Freedom—A Mother’s Perspective

By Gina Stinson –

A few years ago, I felt imprisoned by my own negative feelings during the long winter days. I struggled with feelings of depression. I’m not sure I was depressed by any doctor’s standards, but I was feeling underappreciated, underpaid as a full time stay-at-home mom, and discouraged and was wondering if I would ever have one minute to myself again. These feelings became more and more overwhelming. When the Lifetime movies began looking more familiar, the Hallmark channel prompted me to daily tears, and bonbons could not make me feel any better, I knew it was time for a change.

My son was one year old and I figured I couldn’t mask my feelings as post-partum depression. Winter was changing to spring and the weather was warming up. Life was good. I was just in a funk. Ever been there?

I felt trapped by my life, circumstances, and dirty diapers. A good friend reminded me of all the good things that were happening to me at the time: a new baby, a faithful husband, new friends, a beautiful home, nap time, and Diet Cokes. I began keeping a blessings journal each day. I even listed things I considered to be small blessings and praises. Daily life became a search for the good stuff. The ordinary became extraordinary as I began focusing more on the positive and less on what I considered the negative.

You see, sometimes when I got discouraged, the truth of the goodness of God became foggy. Sometimes my negativity masks the greatness of what He is busy doing all around me. Keeping track of blessings places the emphasis on the good things and frightens the enemy back into his hole. It releases me from the prison of insecurity, discouragement, fear, and ingratitude. It’s freeing to live in the present. It doesn’t matter if I am overwhelmed by dishes, diapers, drama, or dysfunction. I am free to focus on Christ Jesus and all the good He wants to accomplish through me.

PRAYER: Father, thank You for the immeasurable gifts You have blessed my life with. Journals cannot contain Your greatness! Please help me to focus on the positive things You are doing all around me. Keep me drawn to Your side.

“But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV).

Today’s devotion is by Gina Stinson, who resides in Sulphur Springs, Texas, with her family. As a minister’s wife, and homeschooling mom of two she juggles her time and talents in hopes of honoring and pleasing Jesus Christ. You can learn more about Gina and her juggling at http://journalinggina.blogspot.com