-
Ear piercing for kids: doing it right
So the great “when to pierce your kids ears” debate had me trolling the interwebs for hours. I mean, how else was I suppose to know whether my child is old enough to get her ears pierced?! Ear piercing for kids suddenly became a tad more complicated than I had initially thought it was. We sure do have A LOT of opinion about EVERYTHING. People seem to care a bit too much about how other people are raising their own children. And hey, I get it, who am I to speak? I have a blog and I tell you guys how I do things, right? Fair enough. But I’m not out here giving you the stink eye for not doing it the exact same way that I do. Who has time for that anyways? (Don’t look at me, I can’t even remember if I brushed my teeth this morning.)
Anyways, Kari is almost four years old and yes, I did not have her ears pierced when she was a baby. I just figured that she would be too little to understand the pain of a freshly pierced ear, or how to care for it. So I chose to wait until she asked for it. And even on the day of the actual ear piercing, I still wasn’t sure if she was ready for it… even though she had asked for “rings on her ears” pretty much every day for two weeks. How was I to know if the kid could handle it? Well, here’s what I did, you guys, and I feel very clever for doing it:
I pinched her ear lobes.
Yep, I know, genius. Somebody should call Carte Blanche immediately.I pinched the girl’s lobes while explaining that having her ears pierced will be a bit eina. She said she is aware of the pain and still wants rings on her ears please. I also explained that in order to get “rings on her ears” the aunty will be making holes in her ear lobes. She was like, bring it on mom! And then I explained that once the rings were in her ears, she would have to look after it. With bling earrings comes great responsibility. She nodded her head in anticipation. Okay, she was ready.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKwQzYZ3KM8&feature=youtu.be
Guys, I can’t say that I’m going to blow your minds with this but after investigating my options I actually preferred taking her to a good ol’ fashioned Sterns for the actual ear piercing. We were very blessed to know most of the staff at the store, so she was already at ease. (The lady in the vid is her aunty) I appreciate that both lobes were pierced at the same time and besides for the 5 seconds of “ouch!”, Kari was good to go!
So what am I trying to say? Is three years old the best age to pierce your kids ears? Should you rather go to a jeweler and not a professional piercer? Am I Super Duper Mommy – the best parent in the whole entire world – and everyone should bow down at my feet and feed me chocolate? Well, I mean, feed me with chocolate all you want. But no, I am not the best or the cleverest or the most knowledgeable.
The truth is: I know my child better than you do. And you know yours better than I ever will! And so, my dear friend, allow me to say this: Take all your mommy wisdom, add some practical knowledge to it and TA DAHH! You too can be a Super Duper Mommy, parenting YOUR kid the way YOU know best! So there you have it. No lecture. No “my way is the best way” monologue. Heck, I don’t even have tips for you this time around.
But hey, if you’ve come here for ear pierce tips, I’ll share some with ya:
1. Since baby’s immune system is still developing, it is suggested that you wait until they are atleast 6 months old before creating an “open wound”.
2. Rubbing ice on the ear lobe for 20 minutes will numb the lobe and reduce the pain.
3. If you want to be extra you could also get a dermatologist or pediatrician to do the piercing.
4. Ask your chemist about a topical medication that can numb the area.
5. It’s preferable to use surgical stainless steel initially since some people are allergic to certain materials (white gold etc).
6. Try to avoid swimming for a while after the piercing. Remember that it’s considered an open wound and can be prone to bacterial infections.
7. Keep the earring in for atleast six weeks after the initial piercing, to give the area enough time to heal.So there you have it. Drop me a comment below if you can think of any other shweeet tips or advice to pass on to other mommy’s who are thinking about getting their kids ears pierced.
-
Cake smash alternative: First Birthday Paint Session!
