When Chris and I were first married I wouldn’t order pizza.
Yup, you read that right. I wouldn’t order pizza!
It just scared me… or rather intimidated me.
I hated calling companies to complain or ask questions about our bills. I didn’t even like making doctors appointments.
Slowly though, over time, I grew braver….a LOT braver. I now (quite proudly) order pizza, book appointments, deal with all our medical/dental needs and (believe it or not) I even get the oil changed on the van- all by myself! See how far I’ve come?
I’m pretty sure our kids have significantly contributed to my growth….
🙂
This morning, I went to get the oil changed on the van.
To be honest I really hate getting the oil changed.
I feel like a little girl trying to play grown up. I know absolutely nothing about cars and whether or not it’s a good idea to tack on an extra $79.99 to my bill in order to change out the cabin air filter.
That’s the thing about getting an oil change. It’s never simple. There are always various maintenance decisions that need to be made. Should I splurge for them to change out the light bulb on my blinker…. or just tell Chris about it and have him change it out himself. Should I change the engine air filter….its up to me, but apparently it’s pretty dusty.
Ugh.
I just have no idea whether or not I’m being taken advantage of. Does the filter really need to be changed right now….. or can it wait….
Lack of knowledge. That’s my issue. When it comes to cars I am at a complete loss.
But, I do it anyway. Rather than add one more thing to Chris plate, I decided that I am a big girl and can get a silly thing like an oil change done all by myself.
And as I drove away I couldn’t help but smile. I did it! Sure, I fumbled a bit and couldn’t figure out how to turn on my high beams when he asked me to (don’t ask me why. I actually DO know how to turn them on, just in that moment of I have to do it right now I sorta panicked. Come on, tell me I’m not the only one who’s ever done this. Ha!)
But, I did it and it really wasn’t that bad.
I have come a pretty long way from that little 18 year old who found herself married and afraid of the world.
When I think about my faith, it has grown in the same way. I use to shy away from sharing my heart. Then I slowly began to find comfort in sharing (but only with certain people who I knew would accept me, for me) and now I simply go out and get my oil change.
I openly share my heart and even though I may get questions that I don’t know the answers to I choose to put myself out there. I choose to do something a little intimidating, knowing that it is stretching me.
And at the end of the day when I really think about it…. oil changes and sharing my faith are not that scary.
What are you doing now that once intimidated you?
I love Jesus, my guy Chris + our four. We seek joy. Homeschool. Adventure together. Mess up and start again.
That's funny because I had to take one of the cars to get the oil changed this weekend and before I left my husband said,"Don't let them talk you into anything but getting the oil changed." I guess I still can't be trusted 🙂
Thanks for commenting on my blog! 🙂 I'm a new blogger and it's so fun to get comments from people other than my best friend! haha 🙂
Loved this post. You sound just like me! 🙂
Amber @ itsgreeneroverhere.blogspot.com
Amen! Love that 🙂
Hi. I just found your blog through Just a Girl's link party. I love your family rules board. Too cute!
I too used to have a fear ordering pizza along with calling other companies. It's something I still struggle with but I am glad that I am not the only one.
i am with you on the oil change. i always feel like i am going to get talked into spending $100. i do it but hope i make the right "choices"
i used to be intimidated by making pie crust from scratch and using my broiler. accomplished both and it felt good :o)
First off Sara, never worry about being taken advantage of again … just book in with Greg! I promise you he'll never call work that doesn't TRULY need to be done! I am very relieved that Greg is a mechanic because I'd be worrying too about being taken advantage of if it weren't for him.
I can very much relate to hesitating on sharing my faith. It's having friends like you that help me to live my faith no matter what the outcome!!
xoxo
Your kiddos are adorable!
Sara I love your blog! I found it before Christmas because of your "Little Mama Baskets". I made those diapers for my daughter for Christmas. Now I check your blog almost daily.
