Sweet Friends, I need to focus on my family right now for oh so many reasons. We are all fine but I have found that I am a little 0ff-kilter these days, spread too thin and feeling like who am I if my number one ministry is needing attention and I don’t give it?
So for the next two weeks, I will be publishing archives from long ago in “Mommy on Fire” history….
Peace to you.
The following post was posted on Friday at Internet Cafe Devotions….
It’s official. Pigs have flown.
God’s been working on me for a while on this issue – ahem, pardon the pun.
It’s time to discontinue my subscription to a certain weekly, glossy magazine I’ve loved for a good long while.
Now this may not sound like earth-shattering news until you realize the relationship I once had with this magazine.
As a subscriber, there was a time when I was devastated if it didn’t arrive in my mailbox on Friday afternoon. I might have called to complain if it was delivered any later than Saturday. I also might have needed to get a life and reprioritize a bit…
Sadly enough, I vividly remember a time six years ago when my nine-months-pregnant-self was lying on the bed of our first home beached-whale style with feet propped high on a pillow and pouting because it had not arrived when it should have.
As any good husband would do with a wife about to give birth any second, he promptly “went out for a few things” and returned with the current issue even though it would be delivered to my doorstep two days later.
Idolatry, much?
Recently, as I’ve leafed through the colorful, glossy pages of who’s dating who and who’s wearing what, I found that truthfully, I just didn’t care anymore.
I didn’t care if Angelina and Brad were considering marriage. I didn’t care if Kim Karadashian signed a major TV deal. And I certainly didn’t care if the “celebrity du jour” was out nightclubbing with another young starlet.
I also might need to mention that it’s not personal – it’s certainly nothing against these people as, well, people.
It’s just that I’m filling myself up with this kind of stuff rather than filling up with good, healthy “food for the soul.” Instead of reading my Bible or other quality publications, I’m filling myself up with who’s dating who in the Hollywood scene.
It’s like the difference between McDonald’s and Subway.
And it’s true that I have managed to read God’s word AND my ex-favorite magazine; however, after spending ten days in Ghana at the start of the summer, I quickly realized how out-of-touch the lives in this glossy seemed to be.
I found that I could no longer read the details of a celebrity engagement party complete with mules in $10,000 jeweled costumes when I met women who just wanted someone to help them pay the $50 fee for health insurance so they could deliver their baby in a hospital.
It seemed to be an unhealthy juxtaposition to see a photo of a young celebrity child wearing a pair of shoes that is more expensive than all of mine combined with the images of so many young children without a single pair to their name permanently etched in my mind.
You can’t unsee the seen. And I’ve seen.
So after much research for a quality replacement, I’m bidding farewell to my former favorite magazine and moving on to publications that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
I’m going to be eating more Subway.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2 (NIV)
All of us that are wives and mamas understand. I will be praying for you and your family ministry!! Love you girl!
I feel the same way about most ‘women’s’ magazines. I used to get about 6-7 of them but found that they were filled with ads for stuff I didn’t need, people I didn’t care about, and articles that don’t apply to Christian women (wives, mothers, etc). I found that I was just leafing thru them then throwing them away…what a waste. So, I’ve moved on to more Bible reading and books that encourage my Christian walk……I miss magazines in general, but unless it’s a Christian source, it’s not worth my time anymore.
Enjoy your break and we will all happily enjoy some history. Blessings on you and your family time. ~Jessica
I am so grateful that you are taking some time to focus on that special lady that you are, dear daughter. Breathe, breathe deep. Surround your little ones and hubby with love. I love you.
Enjoy your time off. I was stressed out late spring/ early summer and this whole on line world became less of a priority for me too. It was so much better. Also, I am with you on the magazines. I realized that the people in People are just other people like us. It doesn’t matter what they do. I don’t look up to someone just because they are famous. I now look up to people who are holy. I much more enjoy reading about the saints.
Enjoy the time with your family sweet Nat…
<3
I once made a challenge to myself to not even read the front covers of all the gossip mags and tabloids at the checkout lanes. I felt like, “why am I even allowing this junk to enter my mind?”. I didn’t read them for a long time. Now, I sometimes do, but it’s with a completely different attitude… I totally get what you are saying.
Totally get the needing to focus on your family too. Have you heard that new song on the radio? Everything you do if you do it for His glory is great work!!! Even if it’s vacuuming up Cheerios or picking up toys. :)
Blessings,
Lisa