Okay, so you’re a mom and you’re scouring the internet for ideas on how to document your little one’s first birthday. But for some reason, the idea of having your baby dig into a cake is just not appealing. That’s okay. You’re in a safe place, you can confess. Maybe playing with food is not your scene. Or maybe you feel like you need a fresh approach to the whole thing. Well, guess what, Michelle of Cutepix Photography now offers moms a first birthday cash smash alternative: The First Birthday Paint Session! You guys, I LOVE this idea! And yes, I know, the way I gush on and on about Michelle’s work is a bit dramatic. But trust me, it’s sooooo well deserved! She is super creative and I love that she thinks out of the box. I mean, her latest shoot with Jo was pretty darn sweet! Scroll down for proof.
I love everything about a paint session photo shoot, you guys! For starters, as I’ve said, smashing cake might not be your baby’s thing. In fact, Kari cried through out her cake smash shoot, because she did not like the texture of the cake on her hands. She would totally have enjoyed a first birthday paint shoot!
Jo really got into it. Once he had the paint brush in his hand, he somehow knew that he is meant to use it to paint on the canvas. (I told ya he’s a genius!) He loved messing around with the colors and, yup, ended up painting his hair. Messy, but it made for such great pics AND double score: messy play is such a great teaching tool anyways.
Michelles paint session package only costs R800. That’s a freaking bargain! Included in the package:
– A photo shoot of your kid painting. You get between 60 – 80 photos.
– She provides the canvas and paint. The paints are all non toxic and kiddie friendly.
– You get to keep the masterpiece at the end of the shoot (This is SUCH a brilliant idea for a gift!)
– At the end of the shoot, you can pop your kid into a bubble bath at the studio, for an extra little photo shoot, complete with baby and bubbles!
All for R800. Madness, I tell you!
If you’re not sure why I think it’s madness, please do have a look at the photos that Michelle took of my little ones. You’ll see that her work is quality. She also has a lot of patience which makes it easy for kids to be calm around her. I highly recommend her services! For more check out the Cutepix website. For bookings, please email Michelle directly. She is a busy lady so book your time slot asap!
(Clip note: Cutepix Photography is based in Nelson Mandela Bay)Other photo shoots Michelle has done for me:
Jonahs First Birthday Nautical Themed Cake Smash
Jonahs Newborn Pics
Cadbury Oreo Enrobed Party
Kari’s First Birthday Carnival Themed Cake Smash
Williams Family Photos
-
936 Pennies: Discovering the joy of intentional parenting {Giveaway}
The thing about children is that they grow up so flippen quickly. I mean, one minute you’re staring down at your perfect bundle of joy and marveling at their newborn freshness and the next, you’re hunting down a bundle of – uh – poop, that your toddler has left for you in a misplaced nappy. It’s all fun and games really. But my point is that it goes by so quickly! How do you make the moments count? Well, for Jojo’s birthday play date I gave a few of my close friends a copy of Eryn Lynum’s wonderful book, 936 Pennies, and asked them to have a read through it and let me know if it’s given them new insight into how they parent their kids.
Eryn’s story
On the day of their baby dedication, Eryn and her husband were given a jar of 936 pennies. The jar contained a penny for every week they would raise their child until graduation, and they were instructed to remove one penny each Sunday as a reminder, placing it into another jar as an investment.At some point every parent realizes time is moving swiftly, and they ask themselves, How am I investing in my child? Through personal stories and biblical examples, 936 Pennies will help you discover how to capture time and use it to its fullest potential, replacing guilt and regrets with freedom. Meanwhile, your kids will see how simple choices, like putting the cell phone down and going on a family hike, will make all the difference. Together you will stretch time and make it richer.
Craft a family legacy in tune with God’s heartbeat as you capture a new vision for your children and learn the best ways to spend your pennies.
