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Investing my time and
myself.
by Wendy Starkey
I have been part of Richmond’s First Baptist Church from the nursery through the college and career class and now in an adult Sunday school class. I met my husband, Shawn, at FBC and married him here, 33 years to the day after my parents were married in the same chapel. So, my roots go deep at FBC.
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I have learned
that God’s journeys don’t always require a passport. He can
challenge and grow me where I am, if I am open to Him and His
leading. The areas where God is challenging and growing me now are
the raising of our daughter and the study of His Word.
Three years ago,
Shawn and I welcomed our daughter, Mahaley, into the world.
Generally, we knew what to expect – lots of diapers, crying,
sleepless nights, smiling, crawling, walking, and talking. What I
did not expect was how this experience would change, challenge and
grow me. God is teaching me many new things about His character and
about where I’m rough around the edges. I’m not always the excited,
malleable student in this classroom, but God is a very patient
teacher. |
God is teaching
me many new things about His character and about where I'm rough around
the edges. |
Being a parent has given
me a new perspective on God’s feelings for His children. He provides our
basic needs, gives us His love, His time and Himself. So far, the basic
needs and love have not been hard for me to give Mahaley. But the investment
of my time and myself has been a huge challenge and an awakening to my own
selfishness. There are days when I want to grab a book and shut the door on
my responsibilities. While respite is needed at times, it is not in my
child’s best interest everyday. I wonder if God was bored by the Israelites’
wandering in the desert for 40 years, but knew that was the only way to
teach them what they needed to learn. So, I’m learning from God’s example
that going to the playground with Mahaley is the best choice because it
allows her to develop her coordination, reading the same book over and over
again fosters her love of books, repeating the same role playing game
everyday for a week is good because it allows Mahaley to practice what is
modeled by her parents and teachers. While these things take time and energy
and are not the most mentally stimulating for me, I need to invest in the
beautiful child I’ve been given. I find it amazing that God chooses to
sacrifice Himself and His time for each of us in a similar way.
God's Word is timeless and
directly applicable
to me as a
stay-at-home
mom.
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Through a weekly
Bible study, I have learned so many things about God’s character –
His unfailing love, His mercy, His anger and His commitment to His
people. I’ve learned the history of the Israelites and how they
really are a stiff-necked people, just like us. I have a better
understanding and respect for the Old Testament and how the Old and
New are intertwined. God’s Word is timeless and directly applicable
to me as a stay-at-home-mom. What is even better is that the more
I’ve learned, the more God has fostered the desire to study. |
God’s call to do something is usually just one part of His plan; the rest is
His plan for the future. Recently I’ve wondered: “What does God want me to
do with the knowledge I’ve gained studying the Bible?” At this point, I know
God wants me to be the best mother I can by trusting in Him and continuing
to study His Word so that I can know Him better. He also wants me to keep my
eyes, ears and heart open in faith for the next step in my path. I suppose
that’s what He wants for all of us.
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