Let Freedom Ring…

True with God

By Kerry McGuire

One balmy summer afternoon my friend and I were sitting outside on her back patio, watching our kids swim in her pool. We were commenting on how hard it is to keep these kids occupied during the long, hot summer months. We were running out of ideas fast, and wishing school would start soon.

This led to a discussion about how my youngest, Olivia, is finally entering Kindergarten. This is a big day for Olivia and her peers, but also for us moms who find themselves with all elementary-school aged children. Ah, freedom! We automatically think about what we’re going to do with all the free time we’ll have now that they will be back at school all day, five days a week.

Naturally, going back to work comes to mind. I practiced public relations for 13 years before choosing to stay home three years ago when we moved to Houston from Tulsa, Okla. My kids were two and four then, and I felt strongly about staying home with them, and have been blessed to be able to do that for so long. Now, with the cost of living increasing and gas prices going out of the roof, plus the fact that I am ready to be mentally challenged and use my skills again, it makes sense to choose to go back to work.

I’ve decided to call upon my past experience and start up my own communications consulting firm so I can work from home and try to remain flexible enough so I can work around the kids’ schedules. I know it’s going to be tricky and there are going to be some conflicts and headaches, but I truly feel this is the best choice for me and my family at this point in our lives.

This decision didn’t come lightly at all. It was made after many long months of struggling with the idea of going back to work. It took me a while to get used to staying home, so naturally it is hard to go “back."

Finally, I realized that I had to just turn it all over to God through prayer. Too many times in my life have I tried to start something new, thinking it would be the best choice, and it turned out to be a wrong move.

Well, maybe not a “wrong” move, but definitely one with some hard knocks and tough lessons learned. I can honestly say many of these choices were made because I lost sight of what really matters most—God’s plan for my life and what he considers best for me. Many times I got  caught up in what society says is great and true, instead of praying and asking God for His wisdom and guidance as I make these decisions. Many times I was on the wrong road going nowhere (now, that sounds like a great title for a country music song!).

Essentially, it’s all boils down to our freedom to make choices. God has given us the ability to rationalize and think for ourselves. It’s called “good ‘ole common sense”, and when something seems out of kilter or too good to be true, it’s probably because it is out of kilter and too good to be true.

Having the freedom to choose and make these important decisions is such a blessing. That is what sets us apart from all the other living species…we actually have been given free will from God, the ability to choose how we live our life and what we do with it.

And, according to Rick Warren, author of “A Purpose Driven Life,” we need to live our life on purpose, or life is trivial, petty and pointless:

“Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. We were made to have meaning. This is why people try dubious methods like astrology or physics, to discover it. When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable.”  Rick Warren

So, I guess you can say I’ve learned my lesson, too many times to count. Not that I am always going to make the right choices to where my life runs smoothly and without turbulence. Those storms and upsets in life always serve a purpose, so it’s not about making things easy and perfect. But rather, living our lives the way God intends for us, and living on purpose for Him.

 

I am definitely better equipped for the storms that will come eventually, and staying on course because I will turn to God in daily prayer and reading of His Word, as well as following advice from spiritual leaders, church fathers, sisters and brothers in Christ, and other credible resources put here on earth by God to help guide us all in this walk called life.

Together, let’s choose to live on purpose! And let God’s freedom ring true as a result. God bless you all.

Kerry McGuire