Overwhelmed by My Blessings: Encouragement for Moms Part 7 ಮಾದರಿ

I was a young, married, college drop-out, standing in the studio of my vocal coach. Music and singing were my passion and her words went deep into my spirit. “Have you considered going after a vocal theater degree? You have such talent and would be phenomenal on the stage!” I loved the stage and had performed solos and in choral groups since I was a child. What an experience it would be! Her suggestion appealed to my sense of adventure and desire for performing. 

Yet deep in my heart, I knew that was not the life for me. My husband, the giver, would make a way if I pursued my own passions. But my dreams were no longer my own. They were wrapped and entwined into his dreams. We were one. A theater life was not the life for us.

Mamas and wives, I know you find yourself often feeling like you are disappearing; that your personal identity and your hopes and dreams are fading away into the synthesis of your marriage and family. You are right. We do lose our life to find it. When we fully love, we will lose part of ourselves, the parts that need to die, so we can fully live. I know firsthand. And I have never regretted giving up that theater hope, and many others, to follow my husband down a path littered with joys, hardships and abundant life! 

Our loving Father is molding and shaping us into a newness, taking the things we thought were best about us, and replacing them with what He knows will bring the most love to others and the most glory to Him. The breaking of our dreams will be multiplied into more than we can think or imagine!

We have hope! Moses had a dream unrealized on this earth. He never made it to the Promised land. (Numbers 20)  But, in Matthew 17, he appears with Elijah and Jesus on a mountain right smack dab in the Promised land! 

Maybe when we think all our hopes and dreams are collapsing, God is actually building for us a life beyond our wildest dreams. 

“Occasionally weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have.” ~John Piper

Don’t be afraid to lose yourself. You actually may be finding a new and better you!

Father, I admit that I’m afraid of losing myself. All my hopes and dreams seem to have melted into what seems to be a mundane mom life, and I often find myself dissatisfied and disappointed. Right now, I begin to look to You as my hope, my dreams, my All. May my identity be found only in who You say that I am, rather than who I think I need to be or become. May I not be selfish in my desires, but make sure my dreams align with my family’s best interests. Knit my heart with theirs so that I never lose sight of all the good You have for us. I pray with hopeful expectation that as my heart is fully given to You, Your plans for me will far exceed even my wildest dreams. 

Consider reading these scriptures from The Message