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Life of an Ordinary Aussie Woman

Wednesday 23 October 2013

DON'T BE PUT INTO A BOX!


Ok, so I’m going to get quite personal in this post because I believe that there is nothing louder than a personal testimony to support one’s assertion…WHY?  Because it simply is my experience and no-one can refute it!


I am passionate about Jesus and His unfailing love which has the very real ability to change lives!

If you take any encouragement away from this post today, I hope that it is simply this…DON’T LET ANYONE PUT YOU OR YOUR KIDS INTO A BOX!  God is bigger and more amazing than any plain old box and you are His child…and so are your kids…so relax about pressures you may be facing today, while you are waiting upon Him to show you the next chapter of your life!

Today I have been celebrating HUGELY!

Yes hugely because today was the release of my very first published work ‘Beauty from Ashes’ on Amazon!  Now this IS NOT a plug for the book…yuck!  I’m telling you this because while I am celebrating, I am reflecting upon my life and upon how God has indeed brought me to this place! 

You see, this book IS NOT something I imagined would happen…in fact the idea to produce it only came about recently, and everything just fell into place!  But wait there’s more…

If I was to meet with some of my early school teachers…the ones who struggled to understand how I could read, yet not spell and knew that I needed to repeat a year…and told them I was studying university, and had a published book, I think they would be VERY shocked!  I did not understand logical arithmetic or spelling or grammar…but I could read…and I loved Jesus!
 
You know what else is quite funny?  When I read my report from early primary school, the physical education teacher stated that I was uncoordinated, and basically not very physically adept…well I actually became a professional dancer/teacher…so how funny is that?

When my husband left me, I did not have the best self-confidence, but I decided that I was going to listen to Jesus and not my negative feelings…so I began singing solo at church…I began designing up-cycled handbags…later I even took some art classes and began to draw…Oh yes and I began my blog!

What’s the point of all this you may be wondering…well it is not to boast because that is sinful.  It is to glorify God for His awesomeness in not allowing anyone else or situation to define His child!

The reason the book came together so easily was because it was based on my blog posts, and all my artwork…the book is a product of my time with God and is an extension of the woman He is developing.  So I urge you strongly, DON’T LET ANYONE PUT YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN IN A BOX!

Are your kids struggling academically or socially…take it to God!  Yes professional advice is helpful, indeed I have travelled down this path with one of my sons…but don’t let it be the final diagnosis, or let it develop seeds of negativity.  Both God and you as the parent know your child better than any health professional or school teacher! 

God reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11 when my husband left, and even though I did not know what His good plans were, or what they would look like I clung to His promise!

‘For I know the plans I have for you’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope’.  Jer 29:11

I heard a woman recently say that attitude was the key to success…and yes I do agree that the right attitude is very important for our wellbeing.  However I think that this explanation is not meaty enough…it’s just plain bland!  We need to define what the right attitude is, and I believe that it is one based firmly in faith upon Jesus Christ!

Faith is the right attitude for success…no matter what that may look like for each individual... 'cause trust me I believe church martyrs are successful!

With faith in Jesus a person feeds upon His truth no matter what the world may say about them!  If you really want to invest in your kids…specifically pray for them and intentionally plant seeds of unshakeable faith in them…YES SPECIFICALLY & INTENTIONALLY!  Don’t close your eyes on the job…be an active, positive role model, of real, genuine faith.

So as I said… If you take any encouragement away from this post today, I hope that it is simply this…DON’T LET ANYONE PUT YOU OR YOUR KIDS INTO A BOX!  God is bigger and more amazing than any plain old box and you are His child…and so are your kids…so relax about pressures you may be facing today, and keep seeking Him while you are waiting upon Him to show you the next chapter of your life!
 

In love Melanie :)




2 comments:

Chanda Griese said...

So encouraging, Melanie...no matter what anyone else says, there's no telling what God can do in your life!

Kiittäkää Aina ja Kaikesta said...

I agree, Melanie! We should never allow anyone to put us in a box and label us.
People are varied and have so many hidden depths. Sometimes the very things that are hard for us can be the ones we fall in love with and most excell. Like writing and dancing for you.
Sometimes we can excell in things that are more obvious. But the important thing is that we can all be excelent at something, just because who we are and how God has made us.
I have had so many students to suprise me, the parents and the teachers. Like the little girl at third grade with sindactilia, she didn't have all her fingers and the ones she had weren't whole, and she became the very best in arts. Her art work was always the example the teacher used to show to others. And they really were good.
We are all of inmense value and have amazing gifts. So, yes, don't let anyone put you in a box!