936 Pennies has been a great reawakening for me. I mean, I am one busy mama! I am involved with alot of projects and if I’m not careful, it can totally eat up all my time and leave nothing for my little ones. Are you like me? Maybe you’re not. Maybe you actually have all the time in the world (hahaha I know, right, that’s a nice dream) but you still don’t know how to make every day count. That’s okay. You’re not alone, my friend.936 Pennies encouraged me to find my own penny jar and fill it with 936 coins. As you remove a coin each week, you are weighted with the value of each day… you begin to realize that every single moment with your child is SO important! I mean, there’s only 936 weeks between birth and 18 years! It really helped me to keep things in perspective and to be intentional with the way I spend my time. Here’s what my friends had to say about it:
“This book is unlike anything I’ve read regarding the time we have with our children. The figurative weight of the jar is thought provoking and challenging, yet the author leaves one feeling empowered and not so overwhelmed that you feel like the task is impossible. The most insightful chapter is “Derailed” (side note, the chapter names are quirky and unique) because having a newborn is teaching me this lesson – I might plan my day but most days my baby daughter determines what I will get done and I’m beginning to embrace it. Lastly I found value that the author makes special mention of parents who have adopted a child.” Bianca Smith (Pictured with baby Emily here)
“What a shock to realise how little time we actually have with our children. This book his teaching me how to grab every moment and maximize the impact on my children’s lives. I will definately continue to use the things I have learned. I have never before had such a visual illustartion of time. (I didn’t actually start my own jar. But maybe I will) It’s such a good idea. I recommend this read for very parent no matter how old your kids are.” Cindy Charles (Super mom of 2 by birth and a 3rd by love)
“Being a new mother i did not think i would be able to relate to this book, but i do….. The author is very real and forth coming which i love. I love the fact that scripture echos her thoughts. I especially related to the part in chapter 7 where she speaks about her fear of her son having autism…. When my Eden was a few weeks old to me it looked like she does not make eye contact and other ” signs” of autism. It was a real fear and im afraid i infected my husband, but we prayed about it and it took some time but we have no fear anymore……It’s hard to describe in a few line. But this book opens your eyes and serves as kind of a weapon to intentional parenting.” – Erroline Davies (Mommy to little Eden)
Giveaway
What do you ladies think about the 936 pennies concept? Is it something that you’d like to try out in your own home? If you do purchase a book and give it a go, will you please drop me a comment or inbox to let me know how it’s helped you? Also, I have a few copies of the 936 Pennies book to giveaway! AAACK! Yes, I’m serious! I want to give a copy away to you AND a friend! To enter simply:
1. Make sure you’re following me on Facebook
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook
3. Like the post
4. Tag your friend in the comments section
5. Share for a bonus entry (not compulsory)
Winners announced on Facebook on July 31st. -
How to take care of color treated hair
If you’ve been following my hair journey, you’ll know that chopping off my hair was a very big deal to me. But it was something that needed to be done. I mean, what’s the point of long hair if it’s not healthy? Anyways, if you can recall, I’ve been calling Michelle of Stylish Steppers a “hair whisperer” since like, before I was born (so dramatic) so it just made sense that I would ask her to fix my hair problems. Mish not only chopped off all the kaka hair, but she also gave my hair a super dramatic color change. I visited Stylish Steppers again this weekend and she vibed up my color, once again, and gave me a couple of amazing tips on how to take care of color treated hair. Here they are:
(Disclaimer: Please note, all of the selfies in this post was, in fact, taken in my car in some random parking lot while strangers passed by and looked at me as if I am a mad woman. Which I am.)
Cut, cut, cut!
Trim your ends with every second color. Mish always tells me that in order to grow your hair, or keep it healthy, you need to go for regular trims to get rid of those damaged ends. And don’t forget, you have to trim your ends each time you touch up your highlights. Peroxide and ammonia weakens the ends of your hair and can cause split ends. Snip, snip, girl!
Treat that hair!
Regular moisturizing treatments are recommended. Stylish Steppers offers the Mega Sleek Treat… guys, this stuff is amazeballs! It contains shea butter which helps to seal in that moisture and it makes your blowdry last for much longer. Your hair feels sleeker and more nourished and with continuous use, you’ll see a huge difference in the condition of your hair. Mish suggests you treat your hair every 3 weeks.
