Sacrifice

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Dear Younger Self,
I love the honesty in your questions so much! I can definitely relate to your questions about sacrificing too much. I know what it feels like to have others demean or belittle the role of homemaker and mom. Those seem like negative or lesser things to the world these days. I'm sure you've questioned, as I have, how you're supposed to live your full potential in a house with kids and messes and playing the role of Mrs. Smiles at church on Sunday, when all you get to do is walk the halls when you're dying for some spiritual meat. And adults to talk to...and...and...
I will tell you that all of this is worth it. Because it's God's work. His greatest achievement is our eternal life and joy, and at the end of life, people don't remember their job as being their greatest joy. They could care less about awards, money, people's praise or respect. They think most fondly of their relationships with God and their families. If I think about all the hall walking I did, all the sleepless nights, all the criticism from people, even at times from my own husband and kids...I felt like my walk was very lonely at times. But I look back and recall God being there. I wasn't alone, because He was cheering me on and His spirit walked those halls with me, teaching me the laws of sacrifice. He was letting me know that in our fallen world, we lose ourselves to the temptations to be more...something, or we allow others opinions to sway our focus on what's really eternally important. 
I would offer the advice to surrender your life to the Lord each day, and be kind to yourself. I'm speaking to myself as much as I am to you. This is a journey that we walk each day, and as we age, it doesn't change that we each need God every day to help us get through. Our challenges might change as we get older, but that just means we're continually needing to learn to adjust to a new way of living, sacrificing, and being submissive to the Lord. 
I testify that the noblest and highest goal in both successful societies and in the kingdom of God is family, and at its core, a lasting and loving marriage. This is not everyones focus, because it's hard...damn hard. But like Tom Hanks says in "A league of Their Own": "It's the hard that makes it great!".
I love you! 
Your Future Self

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