Disclaimer first, I in no way can truly understand the pain of truly Barren mothers but I have learned much in my life through life experiences and the stories of many other women. I hear of stories far too often and they all break my heart. Every woman has a very unique story often with a hint of heartache. What’s yours?
Today I was driving home from visiting my sister. I tend to do a lot of thinking during long car rides and I received a lot of knowledge this weekend that I pondered on. A very dear friend of my sisters has been trying for some time now. They have done everything you could ever imagine, but it’s just not happening. Her friend has most recently decided to pursue adoption through fostering, which has a special place in my heart as a former Case Manager for foster care. I am excited for them as they begin this journey and am excited for the children that will now be given a change at “normalcy” because of them. These children in foster care have often lost all hope and I believe that they can have that all restored because of people that are willing to take them in as their own children. My heart is burdened for the parentless children in our world, both here locally and nationally.
My story is different. I am barren, but not in the way that most of you would think. I am barren in the sense that I am still single and even in that I don’t have a full time career. While there are days that I grow very frustrated with the inability to find a good job or the inability to continually get sub jobs to keep me busy, I must realize God has a plan. God has a plan for my life far beyond what I am capable of seeing and I need to allow myself to be useable. Over the past several months I have felt like God has allowed me to remain “jobless” if you will and single because he wants me to use my time to bless others. I have recently spent several days with a very dear friend of mine. I have been helping her tame the wild kingdom (3 boys), prepare dinner, fix websites and whatever else she has needed help with. It has been a great joy for me as I have seen a slight relief for her and in that she has blessed me immensely just by being able to spend time with her. I had a choice to make. I could have spent my day laying on the couch catching up on TV shows or cleaning my house, but instead felt God calling me elsewhere to a place where I was needed more. It’s not about me. It’s about Him and His plan. I will be used where He wants me and if that’s to help my friends for now then so be it. I know that He will provide and I have to trust Him in that.
Barren for God’s glory is simply stating that we in some way are barren and because of that we need to learn to use it for His glory.
Fostering and adopting children who have been abandoned or mistreated. Babysitting so your friend can enjoy a bubble bath. Cleaning so your friend can spend an hour with her children.
Picking up someone else’s kid from school so they can enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend. Babysitting for free so that a couple can enjoy a date night for the first time in six months. Unselfishly giving your belongings away to the family next door to you.
Love, Jana
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