The Growth Plan

Do you want to grow up? I mean really seriously grow up? Not just changing for one moment something you usually do so you can immediately please the person you may have offended. I’m talking about a holistic change that will help you go to the next levels in your life. This is the type of change I told you at the beginning of the month that I was instituting in my life. I wasn’t going to wait until January, but what I saw needed fixing now would be fixed now and, with hope, forever. I told you I would help you develop your own plan. By reading all my posts, I hope you got some insight to develop your own plan. If not, here is my plan in sum that you can modify to create your own.

First, get a vision, understand the vision and then practice it.

Second, develop habits that will facilitate your vision.

Third, remember God’s grace.

Fourth, spy out God’s mercies.

Fifth, remember that God is omniscient.

Sixth, if married, publicize your husband’s good points.

Seventh, intentionally teach and model for your children, including how to be mission-minded.

Eighth, know that your plan may get interrupted, but God’s grace is sufficient.

Ninth, make daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual time for yourself without apologies.

Don’t wait until January to start afresh. I didn’t and have already seen results. Flynn is even asking me about my daily half hour alone time. Yes, even he is catching my vision and helping me to facilitate it. Have you already developed your plan? Is it working? Let us know. I know I want to celebrate and encourage you.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith

Do It For You

My mom used to hire a babysitter so she could take a nap. I was too young to remember this, but my mom relayed this to me in my adult years. I used to think what she did was extravagant but only said to her “Really?” Why spend good money on a sitter and you are still at home? Of course, now having little ones of my own, I completely understand. While I haven’t yet hired a sitter to take a nap, after coming home from running errands a sitter has offered to stay so I could take a nap. I have taken advantage of some of these offers, but other times in my twisted strong black woman way I refused because I thought if I am physically present I SHOULD be able to take care of my own kids. Continue reading

Have Compassion

Daniel, my child in Burkina Faso

For the past week I followed the Compassion bloggers on their trip to Guatemala. Their messages, beautiful and haunting about children and their families whose home life forces us Americans to rename our poverty, made my body gush tears, wrung me out, stripped me apart and made me think about what part I play in ending this poverty. Continue reading

Remember the Work of Grace

When I was in college a friend told me that one of her friends thought I got everything I wanted. She didn’t even know me, but had watched from afar my entrance and acceleration in my sorority, work on the school newspaper, internships at top daily newspapers and a gang of people to hang with. This woman had long-distance envy, and I, with my sinful gloat coat that all strong black women wear because we do things that people should admire, got a kick out of her envy, thinking, “Dang, it’s too bad she ain’t me.” Continue reading

7 Habits for Success

In many ways, my life, what I do, is second nature to me. I don’t actively think about how I accomplish my goals while caring for my children and home and cultivating my marriage. But after three people—some with children, some without—within two weeks asked me how I was able to meet my writing deadlines while caring for three young children because they needed help achieving their goals, I then examined my life so I could share my habits for success. I:

First, have vision and understanding, but to see results I have (practice) the following habits:
Continue reading