Protect your color!
Invest in excellent color-protecting products. The right ones will form a protective layer over your hair shaft. Sulfate-free shampoos are always a good choice. Mish says that your hair only absorbs those natural oils (coconut/argan etc) if it is mixed with a treatment base (like your conditioner). If you want to apply natural oils to your hair, donot simply apply it to dry or wet hair! For the best results, mix it with your regular conditioner and use as you normally would.
So what do you think about my new color? Have you ever gone for a big hair change? What would you like to change about your hair right now? For more from Stylish Steppers (They have LEGIT specials, you guys! Like, seriously, sometimes I wonder if her prices are for real or if it’s a typo!) check them out on Facebook.
-
What my kids are playing with: Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ 2-in-1 Track Builder Set {GIVEAWAY!}
Last week Kari received the sweetest Thomas & Friends Trackmaster set from our friends at Mattel and for a fleeting sec I encouraged thoughts of “but she can’t play with that, she’s a girl!” Fortunately, I quickly pulled myself towards myself (and got over myself) because the truth is that my child can play with any toy she wants! After a chat with Ella, I realized that we the parents are to blame for the stigma attached to gendered toys. And the honest truth is that if I want my girl to grow up in a world with endless (non-discriminatory) possibilities, then I probably should stop discriminating against her toys too.
Ella’s boy, Aidan, actually loves playing with dolls (he reviews the Shimmer and Shine doll set on her blog this week). Did you know that playing with dolls encourages role play? And playing with cars and trains help to develop those motor skills and can teach your child about cause and effect. In fact, ensuring that your kid plays with ALL types of toys is really a bonus because children learn through play and each activity hones a different skill.
Anyways, so when my girly girl received the fantastic Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ 2-in-1 Track Builder Set I must admit, I wasn’t sure how she would respond to it. I mean, I know that it’s a fantastic way to stimulate her gross motor skills and foster those imaginative skills but I didn’t know if my girly girl would be as excited about a train (she’s a clothes and dolls kinda gal). But she let out the cutest little “woohoo!” when she saw the Thomas & Friends box! Apparently girly girls loves trains too!
Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ 2-in-1 Track Builder Set
The Track Master 2-in-1 Track Builder Set from Fisher-Price is so legit! I mean, it has a motorized Thomas train and features two distinct journeys – around a flat track and through a tunnel, or over a bridge and around an elevated track.
Kari had the best time piecing the track together. She has a thing for puzzles (and another thing for losing all the puzzle pieces… another story for another blog post). The jointed track can lie flat or lock in an elevated position and the hinged tunnel transforms into a bridge. The best part, no doubt, was when the motorized Thomas tank was switched on. Very, very cool!You can add this track builder set to your Thomas & Friends Track Master World! Such a great Christmas gift idea! The Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ 2-in-1 Track Builder Set is available at Toys R Us.
We are also so excited about the Thomas the Thank Engine movie, Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie! The thrilling new adventure will see our beloved Thomas leave Sodor for the first time to travel to Africa, South America, USA and China, meeting new friends along the way! The brand new CG-animated movie is set to wow South African audiences on 5 October. For more follow the hashtags #Thomas&FriendsSA #BWBA on social media.
GIVEAWAY
Ella and I are giving away a Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ 2-in-1 Track Builder Set (on my blog) and a Shimmer and Shine doll (on her blog) this week. To enter the Thomas & Friends giveaway, simply follow the Rafflecopter prompts below. To enter the Shimmer and Shine giveaway, check out the post on JustEllaBella for ways to enter.Winners for either competition will be announced on the My Spreadsheet Brain Facebook page and the JustEllaBella Facebook page on Friday 20 July. Giveaway open to SA residents only.
-
Celebrating one year with Oreo Enrobed on World Chocolate Day!
