Save your sympathy
I periodically check my tracking software and if I see a sizeable amount of hits coming from a certain direction in a short amount of time, my curiosity is always piqued. I can't help it - I like to listen in on people talking about me.
Here's one from this week:
Another blog that bothers me a lot is this one:Yep, you were imagining things - not the part about me being homeschooled (by the way, no hyphen needed) - but the whole "undertone of deep sadness in my writings." Now that's a new one.
http://www.biblicalwomanhood.com/blog.htm
It's written by a young woman who was home-schooled as was her husband. After I read a few pages of her posts I started feeling terribly sad for her. There is an undertone of deep sadness in her writings, or that's what I sense, anyway. It reminds me of what I found in the letters-to-the-editor of some of the 1920's women's magazines, where women wrote in all frustrated and bored and strapped by their financial situation.
I could be imagining the whole thing, though. - E.
Nope, I don't feel frustrated or strapped by my financial situation. In fact, I make a lot more by staying at home than I probably ever would if I were out in the workforce. Plus, we save lots of money because I stay home. I don't have to pay for day care, after-school care, work attire, extra vehicle costs, or the endless list of other expenses incurred by an out-of-home second income. Instead, tall the money which comes in from our business every month can be invested in much more important things. In addition, were our business to ever stop being profitable, I know a hundred other ways I can earn money from home.
Bored? Are you kidding me. What's that? I have a husband to love, a baby to train and care for, a home to beautify and manage, wonderful people around me to love and minister to, dozens of books I want to write, hundreds of books I want to read, a myriad of new skills I want to learn, thousands of hopes and dreams my husband and I share for our future.
Bottom line: I love my life! I'm exactly where God wants me to be and if you gave me the option to be anywhere else in this world, doing anything else, there's nowhere else I'd choose to be. I'm spoiled - I have a loving husband who would lay down his very life for me if need be, I have a beautiful daughter who looks into my eyes and smiles and kisses me multiple times everyday, I have a wonderful extended family, I have a profitable business to run and plenty of opportunities for creative outlet, and most of all, I have a merciful Heavenly Father who is my reason for existence. He loves me, provides for me, gives me strength, fills me with joy, and is always faithful.
So, save your sympathy, believe me, there are plenty of other people who need it. People who are living a life of despair. Who have no hope outside of themselves. Who have no reason for existence besides themselves. I was once one of those people.
Through Christ, I have a reason and purpose for doing what I do - to glorify and honor Him. I have been given a gift - the gift of salvation. This was not something I earned, something I deserved, or something I could work to obtain. It was only through Christ's atoning work on the Cross at Calvary, through His shed blood, that I have been made free.
As I wrote in an earlier post:
Are you discontent? Are you unhappy with your life? Are you unfulfilled? If so, I urge you to take time right now to read through some of the articles here. You can have true lasting peace and contentment. In Christ and Christ alone.Christians have a peace that no other religion or faith can have because we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what we believe is the truth. It is not a belief which is not based upon our own reasoning or our own infallibility- it is based in the infallible, inerrant Word of God.
God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He has no beginning and no end. He is Eternal and Unchanging.
Heaven is not about happiness, heaven is about living in the everlasting presence of the Lord - forever and forever. It is about glorifying and worshipping our great God who reigns on high. Hell is the exact opposite. It is eternal separation from God. Eternal torment.
No one deserves heaven. We are all worthy of death and hell. God in His rich grace and mercy sent His one and only Son to earth to die the most horrific death anyone has ever died so that those who call on the Name of the Lord and repent of their sin might have life everlasting.
Before I became a Christian, I struggled with great doubts and uncertainty... What is the purpose of life? Why am I here? Why is there death and hell? I struggled with this for five years. I was in mental anguish. I wanted to know the Truth. I wanted to be a good person. I tried so hard. I worked so hard. I prayed so hard. But, for all I did, it was never good enough. I was never satisfied. I was never at peace.
Since my salvation, God has done a remarkable work in my heart. I am a changed person. My fears are gone. My doubts are gone. My old desires and sinful natures are gone. I am no longer in bondage to sin. I have peace in my inner soul because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am a child of God. I am no longer living in my strength and infallibility. I am completely and wholly relying upon the Lord. I have a desire to follow Him with all of my heart, to walk in holiness and uprightness, to seek the Lord with my whole heart.
God is so good. I wish you could know His saving power and transformation and the peace and joy which only comes from salvation in Christ.
posted by Crystal Paine at 4:32 PM
21 Comments:
I wish to apologize for making the comment I made. It was uncalled for, and you are quite right that I should not talk about the lives of people I don't know personally.
Echidne: No apologies needed and no offense taken. Hope you know that. People are free to say whatever they want about me. I'm sure you've gotten plenty of flack for things you've written about as well. Anytime anyone takes a strong stance on anything, they are bound to have people misunderstand. Your comment was actually very nice in comparison to so many that I've received. I just thought I'd clear up some things since your comment is not an isolated one. I just used it as a springboard for something which had been swirling in my head to write for a bit of time. People often feel sorry for me and I really don't know why. I couldn't be happier! :)
All the best!
