Several years ago, I found myself facing the "empty nest" and I didn't like it very much! Gone were the days of teaching, cooking, and doing laundry for my children...not to mention attending all of their piano recitals and ballgames. Whatever was I going to do with all of my spare time, since I am a stay-at-home mother?
My husband, Rex, gave our church a challenge of change in January, 2010, and he asked a few questions of us:
1) What most needs to be changed in your life this year...and what will you do about it?
2) What is the most important decision you need to make this year?
3) What is the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
4) What one thing can you do this year to become more like Christ?
I began to pray about the spare time I had on my hands, and ask the Lord how He wanted to use me...and I gave Him several ideas...but His plans for me were different. Scripture teaches that His ways and His thoughts are higher than mine, and that He will direct my steps...if I will only get out of the way and let Him!
"Make me know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths," (Psalm 25:4) became my prayer.
A couple in our church, who heads up our neighborhood ministry, went to our neighborhood school last summer to see if they would allow us to help them in any way. The principal responded with great enthusiasm, and we have been allowed to go into the classrooms as homeroom mothers, tutors, and mentors. It has been a tremendous blessing and responsibiltiy to help these students, to love them, and to pray for them. After all of my own ideas and suggestions to the Lord of what path I should take, I knew in my heart that this was the direction He was leading me in.
This Mother's Day, I am not only thankful for my three wonderful gifts from God...Kala, Kyle, and Derek...but, I am also thankful for my 22 wonderful students at Sunset Acres Elementary. Nothing blesses me or fills up my empty days more than spending time with them, tutoring them, and loving on them.
When I am tempted to have a "pity-party" because all of my birth children are grown, I only have to spend a few hours at the school, and my heart is filled with great joy! They are special gifts from God to be treasured...all my children!!
