Welcome
Did you survive the Christmas holiday season? I hope
you are able to slow down a little for the end of the
year. We are getting close to the time of the year to
make New Year’s resolutions. What spiritual New
Year’s resolutions do you have for your family?
If you are new to the CWM website welcome we are glad
you are here. Happy New Year!!
Interview
I appreciate Arianna taking time to be interviewed this
month. Arianna is a married CWM who lives in the United
States. She has 4 children ages 5, 7, 10, and 11. The
oldest three are girls and her baby is a boy. Arianna
is the owner of Arianna’s Designs, a cake studio.
I design cakes with all forms of sugar art and teach classes.
Arianna shares the following joys of being a Christian
Working Mom: Because my business is attached to my home,
I am able to be with my children when needed. When a child
gets sick, I am able to be home and still “juggle”
cakes. I am able to take and pick them up from school.
I feel it is important to be involved in my children’s
lives and activities as much as I can. Many times I think
my schedule is just too full and why did I take another
responsibility on, but with the faith and guidance of
God I am able to do it.
The other day my 7 year old daughter had to write 10 sentences
with her spelling words. She did it all by herself. I
was so proud of her. As I glanced over her work she had
written a sentence with the word “best”. This
was her sentence….”God is the best person
in the world”. Tears came to my eyes because I knew
God would be so happy not only that one of his little
children is beginning to understand and know Him but that
I am teaching her about Him. That was a small moment but
a big joy in being a CWM.
God has truly blessed me with a wonderful talent of decorating
cakes. By showing my children how I am able to do my talent
of cakes and use it to witness to others, I hope to show
them that God has instilled a talent in us all. We have
a voice to be heard and a gift to be given back. Finding
that gift is a part of our journey with God.
Arianna struggles in being a Christian Working Mom in
the following areas: I find too often than not that my
day can get quite demanding. Having my quiet morning time
with God, whether through a quick prayer or a simple devotional
time, I find I am able to pick up and get on with my day.
It is HIS strength in me that gets me through each day
and ready to take on the next. The days I “skip”
my time with God and move directly into the day to take
it on myself…..I feel it becomes a struggle. It
is these days that I have to remind myself that I cannot
do it alone……..it is GOD who can. With my
“wonderful” type A personality, I have to
constantly remind myself, no matter how bad I want to
take it on and do it myself, I can’t. I find myself
repeating this verse…. Phil. 4:13 “I can do
everything through him who gives me strength”.
Favorite Bible Verse: “Be anxious for nothing but
in everything by prayer and application, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God, and the peace
of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Phil.
4: 6/7. As you will see below in what God is teaching
me right now, this verse has been so helpful in me striving
to achieving patience.
What is God teaching you right now? Patience. Patience.
Patience. Before I had children I always wanted instant
gratification in all I did. When you have children that
just is not possible. We want to rush so often in this
hectic life of balancing work, husband, house, and children
just to get it DONE. I have learned so many times that
the balance can only be obtained through God and his grace
and guidance. Letting God into my heart to run my life
was the best decision I ever made. He has taught me patience……the
patience that is needed to be HIS child and HIS witness.
Life is a process of building and learning. It is taking
that foundation you are building on and learn to grow.
I also am amazed at how we continue to grow/learn no matter
our age. My grandmother who is 93 years old told me that
she is always learning something new to apply to her daily
life. She is a very dedicated Christian mom herself (even
though her children are 70 and 63). Seeing how she has
lived her life and continues to live it by putting God
first in all she does, helps me to strive to be a better
mom, wife, daughter and child of God.
Words of Encouragement for other Christian Working Moms
Seek God first in ALL you do. He has the answers for you
in any decision you may be facing. He is with you always!!
When we are at our highest mountain top rejoicing or our
lowest valley grieving, HE is there…guiding us and
holding our hearts! Don’t be afraid to ask for HIS
guidance. HE will answer. Maybe not that instant but in
GOD’s time he will give you more than you ever asked
for.
You can find out more about Arianna at www.ariannadesigns.com.
Thanks Arianna for reminding us the hard lesson of patience
that we all need to learn, but don’t want to learn.
We often grow most in Christ while we are waiting on Him
to answer our prayers.
Final Thoughts
May God’s presence be overwhelming to you each
day and He warms your heart with His love.
Till next time,
Kimberly M. Chastain
Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian
Working Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
She is the author of The Voices of Christian Working Moms,
2 ebooks and an online Bible study. To find out how to
receive coaching tips by email daily, go to http://www.kimberlychastain.com/cwmtips.htm.
To find out more about her books go to www.christianworkingmom.com.
For a free, initial coaching session send an email to
free@kimberlychastain.com.
