So I like blogging... especially to an empty audience so here goes.
These are the things I've been learning in the past few years:
I've learned these things through being a nanny, through a discipleship program, and through just life.
Some are practical and some are theological. Thank God for both.
1) Never force a door closed. No, this is not a life metaphor. (Though I'm sure someone clever can make it into one.) This is real talk. If it takes putting your hip into it to get it shut, it will take the same applied effort to get it open later. It's just not worth it.
2) God loves me. No, really, I mean it. God REALLY loves me. You see, (it's about to get theological) Christ covered me with His blood. He did in on the cross. Do you believe that God loves Christ? You best believe it. God said "This is my BELOVED Son, in whom I am WELL PLEASED." He loves Him and He is pleased with Him. He is even claiming Him in public. And this is good news for us. As Christians, we are covered by the blood of Christ. I am all covered up in Christ. God looks at me and sees Christ, in me and through my life. God sees the righteousness of Christ when He sees me. And He loves me. He loves me like He loves Jesus. Wow.
3) Preach #2 to yourself every dang day of your life. Seriously. Wake up and make sure you know "God loves me. He delights in me. He chose me, even when I did not choose Him." Do it every day. I'm not kidding. You best live for Him, when you are living out of him. (Does that make sense?)
4)Never, ever leave your keys inside when you are taking your body outside, ESPECIALLY when babysitting. I promise. Every house knows when you leave the keys inside and it will set the locks to automatic as soon as you step out the door. Even if you are making a 10 second trip.
5)Learn how to be alone. Alone time is important. I repeat, alone time es muy importante. Kapeesh? Spend time basking in the Word. Spend time doing what God created you to love to do. Spend time thanking God for the opportunity to be alone. A night in watching netflix alone does not mean you are unloved.
6) This heavily relates to #5 but make a commitment to learning to love to be single. It is SO, SO hard, I know. (If you are wedded or engaged then feel free to skip to #7 and Congrats on your love!) But you have to view it as a good thing if you are going to stand even the smallest chance of not having a mental breakdown the next time someone asks you, "So when are you going to settle down?" or "Tell me, will it be your turn next?" or never mind, you know the questions as well as I do. So, all in all, you have to be able to face those questions. Well intentioned people ask them everyday and it's just not going to stop. So stop writing blogs telling people to stop asking questions about your love life (cause lets be real, if you had one you'd be dying for someone to ask you about it). Learn how to be okay with where God has you. Better yet, learn how to be thankful for where God has you. It's a process but it's also a choice you make everyday. How you look at your life is a choice. Own up to it and enjoy the seasons of life as they happen.
7) Future & Current Parents: Never, ever buy anything but a black carseat for your children. No matter how cute that car seat is with the pink and yellow daises. Those daises will turn brown and you will be full of regret.
8)Teach and enforce first time obedience. How your children obey you and other authority figures in their life is how they will obey God.
9) Simply do not teach little boys to pee outside before they are adequately potty-trained. They will will pee whenever, wherever, anytime, anywhere.
10) Kids are capable of way more than you think. Do not underestimate the tiny ones. The goal of parenting (and also nannying) is to prepare the little beings to be independent big beings with an unwavering faith in God. Push them to be do more for themselves than your natural "mommy instincts" tell you. Ever heard of a "mama's boy"? Yeah, you don't want that for your young adult children... or middle-aged ones for that matter.
11) The hardest and best thing to do is to hold your tongue. Now don't take me to the extremes that lead to self deprivation and self harm. I'm talking the holding your tongue when your tongue leads to pride, self-righteousness, and the harm of others (which is 98% of the time). True maturity comes in speaking less and forgiving more. That is the mark of Christ. No 90 minute rant was inspired by the Spirit. So hold your tongue and learn what loving others really looks like.
Hope this brings some insight to someone out there! Or at least made you laugh!
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