Inconsistent

April 9, 2012 By

“Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps.  It is not something to do if you can squeeze time in.  It is what God gave you time for.” -Rachel Jankovic

Life…. real life is so much more important to me than blogging or social media.

Not that I don’t love you all, my readers {I do!}, it’s just that there are 6 special people in my life that I love so much more.

I want the most important things to come first, and I simply will not sacrifice those things. I only get one go around at this thing called life, and I truly believe it’s in my home that I will make the most lasting impact.

So, if you don’t see me here at this place, if I don’t answer your emails right away {or ever!}, or if I am absent from Facebook……it isn’t because something is wrong.  It is because something is right.

Thank you, dear readers, for allowing me to be an inconsistent blogger so that I can be a consistent wife and mother.

How about you? Is there something that you need to do more inconsistently to make the time to be consistent?

{ps there are lots of amazing bloggers that are consistent in both blogging and mothering, I just don’t happen to be one of them!}

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Filed Under: mothering

44 Comments

  • Rebecca

    I love all of my friends I meet and make online. I love reading and sharing the good…and the lessons learned. It refreshes me…and many guide me closer to my Father. But, yes, my family…comes first!

    • Joy

      I agree Rebecca! I don’t think that there is anything wrong with the online space at all, just that I have to keep it in perspective!! Thanks for sharing! I always love seeing your pretty face in the comments!!

  • JoLynn Holmwood

    I blog too and have been absent for the past three weeks because everything is “right” as you put it :) Many times over the past few weeks I’ve felt guilty for not blogging each week. I am going to use your post as inspiration for my next post and hope (like you) that my readers won’t mind my inconsistent blogging either :) God Bless!

    • Joy

      JoLynn,
      I am so glad that this was inspiring for you! I am sure your readers don’t mind some inconsistency…I think we think our readers care far more than they actually do! :)

  • http://formissionarymoms.com/ Ashley L.

    I love this! I have thought often of writing something similar on my blog and still probably will sometime. Blogging always needs to be the first thing to go from my schedule when thing get busy or my families needs increase for a time. Sometimes I wonder if my (few compared to you) readers are annoyed by my inconsistency, but I’d prefer for that to be the case than for me to let the online world take precedence over the family that God has called me to devote myself to. Thank you so much for blogging inconsistently and in doing so modeling godly priorities to the rest of us mom bloggers and moms in general! I so appreciate and am encouraged by your example!

    • Joy

      Ashley, Amen. I am so glad to be in this with you!

  • http://www.myheartsdesireblog.com Amanda

    Ahhh, love this post. You articulated my thoughts so well, thank you! I find there is such freedom in being an “inconsistent blogger,” bc I know I’m trading for something so far better.
    Amanda

    • Joy

      I am so glad that I could articulate what you think too! That is so neat that we are both thinking along those same lines!

  • Terri S

    Joy,
    Thank you for being first a wife and mother and putting God above all else. By being a model in that you are not inconsistent. You have your priorities in the right place, and God gives you words and the message for your blog in His time, and blesses us accordingly. I thank you for persevering in His Name.

    May he richly reward your faithfulness to your calling.

    Love in Him,
    Terri S
    Madison WI

    • Joy

      Thank you Terri. I appreciate your encouragement very much.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/MKC3PIIBNERGHGUYLTJV62QNPQ Thea

    Hi Joy, I am came across your blog through a tweet. Normally, I do a devotional from our pastor online, but it seems this morning he did not write one ( rightfully so- he is with his family today). I will be honest, I was a little disappointed, until God directed me to your blog today for this post. Isn’t it wonderful how God knows just what we need and when we need it. Thank you for sharing your heart and being transparent in priorities. . . very refreshing.

    Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

    • Joy

      So glad you found this space! Welcome!

  • Jenni

    This is so true even for us that don’t blog. Thank you for sharing!

    • Joy

      You are welcome. Just trying to be real!:)

  • http://twitter.com/StefLayton Stef Layton

    phew — I thought it was just my emails =) I’d hate for my 1st trip out of the country to be to come fix your computer. Love you Joy — more bloggers need to realize this because many are looking for their self worth online.

