Taking Advantage of a Crisis

Hello, friends. It’s sort of a somber day, huh? But what better time to begin something that's been growing in my heart for some time. This is for you, moms. Remember, you are not alone. God has plans beyond human understanding, and that is how we face today, tomorrow, and the next day after that with total confidence and hope. 

With the looming possibility of a nationwide quarantine, the panic that comes from shortages of bottled water, toilet paper, diapers, etc., this might be your first time being a SAHM, or attempting to homeschool, and you aren’t sure what to expect, even the fear of what “could” happen if you or someone in your family gets the Coronavirus. It's quite a few unknowns, right? And this is how it will remain for a while longer. But let me start off by saying, it’s okay. 
I am not saying that you will get out of this unique pandemic without it touching you. I’m not saying that every aspect of your life won’t be affected in some way by what is happening. I would be surprised if anyone made it out of this entirely untouched. But let me encourage you to stop right now, take a deep breath, let that rational part of your brain regain composure. 
I am no doctor, or even remotely related to a healthcare professional. I can’t speak on the medical side of this virus, but I can speak on the more practical side of it. I can speak to you about being a blood bought believer in Jesus Christ, I can talk to y’all about being a mom and a wife, I can speak to you about staying home and investing in your home and family. I can talk to you about living in simplicity while going through, what could potentially be, the biggest crisis your family has had to face, thus far. 

So to start, if this is your first time staying home, Momma, welcome to my world! I have been a SAHM for three and a half years, and it has been incredible. Not that there haven’t been times where I really struggled feeling lonely, a bit unfulfilled, selfish and discouraged. Yep, been there, done that, got the tee shirt, and maybe even a tattoo! But let me tell you, if it starts off hard, that’s okay. If it starts off where all you want to do is send the kiddos back to school, it’s okay. If you start off not necessarily loving this new call that you have been given during this season, it’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up if you do not absolutely adore those little kiddos every second of the day. It’s okay to feel frustration, anger, and a bit of discouragement. So, from one mom to the other, it’s alright to struggle. I have been doing this for a while, and I still have days where I really, really, seriously struggle. 

But there is a next step after this new change…do not, by any means, let yourself stay that way. Don’t wallow in your disappointment, don’t let discouragement and even selfishness invade what could possibly be the greatest bonding time for you and your kiddo(s). It’s okay to not be perfect, but it’s not okay to just let your emotions, fears, and discouragement steal the joy that could be. Motherhood is about refinement. Motherhood is about laying aside your own personal wants and desires for the benefit of others. Motherhood is about raising a generation of men and women who will be kind, generous, selfless, brave, and most importantly, they will love and look like Jesus. Motherhood is one of life’s greatest callings, and it should never be thought of as less. Momma, don’t let your lack of a career in this season keep you from feeling unproductive, or like you aren’t contributing to society through your talents and abilities. Honestly, in this season, you’ve probably never contributed more. 

The education system was not originally established to raise your children for eight hours every day. It was simply to increase knowledge in able young men and women for the good of society as a whole. But, although it is rarely spoken about in such terms, the education system has now willingly received your children to rear and guide through twelve of more formative years, and has taken much of your parental power away. They teach them and mold them for hours upon hours and then you get them for just a few at the end of the day. During some of that, you are asked to assist the system in reinforcing the ideologies that have been dictated to them throughout the day, even if you don’t agree with them. 

If there was ever a time to assess behaviors and ideologies planted deep within our children, it is now. Now you can see if things they have been learning from both peers and educators, lines up with your standards as parents and guardians. Now is the time to weed out those particular thought-processes that go against biblical standards of morality, that go against the truths that your family holds to be superior to any sort of educationally-mandated thought processes.

This is the time to invest in the core of who your kids are as both children of God and as individuals. This is the time to build up those amazing characteristics that vary from child to child. This is the time to encourage strengths and repair weaknesses. This is the time to be the biggest influence in your children’s lives. Not as a helicopter mom, a control freak, or passive. This is the time to love on those vulnerable humans, who call you mom, like never before. This is a time to show that they are one of your dearest loves, and greatest accomplishments. This is the time to show them that when you live for the benefit of others, you reap a great reward. 

So don’t let yourself be downtrodden or discouraged. Don’t let yourself feel, “less-than.” This could truly be the most amazing time in your life, and the lives of your children. Take full advantage, show them love, show them grace and compassion, let them know that you care about their lives. Set boundaries, invest in long-term learning and life lessons. Be gracious with yourself. And most importantly, seek the wisdom, grace, and love of God in this new and somewhat confusing season. This could possibly be the greatest time in this generation! Take advantage of it.

Xoxox,
Shell