Living, Loving and Laughng
I'm prone to take things a little more on the serious side. Because of this, one of the best gifts God has ever given me has been my husband. I have laughed my head off with him. He keeps me looking at things from a positive perspective, from a lighter and more humorous angle. As my children get older, I have discovered they too have a wonderful sense of humor much like their father, and I love it. There are many women out there who are crazy and I love them too. My menagerie of friends is compiled of them. I want to be more like that, living in laughter, love and joy- enjoying life and embracing every day.
Whether we are women of intensity or women of a more carefree spirit, we as women have had a stereotype. It is summed up like this by many, "Happy wife, happy life." I used to become offended at sayings like that, which insinuate that a woman is hard to please and when appeased, everyone around her can relax. Why, that thought is ludicrous! Or is it?
I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an in-law and friend. Ask any of my family members and you'll find that I have been frazzled many a time. Sometimes, it's been downright ugly. We all have our moments-some pretty and put together and some just plain mortifying. As a woman's closest friend and/or spouse can attest to, women can be and do many things at one time, carry out many roles and experience a multitude of emotions in an afternoon. Believe it or not, these abilities are some of the gifts God gave to women. Women can be creative, clever and sometimes shrewd. Because of these qualities, women can be very powerful. Yes, the female gender has the gift of influence.
Ladies, look around you. Who is in your circle of influence? Is it children, a husband, extended family, friends, a Sunday school class, an exercise group, co-workers, a friend you have met on-line? God has given the opportunity to all women to be mothers- maybe some of us not bearing children physically, but being entrusted with those who have been born to us "spiritually", placed in our circle of influence to nurture and love. God has gifted women with strengths unique to their gender. One of those gifts is influence. Today, the question begs to be asked, how are we using this gift?
We can use the power of influence for good or for bad. We can use our gift to manipulate, to instill guilt and to achieve what we want. But we also have another choice (and this one the Lord and our families highly recommend). The alternative is to use the influence God has given us to encourage and uplift others, to laugh with, to teach, to listen to, to nurture, to dream with, and to just walk beside and support. A mother who laughs, who delights in the Lord and those He has given to her is priceless. A mother and any woman who laughs with her family and friends is a picture those closest to her will not forget. A woman full of joy and a love for the Lord will leave a legacy to her "children" that will not fade, but will leave a lasting impact. I have visited with many older mothers. What have I learned? Attitude is everything and attitude is a choice. I want to live well, love well and laugh often. I want to influence others with the joy of Jesus Christ. What about you?
Happy Mothers Day, my sisters...and laugh your heads off!
Jocelyn
Whether we are women of intensity or women of a more carefree spirit, we as women have had a stereotype. It is summed up like this by many, "Happy wife, happy life." I used to become offended at sayings like that, which insinuate that a woman is hard to please and when appeased, everyone around her can relax. Why, that thought is ludicrous! Or is it?
I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an in-law and friend. Ask any of my family members and you'll find that I have been frazzled many a time. Sometimes, it's been downright ugly. We all have our moments-some pretty and put together and some just plain mortifying. As a woman's closest friend and/or spouse can attest to, women can be and do many things at one time, carry out many roles and experience a multitude of emotions in an afternoon. Believe it or not, these abilities are some of the gifts God gave to women. Women can be creative, clever and sometimes shrewd. Because of these qualities, women can be very powerful. Yes, the female gender has the gift of influence.
Ladies, look around you. Who is in your circle of influence? Is it children, a husband, extended family, friends, a Sunday school class, an exercise group, co-workers, a friend you have met on-line? God has given the opportunity to all women to be mothers- maybe some of us not bearing children physically, but being entrusted with those who have been born to us "spiritually", placed in our circle of influence to nurture and love. God has gifted women with strengths unique to their gender. One of those gifts is influence. Today, the question begs to be asked, how are we using this gift?
We can use the power of influence for good or for bad. We can use our gift to manipulate, to instill guilt and to achieve what we want. But we also have another choice (and this one the Lord and our families highly recommend). The alternative is to use the influence God has given us to encourage and uplift others, to laugh with, to teach, to listen to, to nurture, to dream with, and to just walk beside and support. A mother who laughs, who delights in the Lord and those He has given to her is priceless. A mother and any woman who laughs with her family and friends is a picture those closest to her will not forget. A woman full of joy and a love for the Lord will leave a legacy to her "children" that will not fade, but will leave a lasting impact. I have visited with many older mothers. What have I learned? Attitude is everything and attitude is a choice. I want to live well, love well and laugh often. I want to influence others with the joy of Jesus Christ. What about you?
Happy Mothers Day, my sisters...and laugh your heads off!
Jocelyn
Labels: Jocelyn
posted by Missy at
12:01 AM
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