Equipping young women professionals with young families to find fulfillment, contentment and joy as mothers and home makers without losing sight of who they are as women.

Volume 11, Issue 48: Enjoy The Season

Someone asked me this morning whether I am looking forward to the holidays. I found that question odd because I am already in the holidays, have been for weeks, most likely since just before the beginning of the month December. I am still at work this week but that's not stopping me from being in the season.

As days draw closer to the 25th, many people wait to travel or for the big party to enjoy the holiday season. I am not waiting for that. I am enjoying every moment of this holiday month. I have been enjoying watching lights on our Christmas tree since mid-November. I have enjoyed imagining ,collecting and packaging gifts for family and friends. Now I am enjoying the preparations for travel and packing.

Just like any other day, the 25th comes and goes very fast. Likewise, the month of December, and the holiday season comes and goes very fast. You can't wait for one day or a few days to start enjoying it. You jump right in before the onset and start enjoying every moment of it, letting it sink in. That way, you won't feel short changed when the season comes to an end. Because you would have taken it all in.

Don't miss a beat. Enjoy the season. Even if you are still at work. Even if the 25th or the 1st will find you at work due to the nature of your profession. It is still the season to be merry and celebrate with loved ones. Stop and enjoy the lights and Christmas decorations. When you get off work, take yourself and the children in your life to one of the big malls near you in the evening to enjoy the extensive display of lights and Christmas decorations.

Enjoy the festive season. And as you do, don't forget the reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 11, Issue 47: Go The Distance

End of year fatigue is real. We are tired, dragging ourselves through the "hard" things and wanting to just relax and take it easy. It's normal to want to relax on our disciplines at this point of the year. It's excusable, even expected.

But what will give us more satisfaction at the end of the year? I believe it's going the distance. A good athlete doesn't quit a race just inches away from the finish line on account of fatigue or waning motivation. Good athletes push themselves to the finish line, however hard.

We have come so far, fought so hard to do the right things. We can't throw in the towel now and wait to start all over next year. No, we keep up the fight. We can reduce the intensity of the activities but keep up the consistency.

Who wants to get used to doing "hard" things all over again in the new year? I know I don't. So I will keep showing up: waking up early, doing my workouts, taking my walks, eating sensibly, reading and writing until the very last day of 2021.

I am not doing full 30 minutes workouts every week day or hard workouts now. But I am working out on schedule. I am not writing every day, but I am writing. I am not getting out of bed as soon as my body wakes up, but I am getting out a few minutes later. And so forth. This way, I am remaining in the race, going the distance.

I encourage you to keep showing up on your disciplines all the way to the very end of the year. You have done it this far, you have what it takes to go the distance, to finish strong. It's not enough to start well and run a good race. We must finish well too. Let's go the distance, and in the process, position ourselves to start the new year on a high note.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 11, Issue 46: Living In Your Season

There was a time when I needed to inculcate discipline and life skills in my children. The unfortunate thing is that I didn't realize that season had run its course, until recently.

Given the stage my children are in currently, my season is that of nurturing, embracing, motivating and supporting them. I have learnt that teens in today's day have a lot to deal with. They struggle with fitting in, looking cool, making friends, maintaining a good reputation, excelling in studies and sports and so forth. All while figuring out the changes taking place in their bodies and emotions.

Some of us parents can be stuck in the past. We probably sailed through teenage, so we don't get what the fuss is all about. Another thing is that we get stuck in handling our teens the same way we handled them when they were younger, oblivious of the changes that are taking place in them and the changes in what they need from us.

When my children were younger, one of the things that was important to me was to instill in them a value for personal time management and honoring other people's time. A few times one or both of them had to walk to school if they didn't make it to the car on time for the ride to school. They got the point, crystal and clear. This is not a lesson I need to continue teaching them in their current season. But it took me awhile to see it this way.

I no longer hustle my children to get out of bed quickly when I wake them up on a school morning. I understand how hard it is to wake up early and take my time with them until they garner the motivation to get out of bed happily and get on with the business of getting ready for school.

It's no longer about my time being wasted by someone running late to get to the car on time for school drop off. It's about dedicating that fraction of time to them, supporting them to get there happy and cared for. If one of them is struggling on a particular morning, making us late, it's my pleasure to drop everything to encourage and help him/her get ready and out the door. I am not leaving anyone behind this season.

When you see the effect of your kindness in your teens' outlook and disposition. When you see them thriving again, because of your kindness, support and expressions of love, you are grateful you saw the light and adjusted yourself to serve them in their current season of life.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 11, Issue 45: Gratitude

What are you grateful for? As we come to the end of the year, yet another challenging one because of the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be hard to find things to be grateful for or even to nurture a grateful heart. But the benefits of gratitude outweigh any leverage we may think we have for being ungrateful.

I am grateful for very many things, starting with having a grateful heart in the first place. To mention just a few, I am grateful for love in my life from family and friends. I am grateful for the package of health, healing when I need it, and mental, emotional and psychological wholeness. I am grateful for my job, for a beautiful roof over my head and for a car that works.

But even better, I have something new that I am beyond grateful for this year. Nothing feels better than knowing that you are doings things right again. When you look back and see how off the track you were without realizing it, and then God gives you the opportunity to see it, and the grace to change your ways. You don't miss a bit in staying on course in doing things right even when those you are doing them for make messes.

It's one thing to know you are loving and caring for your loved ones. It's another to get a wake up call and really make a change to truly love them in their current season. I am grateful for the opportunity to relentlessly express love, care, kindness and support to my beloved teens.

What are you most grateful for this year? Just that you have made it this far in the year is a big reason to be grateful. Take time to reflect on the year. Get amazed at the things you take for granted. Ponder over the things you learnt, the second chances you got, and the adjustments you made for the better.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 11, Issue 44: There Was Jesus

I found a song by Demi Lee Moore & Riaan Benade' called 'There Was Jesus'. Another recording of this song is sang by Zachary Williams and Dally Patron. I have played this song nonstop over and over again the past few weeks. This song and other interactions I had on the first day I listened to it got me interceding for those hurting among us - folks who are sad and feel all alone.

Jesus is always there, in the waiting and in the searching, in the hurting and in the healing. In the fire and in the flood. On the mountain and in the valley. He is there. We never walk alone. Jesus is there, like a blessing buried in the broken pieces.

Thinking of other people's burdens and hurts leads us to Jesus in intercession. Where would our world be without the healing touch of Jesus? Where would we be if Jesus wasn't there to bring us through difficult times? Where would we be if Jesus wasn't there to give us the fortitude we need to make it through valleys and fires and floods?

Jesus is there. Whether it's hurts that we bring upon ourselves or those we find ourselves victims of, Jesus is there. Mending our broken hearts. Healing our hurts. Wiping away our tears. Making us whole again. Remaining on our side when our friends desert us. Turning our sorrow into laughter, our mourning into dancing and thorns into roses.

There was Jesus. Can you see it now in hindsight? That he was there with you in the hard times? And that he is here with you in the good times. No matter the season, Jesus was there. Jesus is here.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi