The birth of my last child
and my family relocation from South Africa to Canada has positively altered and
brought about changing priorities into my life.
The relocation was a joint family
decision, even though it signaled the end of a full time working career for me
in South Africa and the beginning of a new phase in Canada, but as a child of
God, I welcomed the new season with glowing thoughts. I love new challenges and
because I serve a God that backs me up, the decision to relocate got my
undivided support and loyalty.
Leaving my full time medical
tourism business and focusing mainly on being a wife to my husband, mothering
my children and writing part time is indeed a new terrain, initially it was
hard to adjust, I was used to a pampered domestic life in South Africa and used
to a life of business ‘busyness’.
My daily life started very
early in the morning - organizing a client’s medical procedure or the needs.
The children and I was used to praying in the car on our way to school…I still remember
so many answered prayer requests originated in the car with my children. It was
normal to come back late at night, after
picking up the children from their after care program, having barely enough
time to say the grace and have dinner together before we head off to bed.
It was a complete turn around
for me in Canada; I have 24 hours to work more on my self…what a luxury! I have
more than enough time to write books…surf Facebook…lol. And clean the house…wow! Basically be a ‘present’
mother that I was not in South Africa. I remember my eldest daughter telling me
that she loves the way we live in Canada so much, simply because she has her
mother’s undivided attention. That meant a lot to me.
I have come to realize that our
children grow up so fast and in our busy lives, we tend to focus on things that
are not that important. I know many people might not be financially privileged
to be stay at home mothers, but I will encourage that over the weekends, we
should try and give our children the attention we deny them during the week.
Financially, it is tasking to
depend on one salary, but I have also learnt to be more prudent and value my
family time more than my own financial needs. Sometimes, I have learnt to say a capital No
to a few luxuries I was used to and I have also learnt to be content just like
Apostle Paul, but sincerely in all of it, the Lord has amazingly enlarged our
coasts just like Jabez asked and I know He will continue to do so by His grace.
Presently, I wake up to drop
my children off at school everyday when my husband is either on call or out of
town, I now own just a single mobile phone which I rarely use, gone are the
days of carrying two mobile phones around. I now have time to attend all my
children’s parents-teachers association meetings even contributing meaningfully
to any topics raised. I scream less at my children because I am less stressed
and more attentive. I know this new transition in my life is for a short
period, in a matter of years, I may go back to the workforce but presently I am
enjoying the ride.
In this short period, I have
grown in several areas…I have matured a lot spiritually, reading my Bible and
dedicating more time to the work of God, I pioneered a book club where some
women simply come to discuss Christian fiction and non-fiction and we relish in
the simple knowledge of God’s miracles in our lives. Having the opportunity to I wake up at 3am any day
of the week before my family wakes up, to simply pray to God, for my family, my friends, members of our Joyful Marriage Ministry and our book club members is indeed a miracle and I wish most women could enjoy that.
I know I am still a work in
progress but I am using my current status of stay at home mother to lead my
family in living a more joyous family life with the help of God.
Mrs Ibukun Ogunsina
Founder, Joyful Marriage Ministry www.joyfulmarriage.org
Author of The Joy
of being Married, The Joy of Being You and a Christian fiction titled Joy’s
Blessings. All her books are available on Amazon.
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