| The cure for pessimism
by Crystal Paine
I'm seventeen years old. I have been homeschooled for the past 4 years. Next year I will be senior. I have three younger sisters ages 16, 15, and 12. We go to a small church with only about 35-40 people on average, with mostly older people filling the congregation. I realize that I can learn a lot from these people and gain from their wisdom. I have this vision in my mind of me when I am older. In a way, I want to have a life similar to yours... Being happily married and I plan to have a home-based business when I am married so that I can keep the home my first priority, and I want to homeschool my children. Since I am home all day with my sisters we tend to always be at each other's throats! I tend to slip into a state of negativity and get very impatient when everyone's not doing what they are "supposed" to. I know that I should be concerned about other people's business but it's so easy when I'm home all day. I try to think of things to do so I don't get consumed in pessimism. I was wondering if you have any ideas of things I can do that will be meaningful and beneficial. Anything to teach me how to be more patient and loving towards everyone. I really stuggle to not be impatient and bossy and just plain rude. What helps you to be so optimistic? Everytime I need encouragement I log on to your website and when I see how unselfish you are and what a blessing you are to everyone and how you actually seem to have a genuine care for others, I get inspired to try to be that way, too. Hearing from you will be of great encouragement. Thank you so much! -Miss B.
P.S. I love to read and I have mostly all the books you sell, but is there anything else you recommend to read that has helped you?
Thanks for writing, Miss B., and God bless you!
There is so much I could say to respond to you but I wanted to start out with what I feel is the most important thing I can encourage you to do - Spend this season of your life deepening your relationship with the Lord. I encourage you to spend quality time everyday in God's Word and in prayer. Me morize and meditate upon Scripture. Dig deep into God's Word. Pour out your heart to Lord. Make Him your heart's desire. Do a word study on all the verses which have to do with patience, joy, and longsuffering in Scripture and then ask God to help you develop these qualities.
Bloom where He plants you! You can waste your days longing for something you don't have or you can invest your days for God's glory. Look at what you have been given - you have a wonderful family to love, sisters to be your friends, a church fellowship to be encouraged by. Maybe someday you won't have any of those things. Make the most of this season. Live today as if it were your last. Don't look at what you don't have, make the most of what you do have.
Invest in your sisters. Develop close relationships with them. Love them, as Christ loves you, even when they are unlovely. Pray that God would help you to overlook their faults and shortcomings and ask God to love them through you. As the oldest, you have a great responsibility to set an example. They are watching you and looking up to you.
Pray for and seek out ministry opportunities. Start in your own home: Ask your parents how you can be a help to them. Go to your mom and ask her what you can do today to help ease her load. Take initiative. Be the first to offer to help, don't wait to be asked. Maybe there is a needy family in your community that you could reach out to by caring for their children and helping the mother with cleaning and cooking. Maybe you and your sisters could start a ministry for young children or the elderly in your area. There are thousands of ministry opportunities available and once you start praying for the Lord to open your eyes to them, you will be amazed! Ask your parents for their ideas and direction in this.
Start living your dreams! Don't wait until you are married to start being the woman you want to be. Learn to submit to your dad and honor him and help him in his endeavors. Learn to be a selfless servant in your home. Make your present abode a haven for your family. Cultivate domestic skills in areas you may be lacking. Invest in little children (perhaps you could even help with the schooling of your younger sisters?). Talk to your parents about pursuing a home business while you are still at home. Throw your life into loving the Lord by serving others and you will soon find that pessimism is a thing of the past! "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
As far as books I would recommend, if you have not read So Much More or my newest book, Handmaidens of the Lord, I would highly recommend you start with those. Next, I think you would be very inspired and encouraged by the CD, Home is Where The Heart Is. Another must-read is The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs (You can download a copy here. It appears the book is in its entirety.) I also would suggest any books by Amy Carmichael (especially her little volume, IF), missionary biographies of men like Adoniram Judson and Hudson Taylor . I also have very much appreciated the writings of Oswald Chambers, Charles Spurgeon, and Robert Murray Mc'Cheyne. I know there are so many other wonderful books out there, but those are some which have really impacted me. May the Lord richly bless you, Miss B. He has a wonderful, incredible plan for your life. Delight in it!
Crystal Paine is a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Topeka, Kansas. She is the blessed wife of Jesse and joyful mother of Kathrynne. Visit her site, Biblical Womanhood, for books, articles, encouragement, and inspiration!
This article may be reprinted freely in your publications or on your website, provided it is reprinted in its entirety and the bio information is kept intact. Thank you!
We'd love to consider publishing your articles as well! Click here to submit your article and we will be glad to review it for possible inclusion on our website! |
