What's on Your Plate?

"So, what's on your plate right now?" I asked innocently.

"Well, I'm working on editing a book, finishing a book illustration, helping my sister sew a formal gown for a contest with a $50,000 prize, designing four patterns with five variations of each for a Project Runway contest, finishing a picture I'm drawing as a wedding gift, remodeling the house my family hopes to move into soon, cooking up ideas for the online stores my sisters and I run, starting a book of my own, and getting ready to begin reading [insert intimidating theological title here] because I just finished [insert the names of two even more intimidating titles here]. I also go out and visit the sick and elderly in our neighborhood whenever I get the chance, I'm helping with my younger siblings, I'm trying to help my family build up our farm, I help my mother with medical research that helps our community, and I also make my own make up and try to find other ways to save my father money. How about you?"

Gulp.

Yes. This is an actual conversation that I had with a friend of mine who I continue to think must be superhuman (true, she didn't sound quite as smug as all of that, and these things were revealed, bit by bit, humbly by her, and by mutual friends about her, but it was impressive). "Stay at home daughter" is a flimsy definition for all that she does, don't you think? The more girls I meet like her, the more like her I try to become, the more "stay at home daughter" just isn't a term the fully encompasses what I aspire to. Given the center for recreation that the home has become (rather than the hub for ministry and discipleship and productivity that it once was), it's rather misleading.

Also what I like about this girl? She's content. She's bubbly, vivacious, and joyous. In her early twenties, she isn't pining over getting married as soon as possible, or apologizing for choosing a homeward path. She maintains a spirit of joy and an attitude of industry and a humble heart.

"What do you do at home all day?"

Well, I strive to live life fully and abundantly.

True, I don't have my plate quite as full as my friend there --but, come on... seriously? I'm going to need to work up to that kind of action. In the meantime, though, these days are fleeting! Days at home with our families -days of singleness, perhaps -days of life itself. I like to go to bed at night feeling that I've squeezed every ounce of industry out of the day, having used my gifts to bless my family, to bless those in my community, to nourish myself intellectually and spiritually, to enjoy the time I have each day. Just about every night I close my eyes, I realize there were things I could have done during the day that would meet those goals --but I find that just having that over-arching goal in mind helps me to face the day with an industrious attitude.

So, what's on your plate? You don't have to share it in the comment section for all to see, but I encourage you to write it all down: how are you spending your time? Are you investing it wisely? Are you using your gifts to glorify the Lord? Are you blessing your family in every way you can? Are you blessing your church community? Are you investing in relationships with other young women, discipling and being discipled by fellow Christians? Are you joyfully, industriously at home? Or are you spinning your wheels, waiting for something better to come along?

Am I saying we should all take up sewing, makeup-making, and farming to be productive? Not at all! I admire my friend because she is using her gifts for God's glory. I happen to have much different gifts (although I'm not averse to learning new things, and that's definitely one way we can stretch ourselves), as I'm sure some of you do. How are we using them for the Kingdom today?

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. ~Proverbs 90:12

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