: Judy Brisky
: The Joy of Being Mom Embrace the Adventure
: Gateway Press
: 9781951227487
: 1
: CHF 9.40
:
: Christentum
: English
: 200
: kein Kopierschutz
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
Yes, you can have joy and be a mom at the very same time. You know all about crying babies, dirty diapers, toddler tantrums, potty training, school assignments, and the list goes on and on. Ahhh, Motherhood! But wait, there's more! Judy Brisky wants you to know that despite any of these demanding situations, even in the toughest of seasons, you can experience the joy of being a mom every single day. But first you will need help and wisdom that can only come from the Lord. Then you will find that being a mom is one of the most joyful experiences you will ever have. Yes, you'll get tired and you'll feel pressures, but you'll also be filled with joy! Judy offers the encouragement you need to face common challenges and offers practical solutions from the Bible. She shares from her own relatable experiences, mostly good, but also not so great. Even more, she will bring you hope and motivation to: Cherish each season Deposit intentional investments of love Make every word count Leave a lasting legacy

Chapter 1


Is this all there is?


God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

—Ephesians 2:4–5

On April 21, 1990, I married my sweetheart, Mike, in my hometown in South Texas. One week later, we moved to Orlando, Florida. (We chose Florida because it is a good place to live if you’re a professional golfer, which Mike was at the time.) I had always lived in Texas until then, but the transition was fairly easy for me. Soon, I was working full-time, Mike was playing weekly golf tournaments, and we were attending a nearby church. We were doing well. Yes, we had some struggles during that early married season, but overall, things were good—until one rainy Sunday morning.

It was just over a year into our marriage, and we were getting ready to attend church services. Out of nowhere, Mike brought up something that had been an on-again, off-again topic of conversation over the course of our five-year relationship (four years dating and one year married). He said, “What is life really all about? We eat. We work. We sleep. Then we do it all over again. What for? What’s the point? I mean, is this really all there is?” I wish I could tell you that I immediately came to his side, affirmed my love for him, and told him I understood his confusion. But the truth is I was hurt. His apparent anguish over life’s meaning caught me off guard, and I felt it was my fault. I asked, “Is it me? Am I the reason you’re feeling so confused about life?” Immediately, Mike answered, “No, it has nothing to do with you.” I should have been relieved, but I wasn’t. Instead, I felt left out.

We continued the conversation, both of us in tears. Yes, we loved each other. Yes, we were committed to each other. But what about life in general? Why were we here? What was our purpose? As we continued to talk things through, I asked Mike, “Why don’t we read the Bible?” Then I silently wondered,Where did that idea come from? Yes, we attended church, but reading the Bible was not a normal part of our lives. (I realize now that it was the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart.)

I found a Bible tucked away in our bedroom closet. We were hoping to find the answers to life’s deepest questions, but we didn’t know where to start reading. I opened the Bible and found a page that said something to the effect of, “If you’ve never read the Bible, start with the book of John.” But where was the book of John? I looked at the glossary and found the page number for “John.” I read the first verse:

In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,

and the Word was God (John 1:1).

It was beautiful and amazing and comforting. Mike and I cried as I continued reading, and we decided we would read the Bible every day.

Several weeks later, Mike began traveling again to play some golf tournaments. He had met another golfer, Ralph, who was set to play in the same tournaments. To help with travel expenses, they decided to be roommates on the road. I didn’t know much about Ralph, and I wasn’t completely comfortable with Mike traveling w