Technically, I’m still on maternity leave, battling sleep deprivation, juggling four little personalities, and trying to remember if I’ve brushed my teeth each day. Oh, and staring at this little face. A lot.
But, I’ve also been thinking about you Glo Girls a whole lot, and wanted to ease back into blogging asap since I’ve missed you all so much! Thankfully, I received an email a few weeks ago that met me exactly where I am and provided great inspiration for a lot of thought and my next blog series. This email came from a fellow Glo Girl and had one of the best question I’ve ever received. Here’s what she said:
So how do u do it? That is my question for you this morning… Being a mother of 4 how do you find the time to do all that you do..I only have 1 and I’m only 5 months into to it (and I’m loving it) but I’m struggling to balance things…work/wife/house work/time with the Lord… Any tips would be wonderful… My biggest thing is my time with the Lord… I feel like when I have a spare minute to sit I can barely keep my eyes open…and my lack of quiet time is affecting me and I not a fan…
This is a question that I get a lot. People see me walking into church (kind of, sort of on time) surrounded by my kiddos like a mother duck with her ducklings and they shake their heads and say, “How do you do it?” They find out that I work outside the home and write “on the side” and say, “I don’t know how you do it!” Or they learn that my husband goes through random seasons of busyness in which he has to work late several nights a week and I get the same comments.
Until now, I’ve always just brushed them off or given my standard response: “You just do what you’ve got to do!” But when I got this sweet girl’s email, I realized something: she really does want to know how I do it! She’s genuinely looking for help or tips or suggestions on how she can be the best woman/wife/mom that God wants her to be!
And I can relate because I want to know how other women do it too!
So, over the next few weeks I’ll be addressing the question, “How do u do it?” It’s a question of balance, a question of priorities, a question of mindset, and a question of practical solutions. We’ll look at things like:
- How do u read the Bible?
- How do u pray?
- How do u relax?
- How do u accept help?
- How do u keep from resenting your blessings?
If you know any frazzled moms or grandmoms out there, I hope you’ll share this series with them. If you are a frazzled mom or grandmom, I hope you’ll tune in! And if you’re past that stage of life but remember vividly when times were crazier, I hope you’ll still join us and share your own tips and encouragement with those of us who are in the big middle of it!
So what specifics do you want addressed in this How do u do it? series? Leave a comment on this post and we’ll try to get to it over the next few weeks.
It’s good to be back!
How do you find time each day to consistently set aside time to read the bible or participate in a bible study, or devotional? I am finding that my time is full, I try each day to read my bible, devotional or bible study, it is hard and I always get distracted by something. I find if I wake up earlier, one of my girls gets up at the same time and needs something. Trying to do it at night when both girls have radios blaring and singing along with them is very noisy! I love it though!!
How do u do it? This is a very real concern for women of all ages and situations.
One question I have is: how can get my teenage daughter excited over Jesus,church and developing an intimate relationship with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Her dad and my husband passes away from a 3 year journey with cancer 2 1/2 years ago. She said since her prayers to make her dad well were not answered she was through with praying and “all that stuff”.
I had to enroll her in public school after being in Christian pre-school and school all her life. She was 11 years old then. She will soon be 14.
We clash on many things like TV, music, movies, clothing and diet.
We have 3 grown sons, the world seems so much worse now than then. Without my dear and godly husband the struggle has been even worse.
I would appreciate any suggestions. My daughter is the dearest person in my life.
Please withhold my name out of respect for my daughter and her feelings.
Thank you.
MaryLisa
I’m so sorry to hear that! Many prayers for your family. I lost my mom when I was 10, so I know how tough that can be! My first suggestion is to take your daughter to a Christian counselor. She may clash with you (most daughters do at that age!) but maybe having a third party to talk to would help. And keep praying for her every day!
Emily,
You posted so many great questions to ponder for mom’s of all ages. I would just say being a mom of 3 and grandmother of 2 and a pastor’s wife and working full time can sometimes make me frazzled. The only way I can do it is, adjust my expectations of myself and others. The Lord is priority but to say realistically I will spend 2 hours a day in study and prayer will lend itself to trying to juggle other important things as well and doing those things good but not well because I’ve layed an expectation of what I think is a “good Christian” and anything else is mediocre. It is all about the heart. The time I do spend daily with Him and praying without ceasing looks different everyday but it’s my heart that is at the center of it. If I am devoted to Him (not having a divided heart) I will walk securely in the different things I do. Also, expectations I have on others can wound a relationship but also make me ungrateful when my expectations are too high for example on my husband, my kids, church members etc. Each person and the things they do to help life run smoothly are gifts from the Lord to help, guide, and carry burdens that would otherwise be too big for just one person. Thank you for your encouragement and timely words.
Well said, Joanie!
What a GREAT series! So looking forward to this! Finding quiet time with little ones can be quite difficult. I sponsor a young teenage girl in the Philippines through Compassion Int and she shared with me a brilliant thing that she does, and I am starting it too. She calls it “no devotion, no breakfast.” Well, I like breakfast. And I like to eat lol. So the goal is to do a devo during breakfast every morning and if there is no devo = no breakfast. And it takes 21 days to make a habit right? Here’s to making this a habit! 😉
That sounds like a great rule! I LOVE breakfast!!
I am really looking forward to this. I have 2 little ones, I homeschool, and I will begin working part time tomorrow night. I know that I will struggle so this is the PERFECT timing for this series. Thank you!!!
Thank you so much. I look forward to your series. My question is How do u NOT feel guilty for being away from your child more than you want to be, whether for work, aging parents, etc.
This is such a wonderful question! So good, in fact, that I may just start with this one! Stay tuned on Thursday!
Em-
I have always wondered the same. How does she do it? But through my own quiet time, I have realized that it’s just like you stated so many times over. You do what you’ve gotta do! You do it well, FYI-that is why so many people ask you:) Looking forward to seeing you and the fam this Christmas.
Thanks, Nicole! Looking forward to seeing y’all too!
Hi Emily & so glad your back. 😉 sounds like you’re settling into somewhat of a schedule. Course, as a parent & now grandparent we know that can & will change. And I think therein lies our answer. We live in seasons of weather & seasons of life. There’s days of sunny delight then there are days of dark shadows & allll the in betweens. But as we grow we acclimate, adjust & learn how to cope. And we do it best when we depend on God first to lead & direct our changing courses. I, personally, (thankfully in the past), used to try to orchestrate my, & those of my families, life. Id go for awhile & it would be great but then, & as usual, derailments would happen. I’ve had many people ask me the very same thing…..”How do you do it all?” Luke 18:27 impossible to do with men but completely possible with God. And it isn’t easy but, thankfully, it is “”possible””. 😉