5. Fellowship
In my own walk, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of not surrounding myself with like-minded people, but instead have tried to keep myself attached to the same crowd that at times were quite toxic for me. This is not the kind of fellowship that breeds safety and growth. Fellowship is best sought in your local church and in like-minded women, people who love Christ, and seek in their own lives to live just like Him to the best of their capabilities. I’m certainly not suggesting that you can’t have secular friends and experiences, but walk carefully in these spaces, remembering the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 6: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” Never fail to share the Gospel with the world but do your best to return to the people who understand your journey and agree upon what’s best for you.
6. Worldly Opposition
Speaking of the world, oppose it with all your heart, for yourself and for those babies you’re raising. There are ways to go about this gracefully. You don’t have to go around broadcasting to the local moms the fact that you would NEVER let your precious beans listen to the likes of Cardi B, or that your kid wouldn’t be allowed to leave the house in THAT outfit. Be humble in this journey, under the radar, and go about your explanations and choices tastefully, with Christ’s example as the template. For example, if you’re invited to a party by a friend of your past whom you know will definitely be filling her home with alcohol for the event, and inviting friends of similar tastes to boot, let her know you’ll be busy that day, and honor your explanation by BEING BUSY THAT DAY.
Clean the entire house, feed your neighbors, walk their dog, and volunteer at the local retirement center. If your teenage daughter starts dabbling in all the rotten sounds people worship on the radio, use it as an educational opportunity instead of bringing the hammer down inefficiently. Saying it’s “not allowed” or just banning the sound of it entirely doesn’t really get the point across. Explain to her the sexual exploitation and objectification used against women in the likes of Hollywood and the music industry. My favorite is reading the lyrics to them like a book, without the music. It will sound like a circus of embarrassing proportions, and hopefully will cause them start thinking critically about what they’re consuming. Remind them of the words in 1 John 2:15: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”
7. Service
This takes us back to the retirement community and your neighbor, and their dogs. Offer your time and energy to them, your church, your kids when they need you or just want to play, maybe even covering for someone’s shift at work if asked. Paul says in Galatians 5:13: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Context is important here. There is nothing wrong with taking free time for yourself if called for or turning down the opportunity to cover a shift if it gets in the way of other important things. You don’t have to take on too much to make this one work, but it’s important to prioritize others when and if you can. Spending time giving yourself to others will not only build relationships, but it will also grant you fresh understanding of the needs of those around you, and, as noted earlier in the beginning of this article, multiply gratefulness in your own life.
