Years ago, when I was a much younger mother than I am now, I was asked what my personal mission in life was. In response, I penned these words. My mission hasn’t changed over time. This was true for me then. It is still true for me today.
I choose love…
I will take each day moment by moment, dedicating my life to the service of my family and others. I will depend on the Almighty to help me resist temptations to be bitter and self-centered. I will love the Lord and what he has gifted me.
I choose joy…
I will refuse to allow the activities of my day-to-day life become mundane and lifeless. I will work daily to find new ways to bring joy to my family and my home. I will keep remembering that joy is of the Lord and it is in his desire for my life, regardless of the circumstances I may be facing.
I choose peace…
I will not allow the evil one, who seeks to devour and destroy, to invade the peace of my home. When things become tense, or when life becomes frustrating, I will fall to my knees and seek my God… The God of peace.
I choose patience…
I realize that Satan often uses irritation and frustrations to steal, not only a mother‘s joy, but the joy of all who abide her home. When I feel these unwelcome guests begin to take hold of me, I will retreat to pray, if but only for a moment. I will choose patients with my husband, my children, and the demands of my life; for I know my God is sovereign and will give me just what I need.
I choose kindness…
I will seek new ways to extend my hand to those in need, to those who are hurting, to those who alone. I will pray often for the Lord to give me what I need to show kindness when I am in need, when I am hurting, and when I feel alone. I will work to show others the same kind of love and grace my Lord has shown to me.
I choose goodness…
I will seek daily the Lord so that I might find wisdom in his goodness I will go without so others can have. I will allow myself to be forgotten, so others might be noticed. I will try always to remember that goodness is in the giving and sacrificing of self.
I choose faithfulness…
I will be the one that can be dependent on. I will be loyal and keep my promises. I will be trusted and no more question this trust. My husband will trusted me and know he is safe with me. My children will know they are loved and I will always be there safe place, right by their side.
I choose gentleness…
things in life arise that try to rob this fruit in our lives. I have been tested again and again in this area. Today I choose to be gentle. I set aside myself and choose to demand nothing. I will turn my frustrations to prayer and my disappointments into grace.
I choose self-control…
my flesh will fail me. It will die. My spirit will live on, so today I choose to rain my life under the power of the Holy Spirit. I will choose to place my passions on the things above. I realize a mini circumstances I am choosing self-control when I choose all the other fruits above!
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…
these are all worth choosing! If I succeeded in each of these, I will give all glory and thanks to my heavenly father! If I should find myself falling into bed at night, feeling defeated by my own failures, I will seek my heavenly father for his loving grace and forgiveness. And so Dewing, I will know I have done my very best; and should I be blessed to see his face this day, I will know he knew my heart…
And that my heart chose him.