October 2009 CWM Interview
Welcome/Need Your Help
Resource for You
Blog/Online Bible Study
Interview
Final Thoughts

Welcome/Need Your Help

Welcome to CWM and sisters all over the world. Let me share just a few countries where you have sister CWMs: Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, China, Romania, Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, Ukraine, Singapore, Ireland, Thailand, Japan, Israel, and many more besides the United States. We are truly a community that is a little glimpse of heaven.

It is mind boggling how many CWMs are involved in our supportive community.

Sherry was so gracious to take time this month to be interviewed. I know you all are very busy, but I need others CWMs who are willing to be interviewed to step up to the plate. If you are interested in being interviewed and supporting other CWMs all over the world then send an email to Kimberly@kimberlychastain.com with interview in the subject heading. I will email you the questions. I promise it is practically painless. I thank you in advance for your help.

Click on the banner below to find out more about CWMs. The Voices of Christian Working Moms shares the results of over 2,000 CWMs who responded to the survey at www.christianworkingmom.com. You will be surprised and encouraged by the results.

Resource for You

My passion is Christian Working Moms and I always like to share resources with you that encourage you in your walk with Christ. Caryn Dahlstran Rivandeneira has written an excellent book entitled, “Mama’s Got a Fake ID”. Subtitled How to Reveal the Real You Behind All that Mom. I have read the book and it spoke volumes to me. I think we all long to be known for all our many roles not just the Mom role. Caryn is willing to speak the things we think about privately, but maybe ashamed to say out loud. This book will cause you to think and encourage you as well. You may also want to check out her blog at http://themommyrevolution.wordpress.com/.

Blog/Online Bible Study

You can find the CWM blog at http://christianworkingmoms.blogspot.com.
Feel free to come and join the conversation. The Online Bible study can be found at http://cwmbiblestudy.blogspot.com.

CWM Coaching Tips

Do you find it hard to have a quiet time? Do you want to memorize more Scripture? Then, CWM coaching tips are for you. You can have a tip emailed to you daily. To find out more go to www.christianworkingmom.com/cwmtips.htm.

Interview

Sherry is a 34 year old married CWM who lives in the USA. She is a teacher and has 3 boys ages 11, 8, and 6.

Sherry shares the joys of being a CWM: I love my job. It gives me an opportunity to not only serve God as a mom but also as a teacher. For me it gives me a purpose outside my home & family. Unfortunately, in my job, I see a lot of struggling families and children. And although it gives me the opportunity to show them Christ love, it also makes me realize how very grateful I am for my family.

Sherry shares the following struggles as a CWM: My husband travels weekly so managing work, three boys’ active schedules, and family time can be a struggle. The statement that you can’t have it all is true. Something has to be sacrificed. For me, the sacrifice is often my personal time, which can impede my quiet times with God. I also tend to over commit myself. I am learning to practice the art of saying “no” with grace.

Sherry’s favorite Bible verse is: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. John 15:16

God has been teaching Sherry that He chose me to be where I am right now, in this day, in this age, in this home, in this workplace, in the lives of the people around me, in the lives of my children, so that I would be His light to them. It is not always easy. It is not always what I want. But it is always where He wants me. When I fail He gives grace and when I succeed it is because He was there with me. But always, always He chose me.

Listen to these words of encouragement from Sherry: Never forget He chose you. And as another of my favorite scriptures says “… God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Through His power & love we have the ability to touch so many lives in both our families and our work. Seek His kingdom first, rely on Him for your strength, and keep changing the lives of those around you with His unfailing love.

Anything else you would like to share: As I was on bed rest for the second time, with my third child, a close friend said to me “Never forget you’re living someone else’s dream.” It was an especially powerful statement, considering the person telling me had lost three babies to miscarriage & a tubule pregnancy. You see I was living her dream. Sometimes, on my really hectic mom days or especially busy work days, I am reminded of her statement. I am reminded that God has so richly blessed me. It helps me to give thanks even when I am exhausted, frustrated, and worn out. On a positive note, not too long ago, as she was worn out from being a full time mom to 3 busy kids, I had the opportunity to remind her of her encouragement to me so many years ago. She just had to laugh.

Sherry thanks so much for taking time to be interviewed. Also, I really appreciate you reminding us of being chosen by God. When we have been chosen by the creator of the Universe we can handle anything. He is truly our Abba Father.

Final Thoughts

Take time to listen to people around you, particularly strangers. Today I was getting some car work done and a man in the waiting room poured out his life story. He definitely needed to talk and I listened. There are so many hurting people in the world. We need to take time to notice them, listen to them, and share the love of Christ.

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.