Devotion and Boundaries

Dear Woman of God,

I’ve been kept very busy by the things of my positions. First, being a wife, this keeps me thinking of what he needs, brunch and dinner daily, clean clothes, plenty of sleep, intimacy with me, second being a mom this is the most time consuming position as a Christian Home School Mom it’s a very important task to daily take care of my 2 sons physical needs, spiritual, discipline, teach them abc, 1,2,3 and building their character. What a job I have! I must put these first daily after seeking God which is all day long and especially during my morning walks and prayer time and evening prayer and repentance seeking His presence as I go along.

After these it’s important that I also take good care of myself by getting enough sleep, eating enough and healthy foods, taking my vitamin daily, bathing/showers, this determines my mood and my ability to serve as a wife and a mom. Next, it’s important that I reach out to encourage, help, teach, and disciple the younger woman and be a good neighbor. I have a neighbor, she’s a single-mom a few years older than me raising 3 teenage daughters, she’s not a Christian and I’m really not sure if she is really interested in being so. The first few months after she moved in I didn’t even see her nor did we greet each other and then one day here she comes to introduce herself, after that for the last 2 months it’s been nothing but needs, I gave her advice on how to budget, I shared with her my testimony and faith, I let her do her laundry at my house, I gave and I gave until she crossed my boundary too many times and I put a stop to it all. 

You see many people are not seeking salvation in the form of God, they want their immediate needs to be met by any person willing to help them and they are like a disease that will take over if given the chance. This is a vivid but true illustration of how people can take you for granted and it’s very important to stand firm on your boundaries and to say no. The boundaries that she crossed with me were first texting and calling me at 6:30 in the morning and then because I didn’t answer knocking on my door asking if I can give her 3 daughters a ride to school. I was not happy but I did it because her car was broken down; but I told her to ask me in advance next time and she  asked me to make her daughter 2 sandwiches because she was out of sandwich stuff. This interrupted my morning routine and made me grumpy later in the day because I was doing for her instead of taking care of me so I could take care of my children and husband. That’s not good! Then 2 days later she’s nocking on my door asking me to take her to the bank. It was 12 and I had plenty to do and so I not so kindly told her it’s family time, I’ve got family things to do right here. It really angered me and made me disturbed. After trying to talk to her several times I decided she just wasn’t getting it and I had to put a stop to it because she had already asked me to take her kids to school the next week which would mean I’d have to rearrange my whole schedule for the morning and really that’s not good, my children need me there and I almost let her get into my healthy boundaries but I retracted and that’s important. 

Don’t let the unbelievers use you and cross your boundaries they will do it again and again until you are walking very unhealthy. As an exdrinker, drug user and girl of the world I know these things from personal experience and a very long lifestyle of sinning what it takes to be godly and grow in His ways it takes a lot of personal space and devotion. We can’t please every person and it’s very okay to say no to people who you really can’t help the way they are needing or wanting you to. My husband likes to quote give as you have been freely given which is good but not when it will cause you unhealthy burdens or distract your job as a Mom and wife. Don’t let anyone tell you that being a homemaker isn’t a real job or important! I will strongly disagree as one for the last 4 years. I don’t get a day off I might get a rest when my husband gives me one but he’s not accustomed to the routine and so I’m usually helping him in some way, but my life is built around them and I’m not ashamed or regret that at all. I feel valuable, needed, and important to be who I am right here at my home. I hope that you do to. 

Regardless if you homeschool or work a job outside the home being a Wife and a Mom come first and before all is a devotion to God. If we do our works unto Him than we are living a gratifying life not expecting rewards or appreciation for Him we know that our reward is eternal life and the peace, joy, and love we get daily is well worth it in my book. My best schooling and lessons have come with Christ as my Lord and Saviour living my best to live for Him as He died for me. Bless you!

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