What Matters Most

It took me two days to get my thoughts together and onto my October Newsletter, so I am sorry for those who wondered where I was...Here I am!  Sometimes I can write like nobody's business...and sometimes, I fumble, like forgetting to push the spell check button.  I get so caught up in what I am thinking and typing..that I forget..which you will see..if you get my newsletter....

Anyways..I decided that a little of what I shared in my newsletter needed to be shared here too, ya know, just in case you don't get my newsletter...(but you really should get the newsletter) anyways...here is my blah blah blah.

I think you will like it...

It goes like this...

When people ask what you "Do for a Living" , do they really want to know what you "do", or do they want to know what you do to "make money"?  I  have to admit that I have been guilty of the "money thought"  BUT from that guilty action, I learned the best lesson!

Recently, I met someone new and they told me that they were a Lawyer.  I immediately thought..."Oh, they must make a LOT of money."  Then I get to know this person better & learn more of their story and see what an incredible difference their job has made for people because of faith & morals. 

WOW. 

What a show stopper for me! It immediately taught me that it just does not matter what people "do" as much as it matters what people "do".   It also made me realize that I might have already known the answer to that question.  (I tell you, I am Simply Complicated!) 

 

When people ask me what I "do" for a living, I have always tripped over my answer because quite honestly, as much as it is about financial stability, it isn't. (if that makes sense!)

Basically, I have always done "whatever it takes" so that I am able to stay home with my kids..(okay, not "whatever it takes, silly!!!) but you know what I mean!   so for the first time, here is what I "do" for a living...

 

I suppose I could simply say "I make things for a living" but that is so not it.  

 

First and foremost, I call myself one of "God's Creative Crash Test Dummy's" and I am NOT afraid to tell you that GOD is the center of my life. As long as I keep HIM centered in my life, everything flows with complicated ease.  It is all part of my journey and without HIM, I am dysfunctional and unsuccessful in ALL areas of my life. 

Like I said, as long as I have that center, REGARDLESS of the situation, I am continually blessed beyond my dreams..physically, mentally, spiritually, personally and well, creatively, duh!  

I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mom, a homemaker, a friend, a teacher, a baker, (talk about "rub-a-dub-dub, three of me in a tub!")a doodler, a taxi service, a laundromat, a waitress, a dreamer, a prayer, a lover of paper...I think you get it...but on top of all of that, I get to "do" what I not only love to do for a living, but what I desire to do..and for that I am blessed beyond measure.  Of course it matters what I "make" monetarily, but that is not the reason that I do what I do....

 

do you get it? 

 

I can clearly remember in my heart the very day that I took a GIANT leap of Faith to make a change. I was completely in a panic and equally confident.  I was scared to death and totally excited, possibly a bit crazy (some though I was loosing it) and in complete control (yeah right!) I was in an up-happy marriage and struggling to be a good mom, I was fearless and worry some, my future was blurry and I was out of focus...and at the same time..confident that GOD would take care of me...he always has and will continue to.

For everything that has happened, for every choice I have passed on, have made and regretted, for each moment of clarity, it has equaled today.  Made me who I am, who I continue to be and what I strive to become.  I am full of gratitude for all of YOU who are such a huge part of me...so, what I do for a living..

 

is be ME!

Comments

[suzielyons]

This was your best blog post ever. I love it! You are such a gem. Thanks for summing up life for us! xoxo

[Jennifer Priest]

Great wisdom! I face the same problem when people ask me what "I do." This one lady asked me this weekend and kind of looked down her nose at me because I did not work a "real job". Other students in my class piped up and defended me but really I can defend myself. I was forced at first by losing my job but then I made the choice to be a stay at home mom. So we made the choice to not have the newest cars, not have the best furniture or the best house, but instead to have the moments with our kids that we couldn't have if we both worked, to have our kids know someone is there for them any time of day if they need something, to be at all of our kids' functions and events. In this day and age that is a really brave job to take! I have really felt some heat from moms whose choose to work, especially when I was a girl scout leader, because they think I should work too or that because I am a stay at home mom that I am too stupid to get a good job. But being there for my kids (and sometimes my neighbors' kids too ) is really something awesome. And teaching scrapbook classes has showed me that you can never judge a book by its cover (there was a Superior Court Judge in one of my classes once and I had no clue) and that money doesn't equal your contribution to the world. I love that you share you faith all the time too. I wish I were more brave like that ;)

[SusanC]

Amen, sister! Beautiful and heartfelt post!

[Yvonne (Queen B)]

That was very well said Steph. You go girl! :0)

[Mimi]

Very well said.... I can relate... Give him Glory...

[Layle]

Fabulous post, friend! And totally cracking up about your pageant voice!

[Robyn]

I get it! And I loved reading that right now....

[yvette]

I LOVE THIS POST AND LOVE THE LAST LINE!!!

[Maggie Moran]

You have such wisdom. I am still learning and I thought I knew a lot. I am glad I found your blog. I'm up here in Altadena, CA and my Scrappin' Kitty friend got me in this hop. It's one of my things I do for me while my hubby sleeps. :) God bless you for all you do.