Do You Know Your Worth?

What was challenging about it? Even animals can choose this or that option. Wisdom lies in choosing to spend our time, money, and effort for the best yes possible. These women told me about their vision, it spoke to something deep inside me. I wanted to say yes right away. But I held my tongue and took some time to think and pray about it, to seek the Father’s wisdom and my family’s support. I get to interact with moms from all different perspectives who write and share articles to encourage one another, pointing us back to the One who loves us more than anything. Our motherhood must tap into and grow from that. After all, we can’t give what we don’t have. Serving as executive editor takes a lot of time and energy and resources, yet it also energizes me. I’m glad I said yes. That’s a mindblower, honestly. Try reliance on anything else here, and you’ll see how ridiculous it is.

Not Afraid

I can do all things through coffee that gives me strength. What? While this comes with a big dose of humility, it’s also a source of hope. Humility, because we can’t do this on our own. Let’s back up, though. Sometimes we get so excited about this powerful truth that we miss out on what comes right before it. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. When Paul wrote this letter, he was in prison. Drink that in for a minute. Talk about redeeming the time! Paul may not have been physically free, yet he had the freedom to choose how he would respond to his circumstances. He chose contentment, whether he was experiencing obvious blessings or significant challenges. We, too, have the power to choose.

The Magic Touch

May we have the wisdom to know when to say no so we can say a resounding yes to the things we’ve been called to. And may we choose contentment, no matter what’s happening all around us. Truth takes practice. Make a commitment to speak only the truth today. At the end of the day, reflect on what it felt like to speak only the truth. There’s nothing quite like a full stadium on game day, buzzing with energy, enthusiasm, and hope. When someone you love is on the field, it’s just as exciting, but there’s also a lot to dread. Our family gets to watch from the friends and family section. The vibe there is a bit different from the rest of the stadium. It’s more intense, thick with hyped energy, strong opinions, and frazzled nerves. Because there’s always a possibility that someone on the field will be injured. When somebody gets hurt out there, it’s no joke.

There's A Reason For It

Take, for instance, the smart young woman dating a former teammate of Benjamin’s. Can I ask you a question, Kirsten? she asked. Sure. How did you get Benjamin to propose? I laughed. Forever is a long, long time. When you’re signing up for forever, you want it to be with someone who is all in. Think of it this way. He poured blood, sweat, and tears into each game. Sure, there were highs, like winning the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. There were also excruciating lows, like injuries that required surgery and months of grueling physical therapy. Each new contract Benjamin was offered meant we had to carefully weigh the options. The stakes were high. Would the benefits outweigh the costs? However appealing or risky, those contracts were for a finite amount of time. When it comes to sports, no contract is forever. But when Benjamin asked me to marry him, he was offering a lifetime contract. I counted the costs. Now I can say, without a doubt, that we are better together. I don’t even want to imagine doing life without him. Girl, I’m not trying to trick anybody into forever. Single was working fine for me. Are you fine on your own? Do you know your worth? Do you know who made you? You get to choose who you allow into your life. Don’t just assume that because somebody wants you, you’re gonna want them. You get to choose, so choose wisely. Whatever junk you bring to the marriage, he’s not going to make it go away. And you can bet he’s bringing his own junk too. You are marrying the man he is now, not the man you know he could be. Marry the man he is today. That’ll save you a lot of heartache! That’s what initially intrigued me about Benjamin. I felt instant respect and admiration for a man who firmly and proudly shared this wisdom and truth. It’s what made him stand out in the crowd. Our friendship grew out of that first impression, and out of our friendship grew our romance. Benjamin tells a different story. After the football team had finished training camp that summer, he went to a block party to see what campus life might look like. That visual of me in red pants and a crisp white shirt made an impression, evidently. He jokes that a light shone down from heaven right in the middle of the quad. What’s funny is that I don’t remember seeing him then. Now did he talk to me? He just made a mental note. At the time we were both seeing other people anyway, so it really was for the best. When we were both single again, Benjamin took me out on what would be our first date. I put that in quotation marks for a reason. Later we became friends. Neither of us picked up the check because we were both on the campus meal plan! We joked about it then, and we laugh about it to this day. That’s how it is to this day.