Back to My Roots

My very first blog post was my mission, my goal for WIFE.

Link to my first blog post!

I feel that I have gotten away from my core idea for WIFE. And in the past few years I have come to realize that married women are not just my mission field, but all women are.

Essentially what it boils down to is this. Christians are meant to be set apart. There should be a noticeable difference in every aspect of that individuals life:

• How they live
• Fitness
• Finances
• Dress & Appearance
• Relationships
• Parenting
• Dating & Marriage
• Celebrating & Mourning

So going forward I am going to do things differently. When I post I will lead in the title what subject or area I am blogging on (see the list above). Now if I want to share a story, a testimony, book review, etc, I will lead the title with "Personal Note...."

My family is part of my mission field: I have a daughter who needs to know what it means to be a christian woman, and I am raising a son who needs to know what to look for in a future spouse, if God calls him to marriage.

The in-depth subjects might take some time, because it is going to require more of me. But I hope every week to post a blog, one way or the other. Please bear with me as I get refocused on the LORD and His plan for this blog.

Thanks you sisters!

P.S. If there is a subject you are interested in knowing more about, please share!

The Look of Mourning

I was not acutely aware that I had changed.

I did not want one incident, one event to become my definition:

"Oh that is Jessica, she lost a child."

I want my life to be described in a series of moments:

"Jessica, she loves her children, loves her husband, serves the Lord, works hard, writes,and lives life to the fullest." "Oh and she hates washing windows."

I have a friend whom I am talking through my emotions and thoughts with. She does not offer solutions, there aren't any. She listens. And it has done me good, to have someone I can talk at. I feel better about where I am in my processing of the situation. I feel like I am making strides in not letting this loss become definition. Her and I have met the past two Saturday's.

This past Sunday morning I had a handful of people comment on my hair, how great it looked. After a few people mentioned my hair, I thought about it. And then it came to me. Since we lost Charli, I have pretty much had my hair up: in a bun, or a clip. I have not worn it down. It has been clean, but I have not taken the hour or so it requires to blow dry and straighten out my hair. But Sunday morning, before church, I did take the time. Which is surprising even more when you consider it was time change Sunday, we had my nephew with us, and my 2 year old was at the start of potty training. I did all that was required to get us ready for church and did my hair.

Without realizing, the loss of Charli had changed my appearance. It wasn't anything major, but then again it was. Church service is two days a week, and I generally am there. Now, I do work for the school that is a ministry of my church, so I am in our church building 6 out of 7 days a week. And sometimes that 7th day too. But for people who do not work there, they only see me 1 to 2 times a week, and for over a month every time they saw me my hair which I normally wear down to church was up, so the sudden switch back to down was noticeable.

Noticeable to everyone but me.

I have looked through my phone and have not really taken any pictures of myself this year. I do have one picture of myself with my husband when we took a trip for just the two of us. My hair is up. I apparently have not felt like taking a picture here recently. Which, I mean, I get.

Life is so quick, time flies. And without realizing, you change. I had adopted a new appearance, without meaning or wanting to. But it happened. I have been more mindful this past week of my appearance, even though I have been at home with my two littles - Spring Break. I am making sure to get dressed, brush my hair, add some make up, and earrings. I am in mourning, but it does not need to take over my life. The loss will always be apart of me, but it will not be me. I am more than a moment in my life.

Hair down, make up on, earrings in.
3/16/2017

How do you respond when you see a need?

I read a story today, that showed up in my Facebook feed. What caught my eye was the story tag line: Over $2600 worth of baby formula stolen from Baytown Walmart.

Here is the link to the story:

Over $2600 worth of baby formula stolen

When I first saw the story, before I read it, I was mortified. My first thought was that these people had been caught stealing trying to feed their child. And if that was the case, I will find money to send so they can feed those babies.

But when you read the story, it is many people stealing, and stealing in over abundance.

Then I read the comments on the feed. Some people were like me. If people are stealing to feed their children, let us help them. Pray for them yes, but this is a case of more needing to be done.

I read the comments attached to article in my feed. Apparently there is a hot market in Ebay to sell baby formula. And more than a few people pointed out that if a person is in need of formula, WIC can help. Many people in the comments were down right cruel. And of course many started talking about immigration and Trump. That tangent went off onto trails that were not even related to the article.

After reading the article and the comments here is the lesson I have received:

• Walmart is a business, and by these people stealing, they are hurting the company. Now before you lambast me for being for big business, remember this. Walmart employees people, and those people are our neighbors. When profits fall, jobs can be cut. That effects us.
• If these people had been stealing to feed a hungry child and were in the position of being jobless, or some other tragic necessity, then punishment is not necessarily the right course of action, but the following would help with the situation:
• job training
• temporary assistance
• restitution
• local church/food pantry reaching out
• Stealing for profit. Wow, I guess I sometimes live in a bubble. But I know things are stolen every day, I have been the victim of robbery a few times in my life.
• And finally, people are mean. Some are compassionate, but many are mean. And they like to stir up trouble and fear.

I am saddened by that last observation. But I know it is reflective of the world we live in. Our world is broken, full of sin, and in desperate need of our Savior. This article is a perfect example of this. People stealing, not for need, but for a profit. And then people using the article as a platform to spread fear and trouble.

I did not add any remarks to the feed. But I did offer up a prayer. I am joyful in my heart that when I thought I saw a need I wanted to help. That is growth for me. I pray I continue, and maybe soon be able to follow through.

Proverbs 6:30-31

Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry; But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house.

 

Matthew 25:34-40

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,^[a] you were doing it to me!’