Welcome
I pray you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and I hope
some time off from work. May I be of the first to wish you a Happy
New Year. Remember as you are making those New Year Resolutions
to include time alone with God in order to praise and worship our
Heavenly Father.
Pastor’s wives have a special place in my heart. I think
it is very tough to be a pastor and possibly tougher to be a pastor’s
wife. Pastor’s wives have so many unwritten expectations made
by members in their congregations. Today, Amanda, a pastor’s
wife takes some time to be interviewed.
Interview
Amanda is a 32 year old CWM who lives in the United States. She
has been married 11 years to her husband who is a pastor full-time.
She has two boys ages 6 and 9. Amanda is a manager of a women’s
fitness and weight loss center and full-time dental hygiene student.
(Boy, is she busy!!)
Amanda shares the following joys of being a Christian Working Mom:
God has definitely given me unique opportunities as a working mom!
I have met so many women through my job and going to college that
I would have never have met otherwise.
I absolutely love my job! I love helping women learn to be healthy.
I love seeing their confidence grow as they start losing weight
and realizing they can do this.
I also love my new career that I’m training for. It’s
hard, but I know it will be worth it when I graduate – I’ll
have more stability, better hours, and a much better paycheck.
Amanda struggles in being a Christian Working Mom in the following
areas: I really struggle with balance, especially since I started
college. Everyone needs me to give 100%, and it’s hard to
give it for 4 hours a day at school, 7 hours at work, and for several
more hours at home. Some days I feel like the guy at the circus
spinning plates, running from one plate to the next, trying to keep
it all going. Some days I really need to just let a plate or two
fall, but nobody is willing to let it be their plate.
Another struggle is one that I think many Christian working moms
share - lack of support. Christian Working Mom is one of the only
websites available for Christian moms who work outside the home,
and I’m so thankful for it. Criticism is everywhere –
support isn’t.
Favorite Bible Verse: Isaiah 49:15-16: Can a woman forget her nursing
child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these
may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed
you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before
me.
What is God teaching you right now?
He’s teaching me to rely fully on Him for my strength and
my peace through the chaos, and to trust Him to work out the details
for me.
Words of Encouragement for other Christian Working Moms:
Always remember that God doesn’t make “cookie cutters.”
You and your family are unique. Don’t let anyone tell you
you’re making the wrong choice, because only you and God can
decide what is best for your family. Others don’t know your
circumstances, your gifts, and your callings.
Anything else you would like to share: I love blogging, and I write
often about the joys and struggles of being a Christian working
mom. I also blog about faith, family, crafting, cooking, running,
and more. My blog is Confessions of a Wannabe Supermom at http://justamandaslife.blogspot.com
Amanda I appreciate you pointing out again how all of us are made
in the image of God and have different abilities and gifts. All
our families are unique in God’s eyes. Thank you for sharing.
Final Thoughts
What small changes can you make in the way your family is organized
to make 2012 less hectic and easier for you? It could involve dropping
a few activities to spend more time as a family. Change is never
easy. Pray for God’s direction for your family in 2012 and
to follow His leading.
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.