Today is World Chocolate Day and what better way to celebrate than by stuffing your face full of chocolates, right? I hope you’re doing that right now, as you read this. And as for me and my house? Well, we’re probably going to get into some delish Oreo Enrobed a little bit later. Did you know that Oreo Enrobed (in Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate) turns a whole one years old today! That’s right, it’s been one year with Oreo Enrobed and we still can’t get enough of this choclatey goodness!
Not sure what Oreo Enrobed is? Well, picture this: the wonder-filled goodness of oreo biscuit, completely covered with Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate. Exactly! The best of both worlds! I was so honored to get to celebrate this melt-in-your-mouth biscuit with a bunch of my blogging friends a few days ago. The Oreo Enrobed team treated us to a delicious brunch and we celebrated in true ‘first birthday’ style, complete with cake, balloons and even a clown. But enough talk, here are the pics for your ooh’ing and aah’ing pleasure!
In this pic: (left) Miriam Maulana of New Kid on the Block; Luchae Williams of… well… this blog; Eridene Coltman of Journey with Deenah; Courtney Hall of Cee’s Journal; Eleanor Douglas-Meyers of JustEllaBella; Megan Botha of By Megan Kelly; Cassidy Pautz of The Novice, The Pot and the Pantry; Laurina Machite of the Laurina Machite blog; Kelly Adams of Basically Kelly; Taskeen Daniels of Styled to the T ; Elsie Mutsaka of the Elsie Mutsaka blog; Simran Juglal of Burgandy Beauty; Venean Bosch of In the Meantime and Yolandi Barnard of Styles by Yolandi.
Organised by: ECMeetUp
Venue: 39 on Church, Walmer
Photos: Cutepix Photography
Decor: Cute and Chic Events and Styling
Cake: KPA Creations
Macarons: Ginger Pops
Entertainment: Moaz the Clown -
Mommy and daughter pamper with Amani Spa at Radisson Blu
Look, if anything, Kari has inherited my love for all things girly. I mean, my child is the girliest girl in all of the world! (And hey, that rhymes too) So we were super duper chuffed when the lovely Radisson Blu team invited us to visit their Amani Spa for some school holiday fun. Amani Spa is an award winning, leading spa brand recently partnered with Nelson Mandela Bay’s own Radisson Blu, located on the beach front.
The name ‘amani’ means ‘peace’ and guys, this is exactly what I felt as we entered the tranquil, beautiful setting at the boutique hotel. I love that the spa brand is 100% owned and operated by women, and is dedicated to female empowerment. Girl power! Each spa is unique in respect of location, client and ambiance. Your experience is personalized and the service and care is exceptional. And while school holidays can be pretty bland, what better way to treat your girl than to give her a proper spa experience? I mean, one that won’t involve me sitting on a couch and watching her get pampered… mommy needs some pampering too!
On arrival, we were offered some beverages and little miss politely accepted orange juice, while living the life on a spa chaise, overlooking our beautiful beach front. She had a gazillion questions and exclaimed “it’s so wonderful!” a million other times, so it’s safe to assume that she was excited. We had to keep her quiet though… I mean, the kid does not own an inside voice as of yet. Our lovely spa therapists give us an express mani and pedi, complete with the full works and (her personal fave) a glitter accent nail. She was so pleased with herself. Fortunately, the Amani Spa therapists are so warm, friendly and above all, PATIENT. They answered every question, waiting patiently while she went to the loo, like, 9238471 times (it’s how she gets me to explore a new place with her) and redid her mani when she accidentally smudged it. How’s that for dedication!
I was quite impressed to learn that the spa offers a Young Adults and Tiny Tots menu. Both include spa treatments from as little as R190. Your young adult (12 – 16 years) will feel especially fabulous after one of the spa’s Glowing Facials which lasts for a whole 45 minutes! Kari really loved the toddler treatments, even though it’s aimed at kids aged between 6 to 11 years.
