Welcome
Hello ladies. I can’t believe how quickly
this year is flying by. Before we know it
Christmas will be here. I pray that God’s
presence surrounds you and you seek to spend
time with Him. Welcome to all our new Christian
Working Moms from all over the world. Today,
you will meet a sister in Christ who lives
in Australia.
Interview
Izabella is a married 39 year old CWM who
lives in Australia. She has two daughters
ages 9 and 4 ½. Izabella is an Administration
Officer.
Izabella shares the following joys of being
a Christian Working Mom:
1. The extra income is always handy.
2. The extra income allows me to send the
girls to private schools.
3. To know my extra income is helping to
pay off my mortgage quicker.
4. Extra ‘giving’ money.
5. The benefits of being pushed into a situation
where I am forced to be disciplined in my
thinking and organizing my time efficiently.
6. I have been told by other mums ‘I
just don’t know how you do it. You
are an inspiration to me’. So, I thought
well, if I am an inspiration to them, I
am also showing them what my Lord and Savior
has enabled me to do and gives me the strength
to do each day.
7. Showing other mothers that ‘you
can do it’! You know I am more organized
as working mother than I am at home on the
weekend!
Izabella struggles as a Christian Working
Mom in the following areas:
1. The rush. Rushing tends to invite stress
and I do not cope well with that at times.
2. ‘Mental toughness’. Seeing
other mums at home each day with their children
and trying not to feel guilty.
3. Time for myself, time to read my Bible
and the giving of more time to others I
do not have.
4. Often feeling the ‘pull’
of the worlds ways to get involved in things
within the office that are un-godly and
learning to say ‘no thank you’
to various invitations where it would be
a detrimental to my spiritual life, if I
did attend.
One of Izabella’s favorite Bible verses
is: Deuteronomy 30:8 -10. 8 You will again
obey the LORD and follow all his commands
I am giving you today. 9 Then the LORD your
God will make you most prosperous in all the
work of your hands and in the fruit of your
womb, the young of your livestock and the
crops of your land. The LORD will again delight
in you and make you prosperous, just as he
delighted in your fathers, 10 if you obey
the LORD your God and keep his commands and
decrees that are written in this Book of the
Law and turn to the LORD your God with all
your heart and with all your soul.
God is teaching Izabella to ‘put Him
first more and that my purpose in the workplace
is about ‘much much more’ than
earning money! He has a plan for those whom
I come into contact with in the workplace.
He ‘needs me’ where I am for the
moment to further advance the coming Kingdom.
His agenda is always more important than our
agenda.
Words of Encouragement for other Christian
Working Moms
‘Well, I am certainly not going to say
it is an easy road that is for sure. When
it all gets too much, when you’re driving
to work, and the tears start to flow, because
you feel you are not coping, or life seems
so unfair, just pray: ‘Jesus, I need
you more now than ever; equip me, strengthen
me and lift my burdens so I can get on with
doing, what I need to do’. Also, pray
throughout the day, even in the toilet if
you have to! For those of us believers that
receive persecution at work, in one form or
another, whether through mocking, snickering
or being ‘different’ than the
others, remember: ‘11"Blessed
are you when people insult you, persecute
you and falsely say all kinds of evil against
you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven, for
in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you. You ‘can
do it’ workings mums but remember to
take time out for yourself, too. God ‘is’
a God of balance, after-all! Remember to laugh
often and appreciate the simple things in
life; the beautiful smelling rose, the laughter
of your children, a cup of tea with a loved
one, a hug from a friend, a nice walk in the
day, and oh those wonderful Friday afternoons
when we get to be home for the weekend!
Izabella also would like to share: I am truly
so grateful to my Father in heaven, for all
He has given me. My health, my life, my family
and of course our CWM website (thank you Kimberly
– you are gift to so many in the world).
There are days this website gets me up into
a level of ‘good thinking’ or
‘healthy thinking’ as a CWM. Years
ago, I was condemned and seeds of guilt were
sown into my mind for my decisions to go back
to work full-time, by a particular relative.
So, I decided I would seek God on the matter.
I kept praying, kept seeking and then came
across the website CWMs. I ‘knew’
with all my heart that God was saying to me:
‘Its Ohhhh Kayyyy’ Izabella –
it is ok – I am ok with you working!
And God began to show me that he can use Mothers
ANYWHERE! Whether at home, as full time home
managers or juggling work and other things,
He can use us for good, ‘right where
we are’. He needs believers in the workplace
too! I must admit that although I have had
days of begrudging or being in sin by complaining
and whining that I have to do this, and it
is all ‘too much’. But, when I
look back on my journey thus far; I am convinced
God just works it all out for the good, if
you just don’t give up, have faith and
keep going! Don’t give up! God will
come in and do what you cannot! Stay connected
to CWM’s and don’t forget to pray
daily, even on your daily errands within your
workplace. I went back to work when my eldest
was 11 months and my 2nd daughter was 6 months.
My daughters have not known any different.
It is through the grace of God I was able
to continue working. You are able to do far
more than what you think you can! Remember,
God will fulfill his plan on the earth, no
matter what we choose to do. We need to remember
that His plan, in the ‘big scheme of
things’! Be kind to yourself and take
time out once in a while to do something beautiful
for yourself! Get a massage, have a facial,
catch up with girlfriends for a popcorn &
movie night! You will see what an inspiration
‘you’ are, to those around you
too.
Izabella, thank you for reminding us of God’s
sovereign plan for our lives. Also, I appreciate
you as a CWM in Australia. Thanks for taking
time out of your busy schedule to share with
us. I truly love and appreciate having sisters
in Christ literally all over the world.
Final Thoughts
One of the goals of CWM is to encourage one
another. When you see a harried mother at
the grocery store or department store go over
and let her know you know how tough it is
being a Mom. Maybe you can even be able to
share the good news of Jesus Christ with her.
We all can use encouragement especially on
our toughest days.
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.