    • Joy

      Nope! Not just your emails….I’ve got a whole stack of them! :) Thanks for being such a gracious and understanding friend! Love you!!

  • Anonymous

    amen!
    love this. :)

    • Joy

      Thanks Mary!

  • Shannon

    I definitely don’t have it all together and as a mom of 5 children ages 6 and under… and a baby scheduled to come in 17 days, our homeschooling life looks very inconsistent at times… I find that there are seasons of inconsistency in many areas… sometimes school is inconsistent while we focus on getting the closets changed over to the summer wardrobe… or focus on getting sick kids well… sometimes the housework is inconsistent while we focus on school subjects that are requiring more attention… sometimes eating healthy, homemade meals is inconsistent while we catch up on de-cluttering projects… and sometimes it’s ALL inconsistent when we have heart/character/behavior issues to focus on in our children. It’s a balancing act, and it’s messy and CONSISTENTLY imperfect! :) But I am learning to stop trying to be perfect and just rest in God’s peace and grace that He offers for each day… and trying to be still enough to listen to what HIS priorities are for the day. Thanks for the post!

    • Joy

      AMEN!! Shannon, I find that sometimes my life is simply trying to figure out how to live with all the consistency!! I love what you said about listening to His priorities….that is the only way!!! Thanks so much for commenting, it was great to hear from you!

  • http://profiles.google.com/dumptrucksandteacups Carrie Cooper

    This is true in every area of life, isn’t’ it!?! And, it’s exactly why I love you, my friend. Our husband and children should always come first! Have a beautiful week enjoy those precious faces…

    Blessings,
    Carrie

    • Joy

      Thank you, dear Carrie. You have been a source of sweet encouragement and wisdom these many years. I look forward to when we might be able to meet face to face!! :)

  • Jenne

    Yup. Child number 4 came and blogging had to go. I miss it but the time with my husband in the evenings is much more valuable. I constantly find things (hobbies) that want to take the place of blogging, too, so I have to be on my guard!

    • Joy

      Yep, Jenne, it’s any of those great hobbies {which I am totally not against having them!} that crowd out what is really important. I think blogging or any other hobby is a great outlet and as moms we should give ourselves time to relax and enjoy, just not at the expense of our family. :)

  • Jody Dake

    As an “older” mom, (early 40s), and with older children, 3 graduated, 1 to go (all home schooled), I want to encourage you in knowing you are doing what our Heavenly Father has blessed you with. I appreciate and thank you for your inconsistency in this area. Yes, Joy, your family is much more important at this season of your life than those in this blogging world. There may be a season where things are a bit different, but I believe God would have your family come first. Our computers are certainly a time drainer. My and my girls’ blogs are still very inconsistent, but that’s ok. God knows who needs it. Blessings to you and your family as you seek His will and not ours. You are very encouraging, and I thank you.
    Always Experiencing Him,
    Jody
    farmfaithfamily.blogspot.com
    threemaidens.blogspot.com

    • Joy

      Wow. Thank you Jody. You speak such words of wisdom and encouragement today. It is *so* good to hear from someone a little further down the path. Bless you for sharing this today!!

  • Ruth@gracelaced

    Amen, friend! There is truly nothing to blog about if we are not living the life of motherhood and of grace…love your heart, my dear!

    • Joy

      Thank you, dear sister. I appreciate you so much.

  • SC

    Thanks for your honesty. I have started and stopped blogging so many times. For me, I often used it as a way to feel like I “belong” because I often feel isolated being a military wife, but there are so many bloggers out there that it becomes a competition for readers. It makes me feel like I have to be a great writer or have some amazing free resource or ebook to share. If not, I am a failure. I honestly have no idea how some of the bloggers out there really balance God, family and their online time because I see them everywhere–blogging, twitter, facebook, photo sharing sites, online Bible studies, etc. It has become more of a business than just sharing our hearts and making friends. About 8 years ago, when I first entered the blogging world, it was just about sharing ideas and making friends. Not so much anymore. I admire your inegrity to your family and God. Blessings to you and your precious family.

