Hey, You Matter Too!
When I started my health & wellness business I was just at the point of mental exhaustion! I had just endured a daunting transition from one city to another after my husband took a new job and I was overwhelmed by the fact that I had allowed myself to drown in my duty to others. As a stay-at-home mom the quiet moments after the hustle and bustle of getting everyone out of the door is when I would often take the time to reflect. Once I begin to really look over my life as a dedicated wife and mother, I soon realized that I had severely neglected myself. I wasn't eating properly, I wasn't resting properly, my confidence in myself was diminishing and I felt like the best I had to offer was wife and mommy skills. While being a wife and mom is noble, builds character and reveals extreme depths of love, I felt like "Ella" was missing something. Now to understand how awful this mindset of defeat really was- you would have to know me personally; I'll give a brief synopsis. I have always been a go-getter, there really wasn't anything that I couldn't do well when I gave it my all. I am ambitious and optimistic about all of the things that I would or could accomplish. With all of these outgoing qualities I still found myself feeling used up after becoming a wife and mother. The point is that we as women, wives, mothers, sisters, daughters take our roles so very seriously that we can allow ourselves to be "lost in the sauce" of trying to please and develop others. It is just as much our responsibility to take care of ourselves as it is for us to be devoted wives and mothers. We owe it to our husbands and children to be mentally, physically and emotionally healthy so that they can truly benefit from who God designed us to be. We are no good to anyone when we forget to focus on ourselves. I prayed and asked God to restore and rebuild me. I needed Him to show me myself again, the dynamic woman He ordained me to be! I can be great at managing my household as well as a successful entrepreneur. It took some time to get back to me, I did it and each day is a choice to be a positive force in every aspect of my life!
Your revelation may not come in the same form as mine, however, I am thoroughly convinced that God has created you to be totally active in your family's life while fulfilling your dreams and aspirations. What is it that you do well? What is it that you do that brings honor to God and your family beyond the four walls of your home? I have a feeling that the woman in Proverbs 31 (beginning at verse 10) was faithful and extremely devoted to her family but God gave her joy to work outside of the home as well while using her talents and gifts which also blessed her household! Focus on God through prayer and He will give you the peace of mind to focus on you!
Proverbs 31:17-18
"She girds herself with strength [Spiritual, mental and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm. She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good..."