For the new year I bought myself one of these journals. Every day the journal asks you a different question and leaves a few lines for you to answer. BUT there are 5 sections on each day’s page so that you end up answering the same questions on the same day for 5 years. Some of them are random like “what did you eat last?” “what was the hardest part of today?” etc. and some really make you think like “can people change?” and other deep questions. I have really been enjoying it so far! The point is that you can do the questions for 5 years and see how your answers and outlook on different things changed. I think it is going to be really interesting.
I wanted to share the first question from the journal with you and see how you would answer it. The question was:
What is your Mission?
This one threw me off at first. The first thing that popped into my head was the mission statement that I had to memorize at my last workplace.
“Our mission is to create a
functional and innovative
friendly and inviting
atmosphere of….”
I don’t really remember it all but it was long-ish and used big words to basically say “we should be nice, do our jobs well and make people want to get healthy and work out here.” (I worked in the child care section of a local gym)
So then I started thinking, what is my mission? I’m not out there trying to save the world or doing anything that seems exciting/mission statement worthy. I’m not curing any diseases or reaching the lost people groups of the world…
At first I figured I would leave it blank until I could think of something profound. Something that sounded really awesome and awe-inspiring. But after thinking about it (and answering a few of the other questions) I decided that was silly, and I should just find a simple way to state what I’m doing in life, and what I’m trying to do. It may sound a lot smaller than some “missions” but it is mine, and it is big in the lives of those people closest to me.
My mission – “is to be the best Wife and Mommy I can and bring glory to God through the life of my family.”
It is short, and to the point, but it is honest. And I have no regrets there. That describes my life, and what I am striving for my life to be. I want my family to bring honor to God, I want people to look at our family and see the love of God shining through. I want to be an awesome mommy and wifey, and that’s what I’m doing right now. And that is probably “all” I will be doing for quite some time. and I am happy about that. I could not be the wife and mom that I want to be if I added much more to my mission at this point in my life.
There are “more” things that I would like to do in the future. And there are so many “missions” that will sound so much cooler “my mission is to stand up for young children who are being a abused” or “my mission is to reach out to and offer hope to those who have been deeply wounded by those that should have protected them…” etc. etc.
But for now, I am happy that my mission is a seemingly small one compared to the many different missions that it could be. This is my life, and I am very happy with where I am. I love the time I am able to spend with my child (soon to be children) and the individual attention I can offer because I’m able to stay home with them. I love that I have time to read books and learn about things that are helpful to my personal growth and healing. I love that I have time to do special things for my hubby, like organize something for him or even the “normal” things like cleaning house and preparing dinner. These are such small things in the eyes of the world, but they are big enough for me. I did not always feel like these things were “enough” and at first I felt guilty and worried that I should be doing more more MORE but, that is not the case any more (I wrote more about that, here).
I am happy and content with where I am and what I’m doing and with my little mission :)
So, I’m interested… what is YOUR mission? is it big? or small? or just right?
Share it with me in the comments, OR if you have a lot to say about it, write a post and leave me the link to it. I’m interested to hear from you!
Lori Ferguson says
Funny – (not ha-ha, but interesting funny). I spent a number of weeks about 8 years ago working through different books on creating a personal mission statement, and realized “encouraging” was what I was supposed to do…
That led to writing/blogging about encouragement in marriage. (what I do now)
My mission statement is exactly Colossians 2:2
“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ”
It all just “clicked”. There was a profound, “YES!” when I worked it through.
futurehope says
Whatt a neat story and an awesome mission statement. Thanks for sharing Lori! :)
MyJourneyBack says
Oh what a great post! I think as we grow older our mission changes. I used to have the same mission as you. Now it is being the best grandma! But I think as Christian women at least I hope that all of our missions are much the same. To be open to God and allow him to use us. And to grow closer to him.
Thanks for sharing today! Come and visit me at My Journey.
Blessings,
Sherry