Living something brings a keen awareness of how others view it.
Until you are a stay-home mom, you may not realize how others demean that work by using words like “only” or “just” to describe it.
Until my husband became a pastor, I didn’t realize the walls that sometimes are built in people’s hearts (as evidenced on their face) the minute that fact escapes our lips. Suddenly, the conversation adjusts, and certain things get hidden or go unspoken. With the knowledge of that one fact, it seems that many people become less willing to let us see their warts, and more likely to see us as hyper-spiritual people without everyday, human struggles.
“I’M A WRITER”
Similarly, when I identify myself a writer (or worse –!!!– as a “blogger”), certain reactions come.
Some people take it seriously, but many (most?) don’t.
While some friends and relatives are very supportive, some relatives who would be overjoyed if I left the walls of our home and got a job as a teacher, political campaign worker, medical transcriptionist– frankly, ANYTHING but being a mom– seem utterly uninterested by the fact that I’ve been writing consistently for over 8 years and now get paid for that work (while being privileged enough to be present, raising my kids at the same time–score!).
A friend asked, about my writing, “Well, isn’t it insignificant, in the whole scheme of things?”
INSIGNIFICANT?
And here’s the thing. I want to answer delicately and graciously, but I also need to be honest:
No.
It’s not. It’s not insignificant in the whole scheme of things.
I would not put forth the time to write if I thought it was insignificant.
EVALUATING OUR PERSPECTIVE AS BELIEVERS
Frankly, as a Christian, I don’t believe anything that we do “as unto the Lord” is insignificant. The things we purposefully do, with eternity in mind, are the things that are inherently laced with significance.
SO, QUESTION:
- When is a blog not “just” a blog?
- When is a blogger not “just” blowing smoke and contributing to internet noise?
MY ANSWERS:
- When that blog, or that blogger, is focused on Godly, eternal things.
- When the blogger is processing things in their lives in order to comprehend and glorify God.
- When that blogger is writing “as unto the Lord.”
That’s when.
Call my SpadesPlus score or the specific way I fold bathroom hand towels insignificant, and you’d be right.
Look at the make & model of the car I drive, and call that insignificant, sure.
A Facebook picture of my dinner plate at a restaurant, or my thrift store find, may also be insignificant “in the whole scheme of things.”
But no, I don’t think my work encouraging Christian women to passionately grow in their relationships with the Lord is insignificant. Not at all.
IN THE COMMENTS, PLEASE SHARE:
What do you think?
- Do you agree that blogging can be meaningful?
- Or am I wrong? —> is it insignificant in the whole scheme of things?
Yes, yes, yes! When we glorify God, it’s never insignificant. I read your blog faithfully, and I always find it well thought-out, well written, and God honoring. I thank you.
Hi Jess! I think you’re right – it’s not insignificant if it’s focused on significant things. God’s word is powerful. When we hold up God’s truth, whether we see the return or not, we are doing something important, even if it doesn’t seem so from a human perspective.
I know you’re not fishing for compliments, but I do want to say that I thank God for your blog. I started reading sometime before my husband and I married (6.5 years ago). Given the church we were in for the first years (big, easy to get lost in the shuffle, difficult to get connected), I was so glad to have an “older sister”-type blog to read. I think our marriage and family would look very different if it weren’t for the biblical challenges and teachings I found on your blog. I do believe the Holy Spirit could have worked out the necessary lessons by some other means if needed – but I am thankful that I had this fast-track to being challenged in the way I thought about marriage, parenting, and Christian living. Anecdotally, there is at least one family that has been impacted to God’s glory by your writing. 🙂
I do believe there is a lot of ‘internet noise ” out there. I don’t believe that’s what you are doing. I do believe when we honor God(all the things done in the background, those things that take years to bear/show fruit, the things done without a lot of fanfare) are important and yes significant 🙂
I love that you could do something you love(write), and be paid for it, and raise your kids the way you want to(homeschool, stay at home) 🙂
Any blog worth reading has a purpose. Your blog is clearly to encourage and challenge other moms in their own walk by sharing your experiences and Godly wisdom. I LOVE it and have been so encouraged by your writing. Your work as a mother and blogger is SIGNIFICANT and important. Be encouraged, my sister, and press on! You are doing great!
I have gained more encouragement from your blog than anyone else’s I’ve ever read. I, for one, do not see that as being insignificant!!! Carry on, Jess! Your work means more to me, and countless others I’m sure, than you’ll ever know.
I have been greatly touched, ministered to, encouraged, and convicted by Christian blogs, so, no, they’re not insignificant if done “as unto the Lord.” I even like the “lighter” posts because they help me get to know the blogger as a person.
