When I was eight-and-a-half months pregnant with my daughter, one day after a milder verbal discourse, my ex-husband stormed out, and my Dad told me I didn’t have to live “this way”. It was the first glimmer of hope in several years. The first time there was a thought that life could be different – other than my ideas, which were not good plans, trust me. This conversation was in July of 2000. At the time my ex-husband had recently spent time in jail for a DUI and had a suspended license.
I desperately didn’t want to be a single-mom. I didn’t know any single parents. Only one relative on both sides of my family as far back as we knew had been divorced. I desperately didn’t want to be a single-mom. I pleaded with God for things to change.
When my daughter was 10 weeks old, it was obviously time for a change. I asked him to get help or leave. He left. My children & I became a single-parent family 18 years ago. While there were hardships, I am so thankful for the wisdom and support of friends & family. At the time and especially in hindsight, I knew we were better off. We were safe. And while I couldn’t provide a father for my children, there was peace in our home.
Nearly every day for the last 18 years has started with me having Bible Study time in the morning – I don’t function well if I didn’t start the day with Him. (Do you know the example of putting rice & a golf ball in a jar? It’s so totally true!*) Then came my children. My mom had always wisely said to not do things while kids were sleeping that you could do when they were awake. I also knew I was supported by friends and family in prayer, and my parents allowed us to live in the apartment attached to their house. I was greatly blessed. His ways are not our ways. My children & I were redeemed in seperation.
*Object lesson:
If you have a large jar; a golf ball, marble, or something bigger; and enough rice to almost fill the jar.
Imagine the golf ball/marble/whatever is the time you want to spend with God each day.
The rice is every other big & little thing that happens in a day.
If you fill the jar with rice and try to add the larger object, you’ll have a hard time making it all fit. Imagine the days you have your to-do list and think you have the perfect plan to make it all work. It’s tiring always trying to put so much in the day.
But, IF you put the large object in first (or start your day with your Heavenly Father), you can pour the rice in and around and everything will fit. And, honestly, if there’s a little left over it probably doesn’t matter much.
THE POINT: Do your quiet time first thing in the morning and everything else in the day will fit in & work out for His glory.