Sam is my two year old. Well, let me correct that. My two 1/2 year-old. He corrected me on that yesterday. We have lots of fun in our home with Sam. Johnson & Johnson got it right with their slogan “Having a baby changes everything.” Having Sam changed our world and that world continues to evolve on a daily basis. One of his current activities is watching the movie “Cars” and playing with all of his cars from the movie. He doesn’t really “play” with them, though. It is actually more of an interaction that he has with them. At most meals, he lines them all up on the table so that they can “watch” him eat. Every now and then we even have to offer them a bite or two. (smile) The other day he was eating M&M’s for a snack and he asked me if he could share them with all of his cars. Because I desperately want to encourage the habit of sharing in my precious, only child, I said, “of course” you can share them. He then proceeded to carefully place one M&M in front of each of his cars. I am still not sure who actually ate the M&M’s (was it Hydro the dog or Sam???). Maybe it is time for us to have another child?!
Archive for February, 2008
Purpose
This past weekend our church held their annual Summit Conference. The guest speaker was Dr. John Stanko who has written several books on finding one’s purpose. Unfortunately, I was at home sick all weekend and did not get to attend the conference. I have, however, read one of his books before titled “I Wrote this Book on Purpose So You can Find Yours”. It is a very good book. My husband is a changed man after hearing Dr. Stanko speak. And after listening for days to my husband spout off about what his purpose is and seeing how driven and changed he appears to be, I have begun to think more and more about my own purpose.
I was a teacher of elementary aged children for about 5 years and I absolutely loved it. I was driven in the classroom and passionate about my work. I have not been in the classroom for two 1/2 years now and I miss it so much. On the other hand, I am raising a beautiful son and I help manage our business. I am also the Women’s Pastor at our church and the president of our women’s conference committee. I think about how I came to this position sometimes and I do not feel qualified. Sometimes I think I am there simply by default because noone else has ever stepped up and said, “hey, I can do that!” So, I have really been questioning my purpose with the women’s ministry and in general. If I know my purpose, I can work on it, toward it, etc.
Today, I was sitting on the couch watching t.v. and thinking that when this show is over I am going to turn the t.v. off and ask God about my purpose. If my purpose is to teach in a classroom then I am pretty much doomed because at this point I don’t see my self in the classroom again until Sam goes to school. And then I remembered something that Dr. Stanko said. If you are in a position where you cannot pursue your purpose then that might not be your purpose. Let me give a better example. A mother should not say that her purpose is her children because one day her children will grow up and leave. Then that would leave her without a purpose. God gives us all a purpose. So, I realized that I need to look deeper than just the classroom. What is it I am doing in the classroom that fuels me on. What is it that led me to become the Women’s Pastor. And it is amazing how quickly God spoke to me. So, get ready….here is my purpose.
My purpose is to see the potential in someone and to help them see it too! Not just help them to see it, but to show them that they can do it, learn it, accomplish it. Whatever “it” is. The reason I love the elementary classroom is because children are so much more receptive than adults. I can tell a seven year old how smart they are and they say, “yeah, I am smart.” I don’t have to work quite as hard with them. They trust me and they love me and they want to be what I see. It is definitely not that easy with women. But, now that I know that is my purpose, I am going to be more focused, more determined and I am going to lead this ministry on “purpose”.