    Shannon C

  • http://myfreshlybrewedlife.com/ Barbie

    I love your blog and love that you put your family first. As a busy wife and mom who works full time, the only time I have to blog is late at night when the house is quite. We only have so long with those little lives God has entrusted to us. My eldest daughter will be married in just 10 weeks. Where does the time go?

  • c-kwommack

    I love this post! I too have felt the tug to be more intentional and consistent in my parenting and my marriage. I only posted once last week and the world did not fall apart! Thank you for verbalizing so beautifully the calling of a mom and wife. May we use social media and blogging as tools for the Kingdom, but not allow them to turn into idols in our lives.
    Oh, and I am visiting from the Better Mom’s link up!

  • Anonymous

    Amen!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1367062260 Jennifer Ross

    Loved this post Joy! I’m one of those inconsistent blogging/mothering bloggers too ;) I don’t have half the “likes” you do, and when I feel that I’ve neglected my blog because I haven’t written for a week, I think of you…

    Thanks for being a great example and putting your family first!

  • Myrnabp

    You have got it right!! These kids are here for a lifetime…..your and theirs. They need you and you need them more than anything but God. And He will be the most help for you.
    Sorry, didn’t mean to preach. I just am as strongly about this as you. My mothering is now grand-mothering/ or great-grandmothering, when I get a chance. I am proud of the kids I mothered. And God was the answer to it all.

  • http://yestheyareallours.com/ Busymomof10

    Wow! What an incredibly Wise Perspective and Awesome Post! I don’t see how mothers of young children blog — there were days it was all I could do to brush my teeth and take my contacts out at night! LOL! I admire you greatly for your stand! And that is a Beauitful picture of you and your children!!!! (I love the quote too!)

  • http://www.fieldstonehilldesign.com {darlene}

    LOVE how you expressed this here. No fluff. That is just the way it is. Real life is so much more important! Thank you for this post, sweet friend.

  • http://www.joyfilleddays.com/ Sarah Beals

    Loved this. And your heart. God will honor this, I know. You only get one shot at this motherhood thing and you are wise to cherish each moment, Joy. Love you!

  • http://ourfamilyforhisglory.blogspot.com Our Family for His Glory

    Thank-you for your wonderful example to follow God’s leading and put your family first!!
    Jessica

  • http://themommyjob.com/ Mary @ TheMommyJob

    Your words here are so appreciated! I didn’t work on my blog last week because I wanted to give my attention to my kids while they were on spring break. I had special surprises for them everyday and we had a great QUALITY time together. And it made for great blogging material, that I will share eventually. Taking a break was wonderful for my home.

  • Janelle

    Amen my sweet friend. I was just praying about this myself. God really spoke to me with such wisdom…if my children become bitter because mom is too busy serving others to serve them, could I be creating eventual non-christians in my home? The ones I love the very most! That thought horrified me. I am having to step away a ton as well…something IS right about it. LOVE you!

  • viviene @ thejourneyofawoman

    That’s sweet.. and true! Nothing is more important than being a wife and mother (next to being God’s children).. =)

    http://www.thejourneyofawoman.com
    http://www.theblogforbrides.com

  • http://www.ps67.blogspot.com/ Sarah

    Thank you so much, Joy, for writing this post. I’m a pretty inconsistent blog reader (and so rarely comment)…. and an even more inconsistent blog writer. With being mommy to our children, housekeeping in a developing country, and being a missionary’s wife, there is little time to be online (as I know you know!). I keep a blog to keep our family and friends back in the States informed about our life here, but it is a struggle to maintain it and I find myself feeling guilty that we are not doing better at letting them know what we’re doing. This post helped remind me that I’m choosing the more important and sacred task, being a wife and mommy… and blogging can happen when and if there is time!

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  • J Anon

    I really apprecite your honesty on this blog and have been really refreshed reading your post.I am going through a dry season right now so i thank God that he has speaks to me through your blog. :)