I find that we are so much alike. Many of your posts I feel like I could have written! This post is one of those! I hate talking on the phone to anybody! I have to answer the phone at work, but I dread having to call anybody myself.
So, what am I doing now that once intimated me? Well I'm standing up for myself. For years I didn't have a voice, but recently I have found my voice. Recently I complained about service at a store. I was shaking for an hour afterward, but I felt good that I had my say.
I love reading your blog! Keep up the good work!
Sara,
First, thank you for coming and commenting on my blog. You blessed me so much! I TOTALLY get what you are talking about with stillness. As I child I couldn't sit still for the life of me. Something on me was always moving. As an adult I find it hard to sit still and I'm over 50 now. When God beckoned me into the stillness I didn't have a clue what it looked like. I do now. I've heard His voice more profoundly than any other time in my life. I've discovered that when my efforts cease His begin… He becomes the action in me. Sometimes I feel like a broken record as I write about it all the time on my blog… I've been in stillness for a while now.
I loved what you shared here in this blog post. Your heart displayed and it's beauty are stunning. I see His heart in you…. such beauty.
I struggle with sharing my faith. I'm getting more open…but sometimes I feel like I'm not "good enough" to tell others about Jesus Christ and how He's changed my life. I know it's a lie from the enemy but it's something that holds me back from being more transparent about how He has transformed my entire life!
I also struggle with fear- mostly of the future and my children's future. But I have come SOO far and I know this just takes more trust and getting into the WORD of God. He is so faithful in everything.
Anyway, that's two areas that I'm working through or He's guiding me through- I'm such a work in progress =) Thanks for sharing your heart here. I can relate to so much of what you write.
When we were first married I found I hid behind Chris a lot (especially when it came to making phone calls!). And to be honest, some of the time I still do, but I think becoming a Mom made me a little less intimidated. Perhaps it's that "Mama Bear" nature coming out, but I feel like I can stand up for myself and my family more than I used to be able to. Especially when it comes to people that don't have the best intentions for us – which thankfully we've only run into a couple of instances like that.
i LOVE when you share your faith, when you are transparent. being transparent can be scary.
being transparent often means sharing our weakness.
i'm learning to see weakness as an opportunity for God's strength to be displayed. being transparent allows God to be glorified. i love when God's people glorify him!
any chance i can use your testimony (birth story) on my blog the week after easter? (linked to you of course)
When we were first married I found I hid behind Chris a lot (especially when it came to making phone calls!). And to be honest, some of the time I still do, but I think becoming a Mom made me a little less intimidated. Perhaps it's that "Mama Bear" nature coming out, but I feel like I can stand up for myself and my family more than I used to be able to. Especially when it comes to people that don't have the best intentions for us – which thankfully we've only run into a couple of instances like that.
That's funny because I had to take one of the cars to get the oil changed this weekend and before I left my husband said,"Don't let them talk you into anything but getting the oil changed." I guess I still can't be trusted 🙂
Hi. I just found your blog through Just a Girl's link party. I love your family rules board. Too cute!
I too used to have a fear ordering pizza along with calling other companies. It's something I still struggle with but I am glad that I am not the only one.
Sara,
First, thank you for coming and commenting on my blog. You blessed me so much! I TOTALLY get what you are talking about with stillness. As I child I couldn't sit still for the life of me. Something on me was always moving. As an adult I find it hard to sit still and I'm over 50 now. When God beckoned me into the stillness I didn't have a clue what it looked like. I do now. I've heard His voice more profoundly than any other time in my life. I've discovered that when my efforts cease His begin… He becomes the action in me. Sometimes I feel like a broken record as I write about it all the time on my blog… I've been in stillness for a while now.
I loved what you shared here in this blog post. Your heart displayed and it's beauty are stunning. I see His heart in you…. such beauty.
i am with you on the oil change. i always feel like i am going to get talked into spending $100. i do it but hope i make the right "choices"
i used to be intimidated by making pie crust from scratch and using my broiler. accomplished both and it felt good :o)