Here goes.....

7.29.2006

Here goes my first blog. I've read several, of course, but have never written one. Sometimes these posts will be a joint effort with my husband. He asked me what I am going to blog about and I replied "lots of stuff"...nothing specific, really. I think real life makes for good reading (and writing). As you may have noted in my profile, I married someone who was married before and I've often had people tell me I should write about the experiences of being a new mother, second wife, step-mom (though we don't like that term in our house...reminds us too much of the Cinderella experience...hee-hee) who works full-time and tries to fit in all the other good stuff life has to offer. So...wish me luck (prayers, crossed fingers..... however you send it).

Until next time, Jill

4 comments:

Meredith :

Hi Jill,
This is Meredith from entdraughts. Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to read and comment. One thing I've discovered about blogging is that you leave yourself totally out there with all your convictions and beliefs. Anyone is free to come by and disagree with you. Also, sometimes I've written things and decided long after I've posted it that my whole tone or approach was wrong, critical, prideful or all three. I went back and looked at that post and have decided that 1)the way I expressed myself was judgmental and uncharitable and 2)God has matured me in this area.

I know we don't know each other but I want to take the time to explain myself so as not to leave you offended. First of all, I do have a strong personal conviction that mothers should make the home their career. My convictions come from the Bible which I believe governs all we believe and how we put those beliefs into practice. In Titus 2 the older women in the church are to teach the younger women to be keepers at home (among other things). In Ephesians 6 fathers are given the responsibility to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In Deuteronomy 6 fathers are given the charge to teach their children to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and this process should happen in a very natural daily manner as they go about their days. Mothers, of course, are involved in this process as well. I believe it's very difficult to fulfill these responsibilities if both parents are working outside the home full time and children are in day care. Now, I don't know you and I don't know you're situation. There are single parents who have to work and get childcare for the children. There are situations where the father is disabled and the mother has to work. I can only speak to the majority, not the exception. A child is a precious gift of the Lord and as Christians it's our solemn responsibility and privilege to train them up in such a way that they will know God, serve God and end up raising their children in the same way.

Now, these are my convictions. My husband feels the same. What has changed with me in the past year is that God has been convicting me of pride and arrogance concerning this issue. There are several families in our Sunday School class that have mothers of young children working full time. I disagree with that BUT I am not responsible for their decisions and I have no right to come up to them and try to make that decision for them or treat them with disrespect and contempt. I have confessed these sins many times and prayed for God to give me wisdom. God wants me, most of all, to love them and accept them because they are my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. That doesn't mean I'll never share with them my convictions, but not unless I have earned the right to speak into their lives in that way. God has given me opportunities to speak to other moms about this issue and other issues such as homeschooling. In the end though, they are responsible to God for their family decisions.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience at JFBC. We really aren't just for stay-at-home moms. My Sunday School class is an example of that. I have even worked outside the home sporadically. I am fortunate to have been trained in a career that allows me to work and earn money when my husband is at home. I'm a professional musician and I have taught lessons at night or played jobs on the weekends.

I hope you come back and visit my blog. I really do appreciate you reading and commenting. Your comments have convicted me even more how sensitive I need to be when sharing my own convictions.

Blessings to you, your family and your new blog. Have fun.

amy :

Dang! I can't believe you had someone post something that's this, well...offensive as a response to your very first blog post ever!

I can see a lot of time and thought went into this post... and if it was an attempt to "not leave you offended," I'd like to see what she would say if she was actually trying to insult you and be hurtful.

I could go on and on, but I'll hold back here...but "judgmental" and "uncharitable" would be only the nicest way to describe this post.

Amy from Austin

Anonymous :

I'm confused, I must admit. Tears came to my eyes when I read Amy's opinion that Meredith's post was "uncharitable and judgmental" when she only expressed her point of view just as Jill and the other working moms have done. Can't the stay-at-home moms share what works for them, with the disclaimer that they do not intend any disrespect to those with differing viewpoints, without being viewed as rude? Jill, keep sharing and God bless! -an onlooker

Jillian, Inc :

First, thank you for reading my blog and secondly, thanks for your comment. I understand the confusion as Meredith's comment is a bit out of context. She is replying to a comment I sent to her blog when I read one of her posts about being outraged that a mother in her church (which is the same church that I attend) was returning to work and putting her child in daycare. I asked "Why are you so angry about a mother going to work?" You can see that Meredith's reply is gracious and she explains that she has since changed her feelings towards those mothers who work, but has not changed her belief. I think Meredith's blog is great - it's saved to my "favorites" and I check it at least once a week. Let me just say that we are mothers first, regardless of where we work, and we are all in this together. I feel that I have a unique "blend" of characteristics as you will see in my profile: newlywed, second wife, new mother, step-mom and a mom who works full-time outside the home. I started my blog because I felt there might be an audience who might be interested in my experiences encompassing all those things. I hope you keep reading!

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