But whatever your age, Amani Spa has something for you. From Mom To Be packages to bridal treatments (there’s even an Amani Man menu!). If you’d like to see what’s on offer, check out the Radisson Blu PE Amani Spa menu on the website or visit the Radisson Blu Port Elizabeth Facebook page to stay up to date with what is hot and happening at the boutique hotel and for more school holiday ideas in the bay! -
Opal Jay’s funky, functional fashion for your baby {Giveaway!}
Okay, I’ll admit it: my children dress better than I do. How did that even happen? One minute I’m owning all the shoes and handbags in the world and the next, I’m opting for jeans and sneakers, while scoping the internet for baby grows and nappy specials. Onesie shopping has become a thing, you guys. They are just so flippen cute! I totally freaked out the other day when I spotted the funky, fun baby grows on the Opal Jay website. I mean, how rad are these prints?!
Featured here: Baltic Blue Baby Grow; Dizzy Diagonal Baby Grow; Funky Ferns Baby Grow; Punky Purple Baby GrowThe Opal Jay baby grows feature what they call their 3C’s – comfort, convenience and cuteness. (Because cuteness is a thing and it is important, okay?) The double-sided two zip detail is rather rad, with access from the top and bottom of the baby grow. Simply zip from the top down for changing clothes and from the bottom up for nappy changing. How clever!
I appreciate that the designs are not boring. Like, seriously, we have enough pastel colored baby clothing, thank you very much. Secondly, these onesies are more than just cool to look at. They are truly functional too and easy for baby to wear. Opal Jay sent Jojo their Absolutely Africa baby grow to try out and, well, check him out. I mean, the kid’s got that star potential, right? (Excuse the shameless boasting and obvious bias)
I love the special flaps that close over baby’s feet and hands, keeping them warm. The hand flaps are a great way to prevent scratching of faces (moms who put socks over their infant’s hands – hollar!) But also, you guys, this is the perfect onesie to grow with your baby. Our Jojo is.. uhmm.. not a small child, if you know what I mean. His Opal Jay onesie can now be adapted to fit him, as he grows.Other cool things that made me go “haai yinne!”:
A dummy clip tag
A zip cover to protect your little one from zipper scratches
The best soft and stretchy fabric, to ensure comfort and longevity
These funky, bright onesies range from R240 to R260 but with the current Winter sale (starting tomorrow, 8 July, and running until end of August) expect to save up to R40 per garment!Opal Jay owner, Leigh-Ann McDougall, a mom with an entrepreneurial spirit who wanted to create clothes with love for babies and mommies, first launched her range towards the end of 2017. She has put a lot of thought and love into her designs and it shows in the detail. (Typical mommy to think about things like a zip cover, right?) You can check out more from Opal Jay on Facebook and online store.
Giveaway
Want to win one long sleeved and one short sleeved Opal Jay baby grow? Sure you do! Heck, I want to win this combo too! Where can I enter?! Oh, wait, I can’t enter. But you can! And this is how:1. Follow @luchae and @opaljayza on Instagram
2. Find the Opal Jay competition image (see example above or follow this link to get to it) on my Insta and comment how old your baby is and which design is your fave
3. Tag 3 friendsThe competition is only open to moms in South Africa. The winner will be announced on Friday, 20 July.
-
5 reasons why you need to stop asking me to have another baby
It’s no secret, we have more children than members of Destiny’s Child. I mean, if you told me a couple of years ago that my reign in the ‘Single Mommy Hood’ would be short-lived and replaced with a full on explosion of many children, I would’ve laughed at you. But years later, here I sit stretch mark bedecked and permanently exhausted due to the fact that I seem to enjoy buying nappies. (Kidding) And yet, people still ask me when I’m popping out the next little Williams. Bless their hearts. But seriously guys, you need to stop asking me to have another baby. Here’s why:
Mommy incubator
I am more than just my ovaries, you guys! I must admit, having Jo and Kari so close after each other has taken a serious toll on my body. Like, I have problems that were not problems before. But, health aside, I also miss the superficial things. You know, like being able to fit into basically every item of clothing that I owned pre-Karis. As much as I love being pregnant (and I don’t take this gift for granted at all), after popping out 3 kids, I definitely love being not pregnant a whole lot more.School fees
Consider paying school fees for one child. Now multiply that by 4. That is all.
