Friday 17 April 2015

Battle to survive...

WRITTEN IN FEBRUARY 2011

The truth is, life with young children can often feel like a battle to survive!  I'm not complaining.  Merely stating a fact.  But the question on the table is not really a question of survival.  It's more about how will you win the fight?  Will the victory be won by gracious means?  Or will the wreckage, of battles fought, be long lasting?  Like bullet holes that scar war torn cities?

You'll be aware that this winter has been a trying time for us Stamp's.  But these things will pass.  We're in a short & fleeting season of life.  Last week I randomly encountered 2 strangers, who were grandparents, recounting how swiflty life's experiences had passed them by!  But even if you were to remove the extreme circumstances we found ourselves in.  Life with young children is challenging.  Lack of sleep.  Behaviour management.  The constant feeling that once you have mastered parenting a particular stage, you realise the child is on to the next one & your learning begins once more!  Did I mention lack of sleep?!

If you're in the battle, be encouraged.  You will survive.  If you're the parent of one child...you will probably reach a point where you decide you can do it all again!  If you're in the battle...face the challenge & allow it to shape you.  Allow it to mould you.  Allow it to grow you.  You can choose for this season to be a winter or a spring.  It's all in how you repond...to situations, children & husbands.  We believe in an Almighty God, who is control of everything, who allows the circumstances that we face, that we may grow in godliness & fruitfulness.  So lift your head from the battle & survey the land!


(I found this unpublished.  Enjoy....)

It's Been Too Long....

So, I took a sabbatical...it's been too long. We have been at the coal face of raising daughters, serving each other, serving the church, finding me  a job that combines well with family life....life has been full. Inspiration was lacking.

But today is a new day!

Inspiration has come to start writing again...

I don't yet know what I have to say...but I can guarantee it will be something.  Something about raising a family, something about loving Jesus, something about my primary calling & how I work that out within my spheres of influence & responsibilities...

You're welcome to join me as I discover what I am going to talk about!