Third Thursday Thoughts: When Giving Up Means Great Gain
Today I’m linking up with Hearts at Home to ponder this question: “What have you given up so your family can have more?”
I’ve been musing on this thought for weeks and feel nearly guilty for writing anything at all. Quite honestly, what I’ve “given up” along the way seems small and insignificant. My husband provides far more than we need and we have been blessed with Providence’s provision in incalculable ways. But one sweet scene continues to dance in my head as the Lord gently shows me His hand in my journey.
I believe God directs us all of us along different paths. Mine just happened to be the path that led me home with my children. For others, the path is one of juggling their professional call with parenthood. Though our choices as moms are all different, I believe that whenever we follow God’s plan, we discover that our “sacrifices” end in gain. Blessings to each of you as you follow His footsteps…
We were leisurely licking popsicles on the deck when he came home. The sky was ablaze with streaks of beauty that mimicked the rainbow of colors teasing our happy tongues. We didn’t rise from our loungers, but turned to greet him with sun–flushed cheeks. “Daddy’s home!” Hannah squealed. Hair still dripping from our relaxing evening at the swimming pool, she scaled her Dad’s tall stature and nuzzled her chin on his shoulder.
“Looks like you’ve had a good day,” he commented as he surveyed our contented crew.
“Yeah,” Hannah murmured, “Thanks for working SO HARD so Mommy doesn’t have to!”
My husband glanced my way to gauge my response and laughed only when he spotted my eyes doing the same.
“Your Mommy works the hardest of all,” he countered.
Hannah glanced from me– clad in my swimsuit and stretched out on the lounger with sleeping baby on my chest– to her Dad in rumpled dress clothes at sunset–and quietly responded, “I think I want to be a MOMMY when I grow up!”
When I followed the Lord’s quiet nudge and traded my teaching position for full-time motherhood over a decade ago, I had no idea what I stood to gain. I only knew what I was about to lose– a paycheck, a title, a fulfilling career, the joy of watching my students laugh and learn. My decision NOT to renew my teaching contract when my firstborn was nine-months- old seemed ludicrous to most. My husband was in his second year of medical school and five more years loomed ahead before he would have “a real job.” Our choice to have me at home with our children paved the road for years of financial strain and “creative budgeting.”
Co-workers I liked and respected were befuddled by my decision. Shortly after I’d announced my plan, another teacher approached me with a warning. “Honey,” she said as she draped her arm around my shoulder, “I think you should reconsider your choice. Staying home with your kids might look good now, but in the end, you’ll feel like you gave up too much. I’d just hate for you to grow bitter.”
As I licked popsicles with my five children on the deck that gorgeous summer’s evening nearly a dozen years after making my questionable choice, I quietly thanked the Lord for all the blessings I’d gained in the trenches of mommy-hood. On one hand, my concerned co-worker was right. We did give up some things along the way. When our friends were taking cruises and purchasing their first homes, we were eating tuna casserole and struggling to pay the rent. When our peers were upgrading their wardrobes and sporting the latest fashion, we were sewing on loose buttons and scouring garage sales for cheap finds. When our kids were begging for toys in the check-out aisle of the discount store, we were saying “no” and enduring the tantrums that followed. But our losses grow dim in the shadow of our immeasurable gain.
Because of what we once chose to “give up” I have the luxury of beginning my day in pajamas and sipping coffee with a snuggly toddler on my lap. I have the freedom to meet friends for a picnic at the park on a near–perfect summer’s day, and I have the time to take long lingering walks in the crunchy autumn leaves with my resident adventurers. Because of what we’ve “given up,” I have the privilege of praying over the my children as they run for the bus at the start of the day and the joy of hearing their excited chatter when I shuttle them home from school. I’m grateful that thirteen years ago the Lord invited me to surrender my own tidy plan for His.He knew long before I did that deep inside this teacher was a mommy who would count her blessings with rainbow popsicles and praise Him with every drip!
The Overflow: The very steps we take come from God;
otherwise how would we know where we’re going?
-Proverbs 20:24
If you’re intrigued with idea of giving up for gain, check out Jill and Mark Savage’s wonderful book: Living With Less so Your Family Has More. And don’t forget to visit the other Hearts at Home bloggers today who are sharing their own stories of sacrifice and praise.
I love your husband’s comment about how you work the hardest of all. What a blessing to have such a supportive and loving husband!
This is beautifully, beautifully written! Thank you so much for sharing. Kelly
I love your post. It could be my story. Only the point when people thought I was crazy was when I didn’t renew my license either. Thank you for the reminder of why we have not given up much.
Alicia,
Smiles accross my face this morning as I am in my pj’s sipping coffee with my toddler snuggled on my lap!
What a beautiful reminder of what else I have given up that has given me so much more.
a latte of blessings & giggles,
Jeanie
Cup of Joe with Jeanie
Oh,I love this! “our losses grow dim in the shadow of our immeasurable gain.”
I love the Jill Savage. I read her book, Professionalizing Motherhood, when I decided to stay home with my first born.
Beautiful post, thanks for sharing and linking up! I am constantly reminded of God’s great provision for us and thankful that I too can stay at home with my littles!