(Hahahaha, joking, that isn’t all. We also have to buy food and clothes and pay for extra murals and medical aid and trips to the movies. Joy.)Quality time, shmality time
The last time I held my husbands hand was last week when he had to pull me up from the bathroom floor, because I slipped on someone’s something. It’s the toys, you guys! They’ve taken over my house! But besides for that, there is ALWAYS something that needs to be picked up, or cleaned, or sorted out. I miss the days where my Hubstopher and I could be romantic on the couch, without like, a Barbie doll staring at me, in judgement and disdain.Car seat ooh na na
So if you have many children and only one car, consider what that means if you’re wanting all of them to be buckled in safely and correctly at the same time. It has seriously become a huge problem for us. I know… buy a bigger car. Sure thing, Scrooge McDuck, let me quickly take a swim through my many fortunes and gather some money to do this. #realtalk #reallife #goawaySomebody call Dr Phil…
I don’t want to give my children issues, okay? We try to make all four of them feel loved and noticed and important. It’s no small feat, yo. I mean, Kari is a little jealous if Jo gets too much attention. And then Seth only sleeps over on weekends, so he should surely get as much attention as possible right? But then, Kyle is now in full blown teenager mode and we don’t want to make him feel left out. Its cray cray, ya’ll! Add one more to this mix? Uhhh…I do believe we have reached maximum capacity. I mean, we may have our hands full, but we’re managing somehow. (God. It has to be God.) And yes, I definitely do want to consider adopting at some point (in the far, far future), but as for right now? We’re good, thanks.
Header image taken by Cutepix Photography For more, check out their website.
-
Doing it for “the church”…
Chris and I often find ourselves meandering from one big church event to another, while trying to keep our family alive on all the days in between. We are actively involved at our local church and we attend church related activities twice or thrice a week. The other day my dear ol’ Hubstopher said to me: “We need to stop being so busy!” And that’s when I pointed and laughed, as my smartphone lingo suggests: rolling on the floor and laughing my butt off (how does one even do this) at the mere thought of spending a single week in absolute peace and monotony. The truth is that we excel when we are being used. And not ‘used’ as in ‘married to a gold digger’ used. Used as in: available to serve and help. Doing it for “the church”, as some may suggest.
I know it can feel like a lot to someone else who doesn’t “get it”. In fact, I was once told: “oh, your Pastor must enjoy all this free help”. It made me cringe. I cringed not because my Pastor was called out on the fact that he has a wonderful team of volunteers who love serving for free. No, I cringed because someone was daft enough to think that we do this purely for a person.
We don’t help out at our church because we want to make a pastor or a leader happy. Actually, we don’t “do it for the church” at all. We help out at our local church because we want to serve God with our lives and our gifts and abilities.
And we serve God by assisting our local church (with our lives and our gifts and abilities) under the covering of a God-fearing Pastor. We serve by putting the needs of others first and by being mindful of the congregation. You know, we do it for the people who only come on a Sunday, when we’ve been here the whole week.
I see people complaining about their religious institutions on social media, quick to point out hungry children that could be fed with church offerings and destitute families that could be saved with church resources. That’s great. Your heart is maybe in the right place. So why don’t you do something about it? Our journeys are different, my friend. God may have called you to reach those on mission fields. And He may have called me to reach those who sit in pews on Sundays. Comparison is a thief.
Anyways, this was not what I wanted to talk about today. I’m not sure how it escalated this quickly. So take it as you read it. I know that the debate is rife. People have a lot of opinion about how much time and money you’re suppose to give to “the church”. But I’m not here for that.
I’m just here to say that if I had to re-evaluate where we are at and how we got here, I totally don’t regret my small attempt at sacrificing my comfort for someone elses. After all, Jesus did it too.
