's plans for me without comparing myself to others. One of the ladies said, "that if we believe that God is all powerful, all knowing, can create something from nothing and that He created us in his own image, how could we ever feel that what He created IN US is not good enough FOR US, without saying that God made a mistake." When God knit me together in my mother's womb he made me important and good enough from the start. If we start looking at ourselves the way God looks at us and stop comparing our lives to others we would understand the love and purpose He has for us. I don't say this to say that we can never strive to do more with our lives or fulfill God's purpose whatever that may look like for you, but please don't think God made any mistakes when he created you just the way you are. Just strive to be the best you! ~Nicole
4 Comments
Your Mom Joyce
9/28/2016 05:28:56 pm
With tears in my eyes. Wow this is a great great program and I wish I was there. You will be able to pass this on to younger women. God bless all you women.
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Nicole
4/26/2017 06:43:31 pm
Thanks Mom!
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Telisha
3/19/2017 07:39:25 pm
Great word Nicole! I definitely agree that although the world has its fair share of making us feel less than, it's our own minds that we often fight against. I admit this is something I have been working on and something I am STILL working on. People always tell me "I'm my own worst critic" and they are right. Like you stated, I often feel inadequate for my son. I feel like if I make one mistake I am going to mess him up for life. I've always wanted that "Superwoman" title but as I'm maturing (emotionally and spiritually) I'm thankful that I'm not a "Superwoman". I realize that if I feel like I'm doing everything right or if I never make mistakes, there would be no place for God and His purpose for my life. Because we serve an almighty, forgiving and merciful God, He still views me as His wonderful, unique creation, no matter how many times I mess up. And if this perfect God can love my imperfections, why can't I?!? I no longer strive for that title of being the woman or mother who has everything together. Every trial, tribulation, mountain, or mistake I've had to face gave me the opportunity to seek God and become closer to Him. Although you may not know this, you have definitely been a very influential woman in my life and I truly thank you for that! YOU ARE ENOUGH!
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