Thursday, January 25, 2007

Being Real

I really enjoy having a blog. I love having a place where I can share my life and thoughts. When my editor first told me about blogging, she talked to me about using it to “get the word out” about my book. But, like so many other things in my life, I had no idea what it would become.
As I think about what I want this place in cyberspace to be, I imagine it being a place where readers are uplifted. I want to offer hope and encouragement, particularly to other moms, but really to anyone who happens by. I love reading the musings and experiences of others in the blogosphere, and I want my space to be a nice place to visit, too.
However, as I was making my way through the day today, this blog post was troubling me. Honestly, today had some very rough spots in it and I kept thinking, “Yuck. I can’t blog about this!” I was feeling quite down. Nothing “uplifting” was flowing from my creative juices.
The problem is, one of my life goals is to be real. I have spent enough time trying to be who I think others expect me to be, and I’m done with that. So, what’s a blogger to do? How can I be both real and uplifting when I'm having a rotten day?

When my circumstances are good, it’s easy to be uplifting.
When funny things happen in my family, it’s easy to be funny in my blog.
When the kids are cute and adorable, it’s easy to inspire with precious stories.

But…
When we’re fighting over homework,
When Matthew is telling me I’m mean and bossy,
When he’s fussing and demanding way too much of my attention,
When I’m just getting dinner in the oven and it’s after 6:00,
When I’m questioning my adequacy at being a mom and homemaker,
When my circumstances stink…it’s hard to be the uplifting encourager I want to be.

So I put in one of my favorite CDs and listen to “The Voice of Truth” (by Casting Crowns) and I remind myself of what is True.
I remind myself that, even though my circumstance at the moment stinks, Jesus hasn’t changed.
I thank Him because He doesn’t change from day to day or moment to moment, and that I can trust Him to carry me through my hard times just as He does through the good times.
I thank Him that the apparent “goodness” of my circumstance has no impact on the reality of His eternal goodness.
And I realize, even in my brokenness, I can be an encourager. I don’t need to point to my circumstance. I can point to Jesus!!!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Reading someone's blog who constantly paints a rosey picture leaves me thinking, "Yea right!" No one's life is encouraging all the time. It's nice to read about the struggles of others. Not be revel in their shortcomings, but to see how they overcame them and be encouraged that we are not alone on the journey of motherhood. That is the stuff of real life. It's what keeps us reading the blogs we love so much.

Karen Hossink said...

Thank you, Angela.
Honestly, at one time yesterday I thought, "Oh, I'm just not going to write anything today!" But the Voice of Truth told me something else!

Jen @ irrationallove said...

Thanks for pointing me to this post. It was very uplifting "...even in my brokenness, I can be an encourager. I don’t need to point to my circumstance. I can point to Jesus!!!" so true...and just what I needed to be reminded of today.