Welcome
In the United States we are supposed to be experiencing
the fall season, but it is 90 degrees today. I think
we are all a little confused.
Welcome to all our new CWM sisters in Christ. Daily
more and more women are joining us to support one
another. If you are new here go to www.christianworkingmom.com
and look around to see the many different things that
are offered. You can read past issues of Pearls of
Encouragement for CWMs and interviews, by going to:
http://www.kimberlychastain.com/newsletters/archives.htm.
Prayer Partner Needed
I matched several prayer partners last month and
have one more CWM who would like a prayer partner.
Prayer partners communicate with one another by email
and agree to pray for one another’s needs. If
you would like a prayer partner email Kimberly@kimberlychastain.com
and put prayer partner in the subject heading.
Interview
I appreciate Angela taking time out of busy schedule
to share her thoughts with us this month. Angela is
a married 32 year old CWM who lives in the United
States. She has daughters ages 14 and 8 and a son
who is 5. Angela is a planning analyst.
Angela enjoys being a CWM because, there is a sense
of fulfillment and reward in knowing that I can help
provide for my family. Two years ago, my husband lost
his job and exhausted his unemployment benefits because
construction in California was completely dead. I
was able to provide for my family and carry us though
the roughest time of our lives, financially.
Angela struggles in being a CWM with: everyday that
I go to work, I am sad that I can’t be there
with my children. I would give up everything to drive
them to school, pick them up, help in the classroom
and feed them their after school snack. It is also
very hard to come home late and tell them no to certain
activities, because mommy can’t make it home
in time. Lastly, there is the struggle to keep a clean
house, healthy meals on the table and get homework
done after working 8 hours mixed with a 35 minute
commute on the train each way.
Angela’s favorite bible verse is: Philippians
4:11-12 (New Living Translation)
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned
how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know
how to live on almost nothing or with everything.
I have learned the secret of living in every situation,
whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty
or little.
What is God teaching you right now?
God is teaching me that I am right where I am supposed
to be. He is teaching me to slow down, stop trying
to put my hand in so many pots and focus on what’s
really important. There is no need for me to be a
jack of all trades master of none, type of mother.
He wants me to focus on the bare necessities of what
is important to take care of my family. Right now
those basics are food, shelter and a loving environment.
The extras are just that, extra and when we are blessed
enough to experience a few extras; we give God the
ultimate Thanks and Praise.
Words of Encouragement for other Christian Working
Moms:
God is the source, and our career is an instrument
to be played in this life, not the other way around.
We tend to think of our paycheck as the source and
if something happens to us financially we freak out.
That isn’t what God intended, we must always
to view him as our source. When we switch our frame
of mind and view God as our source, then our financial
problems become much smaller.
Anything else you would like to share:
Working Moms have so much to offer their children,
the leadership and organizational skills you demonstrate
will carry through to your daughters and sons and
help them to lead a happy, healthy productive life.
Angela thanks so much for reminding us all that we
have comes from God and is His to begin with.
Final Thoughts
Everyone in my home has a birthday in the fall of
the year except for me. So, often I’m focused
on birthdays this time of the year and then Christmas
sneaks up on me. Is there anything you could be doing
now to make Christmas a little less hectic? I’m
asking myself the same question.
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.