I’ve never commented on your blog, but I must now! What you write, even if I was the only one who read, is not insignificant. It changes me. It impacts my children. God uses you in my life.
Jess, I have only started to read your blog and have loved and looked forward to every post. I am similar to you in being a stay at home mom, believer and follower of Christ, but my family is much smaller and all grown. I recently felt God was guiding me to start a blog, and as I struggled with wondering if it was significant or God honoring. This post really addresses the things I needed to read. Keep sharing the God given gift you have been given.
Your writing is not insignificant. God has spoken to me through it many, many times. Thank you. 🙂
As so many other ladies have said, your words have ministered to me over the last eight years. Yours is the only blog I consistently come back to. God is using you to impact eternity, my friend!
Wow, you ladies are such encouragers! And if I wasn’t still in the postpartum haze, I’d have responded individually to each one of you by now. This is seriously a blessing.
Last night, I was reading Ecclesiastes & came across this verse.
“Whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before Him.” (Eccl 3:14)
When I read it, I thought: that summarizes the whole purpose of our lives– to see what God is doing & join Him in it, because it is all that will last. That’s what I want to do here on this site.
I’m so thankful to know that it encourages others– it helps Doug & I to sort out where & how I spend my time.
I don’t read blogs, I generally don’t understand why people write them….but I read this one and have recommended it widely. Currently processing whether we can afford for me to stay home while my kids are little and maybe retrain in biblical counselling (am currently a doctor). Your blog has been significant in helping shape my thought process. Just hoping that it is the Lord’s will too…! God bless you and your family x
I adore your creativity in your writing and the things you post about on your blog. It’s very helpful for others. Thanks for another great blog post!
Blessings,
Carrie
http://unspeakablejoyexchange.blogspot.com
Apparently, I don’t know my own website. Haha!
http://unspeakablejoymovement.blogspot.com
I’ve been a long time reader, and I have to say I was so glad when you started writing more frequently! I currently have 2 young kids, and am expecting our third in a few weeks, and I find your writing not just encouraging, but challenging in an uplifting way. And that is hard to find. Your writing is a gift to me, and in turn blesses my family.
I have been reading your blog for many years and it always encourages me. I appreciate how real you are and the words you write to help us to grow! Especially in the midst of homeschooling and being a mom.
Not meaningless or insignificant at all. But don’t worry about numbers either – I’ve noticed that some posts get loads of comments and others very few. You might think the one with the most comments is the ‘best’ or the most challenging, but you just don’t know what the impact of the others may have been.
Isaiah 55:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Your posts are rich in scripture, and you proclaim and expound the word of God, often so powerfully and with such relevance. You are God’s messenger in that respect – I don’t mean that in a ‘specifically anointed’ kind of way, but rather that your writing has the same importance as a good sermon, or book or other gospel work. If you were meeting one-on-one with 500 young mothers, that would seem significant. Hugely so. But how many young mothers come around your blog, coffee in hand, thirsty for encouragement? You can see from the comments here, that many do so.
Be encouraged and may God bless you and continue to use you!
THANK YOU, K! What an encouragement this is to me!!
~Jess
um..NO your blog is NOT ins ignificant! Your blog has been a part of my discipleship over the past 8 years, and has quite possibly contributing to my husband and I having the courage to start our family early in our marriage. So I’ve actually thought several times over the past few years that in a sense, my oldest son owes his life to your blogging and speaking so highly of motherhood. 🙂 I for one, am eternally grateful for the gift that God has given you in writing. This reminds me of 1 Timothy 1: 6-7:
“6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Thank you, Allison. It’s a joy to hear!
So true! For that reason, I loved Timothy Keller’s book “Every Good Endeavor”
http://www.timothykeller.com/books/every-good-endeavor
While there are some jobs/activities/hobbies/WHATEVER that are evil (prostitution, drug dealing, hit men), most of our jobs/activities/hobbies/WHATEVER are neutral – they can be used to glorify God or used selfishly. I believe Mr. Keller’s point is that our jobs are more than just a function and more than just the way that we support our families, but are a part of the way that we’re subduing the earth.
So if you’re an accountant, glorify God with your credits and debits.
If you’re a mail man, glorify God as you serve your fellow man their mail.
If you’re a mom, glorify God as you love and train your little and not-so-little ones.
If you’re a doctor, glorify God with your knowledge of how the human body works and heals.
If you’re a pastor, glorify God as you serve your church members.
If you’re a computer programmer, glorify God as you help people with your software.
Glorify God.