Looking at life through a fishbowl

When my girls were young (9 and 7) they won a gold fish at a small town carnival.  They named him Herbert.  Herbert lived with us in Pennsylvania for a few months before we moved permanently to Oklahoma.  The journey took 3 days.  We took Herbert out of his glass fish bowl and placed him temporarily in a Tupperware container with a lid - to keep the water and Herbert in while going over bumps and around sharp turns.  In the evenings when we stopped at a hotel to rest, we uncovered the container to let in light, fresh air and to give him food.  In the morning we put the lid on tightly and proceeded down the road.

In our new apartment, the girls picked the perfect spot for his bowl, between the kitchen and living room on a little ledge that resembled a window sill.  Every morning Herbert would rush to the side of the bowl to greet us, he had quite the personality, perky with eyes wide open...some days it looked like he was smiling at us.  He lived almost 3 years.  We were all very sad the day he died, and we missed his greetings and funny way he swam around the bowl in excitement.  We over fed Herbert - each of us thought the others didn't ...so we all did.  He died of ick.

Herbert began life at a carnival..came home in a plastic bag, traveled with his loving family on a long bumpy journey and lived very happy - He persevered through a lot- until he was over fed.

A moms life is a lot like what Herbert went through. What are you feeding on?

Stay at home moms struggle with feelings of being stuck, feeling like they should be out there working to help the family, feeling like all they do at home doesn't matter and goes unnoticed.  Wishing for a grown up to hold an adult conversation with..picking up the house again...cleaning constantly and it never stays that way - at least those are the thoughts running through your head - those are all LIES..your fish bowl is your home...your purpose is to support your family with love, greet your family each morning like Herbert greeted us - Put your Armor on!  Rely on Jesus for your strength to get you through your day. Be Thankful for every little blessing - Open your eyes to see them all!

Working moms struggle with feelings of guilt...guilt that they leave their children with strangers to raise them, guilt that they missed their child's first word, first step, and feeling guilty after a long day at work with nothing left in them to give to their family but short tempers, a quick dinner and a good night kiss as they struggle to keep up with all the demands - at least those are the thoughts running through your head - those are all LIES...your fish bowl is your home - your work world is like the Tupperware container - your purpose is to support your family with love, greet your family each morning like Herbert greeted us - Put your Armor on!  Rely on Jesus to get you through your day.  Be Thankful for every little blessing - Open your eyes to see them all!

If we allow ourselves to sit in our fishbowl, and dwell on what the enemy is feeding our thoughts...we will eventually die on the inside from ick..Make time to feed yourself the TRUTH..Hide God's WORD in your heart..PS 119:11...Jesus even told the devil that we don't live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.  Matt. 4:4.

Stay at home mom, Working mom.......Put your Armor on! Eph. 6:11. The grass isn't greener...your fish bowl is right where you are right now to do God's will.  Serve whole heartedly as if you were serving the LORD.  Eph. 6:7  Jesus will light up your sky!