Sad? You!? Of all people...I think you are one of the more joyful ladies I know via the web...I can understand how E. feels, I used to feel that way about ALL stay at home wives and/or moms, even as a CHRISTIAN. I used to think it was a "waste of a human," but God has been working on me though, slowly, and all I have to say is how jealous (thou shalt not covet, Andrea...thou shalt not covet! hehe) I am that you are at the season in your life where you are called to be at home! I pray daily, nightly, hourly, that the Lord will enable us to be able to keep me at home once our first child comes. What a holy job Christian mothers and wives have... You are inspiring, Crystal. The Lord has blessed you and Jesse, over and over, we can hear your happiness through your posts about everything. Frugality is nothing to be ashamed of; living where Aaron and I do, we are surrounded by folks with more money than they know what to do with, and they are still unhappy, they still want more. We do want a home someday, and a yard, but for now, we are happy with our little apartment on Meadowview Court (isn't that just so pretty sounding?), with our simple suppers, with the trees outside of our building, and with all God has given us...thankfulness radiates from your posts, and it is evident that the good Lord is very present in your lives.
I don't think I've ever commented on your blog before, Crystal, but I've read it for quite some time. And I never get the impression that that person did. Not a-tall. I sense a great godly contentment in you.
Blessings! Kim
The last thing I would call you is sad! That actually made me giggle. I agree with Andrea - you seem so joyful. So much so that I often feel selfish & immature when I read how you are able to keep a joyful heart despite any difficulties.
Oh, & if you're comfortable doing so, would you expand on the inset post which discusses "before you were a Christian"? I never knew there was a "before" for you? Or, at least I never knew you were old enough, before you accepted Christ, to have complicated questions like that. If it is not something you feel comfortable discussing, that is fine too!
Thanks Crystal!
Crystal... You said
"were our business to ever stop being profitable, I know a hundred other ways I can earn money from home"
Please share more ideas... I want to be a proverbs 31 woman and create resources for our family financially... I look forward to hearing your ideas.
It's interesting what we are all guilty of "choosing" to see in people, not just on the internet but in our everyday lives. Definitely something we all need to be aware of and be more careful about when we make judgments either in thought or word about others.
Isn't it amazing how people take what a person writes sometimes?? I guess the words we use are not necessarily ones that mean what we want them to mean, to others. I certainly do not see you as that person did...you are full of ideas and suggestions and information and in no way depressed or sad sounding!! Not in my opinion, anyway. Blessings to you...keep on keeping on!!!
Deep sadness? Certainly never sensed that. :) However, I am impressed that "echidne" came and apologised...that was very humble!
I have never sensed a deep sad undertone in your writing. You have in the past reached out and asked for suggestions because you felt overwhelmed, but that's because you're human(and a very busy one for that matter). It seems as if when you don't share your struggles people accuse you of "acting too perfect", and when you do you are accused of being "terribly unhappy".
I think you handled this very maturely. God bless you!
I, too, just wanted to say that you always strike me as contented and joyful. And awfully smart!
I have only sensed joy and contentment in your writings as well Crystal!! And so much encouragement! You handled that so wisely!
Phoebe- I STRONGLY encourage you to buy some of Crystal's ebooks on starting your own business...buy them all!! She has some wonderful ideas and they are SO inspirational!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Cystal,
True lasting peace and contentment, isnt it a great and beautifull thing! You humble spirit is an encouragement to me in my own walk.
Being on the brunt of the gossip mill is somthing none of us want to be in. But just know that you are standing for what and who you are, and no one no matter who or what they say can tear us down for who we are and what we love!
You are more than a blessing to awhole lot of us women out here in the cyber world. I wish I knew you better becuase I know I could learn so much from you!
Keep it up and give the Lord the glory!
Love ya
Cole
WOW! You handled that so well Crystal. I called up my Mom and shared it with her, she was impressed as well. Here is a question I have always asked. You get married, have children, you carry them for nine months (sometimes, I had a preemie), you stay up with them in the middle of the night, love them nuture them. You do all that then hand them over for someone else to raise?
Here's my question: "Why would you want to have children for someone else?" They are yours to protect and love, a blessing from the Lord.
Andrea, Kim, Megmarc, Elizabeth, AussieTigger, Samantha, Kristen, Momma to 4, Phall, and everyone else - you are the bestest! I failed to mention how spoiled I am also to have such a great group of cheerleaders around me through this blog. Thank you to you all! The only this is, Kristen, I'm still debating about the "smart" reference. I think it might be a figment of your imagination!! :)
Phoebe: I have a post on WAHM ideas and encouragement cooking right now. Stay tuned. In the mean time, you might head over to the WAHM section of our website and check out the ideas and information listed there. You should also check out our Yahoo group specifically for women like you. In addition, I'd be more than happy to send you any of my ebooks with my compliments. Just email me with your address. I love helping other women find creative ways to earn money from home!
Crystal...we cheer you on to keep on keeping on, mainly because we all have either been there, or know we will "be there" at some point in our lives. ;)
BTW, Handmaidens of the Lord is awesome! I made my husband put it away, I sat for almost 3 hours today reading it! I told him that unless I prove that I've accomplished the main task I set for myself, no fun reading till bed time!
Good Gracious! I cannot imagine how anyone could read "deep sadness" into your blog. Your contentment and joy is a real inspiration to me, and very obvious throughout all your posts
Hmmmm....it sort of makes me wonder how our unbelieving friends view me and my life. Maybe they think I'm sad and oppressed, too. Yikes!
Thanks for your encouragement, Andrea, I'm grateful it was a blessing to you!
Crystal,
I know this is off subject, but do you mind sharing what tracking software you use for your website? Can you recommend any good free ones?
Jessica
Jessica: I use Sitemeter primarily for my blog. I also have quite a bit of tracking software through my website hosting that I use for the rest of my site.
Dear Crystal,
I enjoy your blog and I cannot find any deep sadness in your words to others. I am truly encouraged by this blog and your testimony about God working in your life. May the Lord continue to bless you and your words of encouragement.
Charlotte
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