"I Could Never" Needs to Be Erased From Our Vocabulary
“I could never...”
Amid 2020’s unexpected chaos, I now forbid these words to leave my lips.
I should've erased this phrase from my vocabulary when I became a mom a decade ago, but better late than never!
I've lived and learned a few things over the years.
After becoming a mom for the first time, I claimed that I could never work full-time (part-time was perfect) outside of the home. Then, I got a job opportunity and amazing babysitters that only God could orchestrate.
Even if it was classified as “mild" or "correctable," I could never do a special needs adoption. We moved forward with that adoption, and tonight, my healthy daughter sleeps peacefully in her bed before running off to first grade in the morning.
I could never be a stay-at-home mom. Never! I’ve done that, too, with so much joy and peace.
I could never homeschool my kids. COVID gave me that opportunity. And guess what? At the very least, we survived and learned valuable life skills.
My mom always says that being a Christian is never boring. It's one of the wisest things that she says to me.
There have been many times over the past decade of parenting that I have thought, “I could never.” Most of the time, I’m probably right too.
I can’t on my own, but God can.
My flesh often craves a boring life, but I don’t want to live a life dependent on myself. I want a life dependent on a God that only wants faithfulness and obedience from me.
COVID has pushed me to dig into my beliefs and grow in my relationship with God. You are probably right there with me, and it’s hard. It hurts to grow, but I think it’s the best thing that will come out of this season of our lives.
For my family, the growth continues as we head down the final stretch of 2020.
Our family got amazing adoption news last week. Our adoption paperwork was FINALLY submitted, and we should be heading to South Korea to bring our boy home in early 2021. (All the praise hands!!!!)
We are thrilled, nervous, and ready.
Here's the catch. Pesky COVID is still out there and has already highjacked our original plans. Two quick, kid-less trips to finalize the adoption are now one 8-week family adventure.
I. Could. Never.
Yep, I said that I could never do an international adoption that required us to travel for longer than two weeks. It was part of our family's “criteria” for adopting. We could NEVER travel for a long period of time with the number of people in our family and our busy schedules.
Yep, I am truly "eating" my words again.
When God called us to adopt again, He knew. He knew what He was calling us to and the "I could never" that I'd already whispered.
I smile as I think about what’s to come for our family over the next six months. Oh, it’s going to be stressful and chaotic. I know I’ll worry and try to plan everything. I know that there will be tears and hiccups along the way.
But, I am beyond excited to see what God is going to do through our obedience and another shattering of an “I could never.” I have peace too. God is using our family for His glory, and I know that it is going to be life-changing.
God has been so good and faithful to me. He has given me a rich and full life. I never could’ve created this life on my own.
Mom is right. Being a Christian is never boring.
I hope you cling to God's promises over your life today. With Him, you can do all things.
God loves you and wants the type of relationship with you that will take all of your “I could never” words and use them for so much more.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
