I don't mean to dampen the holiday mood, but I wanted to ask how do you all balance life? Maybe we already have a post for this. Let me know if we do.
But, help me. How do you mother infants and toddlers, run your home, run ministries, play instruments, work full-time, preach and teach, mentor, and the many other hats that we have to wear as women in ministry.
I do not do all these things simultaneously, but I do a lot of them, and I need to do more. I really want to preach and teach. I want to be more active in ministry. I actually would like to work full-time, but with small children, I can not risk even that. In this instance, is it a time and season for every thing or am I making excuses. Is it really possible to do everything you have in your heart to do at this present moment? Is it realistic? Can I get real life examples from you all?
Wow, I was going to post something similar. I do work full time and have school aged-children. I'm a bit overwhelmed with it all. I have an hour commute before I get home every evening, then's its a rush to get dinner, help with homework, go grocery shopping. I'm sleep by the time my head hits the pillow.
My house, well lets just say unexpected visitors will have to move the clean laundry off the sofa to sit down.
And then I have to make time, to study -- prepare a Word and so forth.
How many of you are working full time outside of ministry? Are you having similar struggles?
Anybody have help with their home care (nanny...housekeeper...cook?)
How many of you are working full time outside of ministry? Are you having similar struggles?
Yes, I do work FT, but actually in the church...and, yes sometimes it is definitely a struggle to get everything done. But there are things that help. More to follow...
Anybody have help with their home care (nanny...housekeeper...cook?)
No, I do not have a nanny or housekeeper. Never will have a nanny (my kids are too old now...two teenagers 16 & 14 and if I need someone to watch the 8 year old, they help if their father and I need it. As far as a housekeeper, I'd love one! Someday that's my goal, but hasn't happened yet and won't for a while. There's too many other things I can think of that I would want to purchase before I'd pay somebody to clean my house. We just pull together and do it. As far as cooking...I love to cook. If it's a crunch time or I'm just exhausted, we eat out but my dh and I both do a lot of cooking...albeit sometimes very simple things...when company comes I do more involved things, but just for the five of us we eat basic and healthy things - chicken on the grill, a potato, broccoli, etc.
As far as managing it all, I wrote a few articles on this for past "Nitty Gritty's"...one was on being a pastoring partner while still raising children in the home. It's one of the main things people ask me about. So I felt led to write about it. If you want a copy of it and did not get to read it when it was posted months ago, just e-mail me so I have your addresses and I'll send you a copy to download.
If you are going to work FT and be an involved pastoring partner and take care of things in the home...no way around it, you do need your family's cooperation. I also recommend flylady.net. Good resource. I use some of her tips though I do not subscribe anymore on a daily basis -- too many e-mails for me to handle. I take her advice to do at least one 15 min. project a day - a drawer, etc. And I always do a basic sweep every evening before bedtime.
Make no mistake, it also takes liberal doses of God's grace!
Well this is in interesting topic. Whew! We can all relate!
I'm the grandmother of the bunch. I write, preach, teach and evangelize. I just finished writing 31 devotions for Anchor magazine, 7 devotions for Standard Press and 3 devotions for Pathways to God. I preach 3 Sunday nights a month, sing at least 1 time a month at my home church, and fill in when/wherever I'm needed--teaching, preaching, visiting, piano, organ, etc. And I'm responsible for the bulletin every week. On top of that I go on two evangelistic trips a year -- January and August. During those times, I'm singing at RV parks, assisted living facilities and churches, or I'm teaching at Christian writer's conferences. My plate is very full.
My husband is a great help with cleaning and he does most of the cooking. He even makes his half of the bed. I love it. I do laundry and dishes. When we're traveling (we have a 22 ft travel trailer and a van) he does all the driving, hooking up and unhooking. That's just all a mystery to me. He also sees that we're wherever we need to be on time and set up professionally.
Christmas is the hardest time of year for me, personally. My energy ebbs with winter. (winter blahs, light deficit, whatever) It means I have to push to get up and do what I need to do when I'd rather pull the blanket over my sleep head and doze. Ha! But once Spring hits, I'm up at 5 and in bed at ummm late.
I have a loving church. Our pastor and his wife are encouraging and upbeat. The deacons are willing and able to handle the church's business. The women's ministry leader is a capable teacher and loves decorating and fussing with teas and dinners (not my strong point!). And our musicians are outstanding. I am so blessed.
BTW, you didn't dampen the Christmas time at all. Just made me realize how blessed I am. Thanks.
