Time and Money

I know that I talk about being  a mother quite a bit, but having a two year old at home, that is a large part of my life. With taking care of her, working full time, and trying to get as much quality time with my husband (we do not have any of the same days off together, though we do work together - literaly right next to one another) it is hard to feel like I have the time to be with God and feel as if I am doing to best job possible to spread his love through the world. There are so many people who take time to volunteer for various things, and though I would have had this time before my daughter, I really do not have the time with her. I am trying to find a way to see if I can get in a volunteer opportunity once a month, to feel I am doing something beneficial in my community, but it is so hard to find out where to start.

I also wish I had more money to donate to the church, charitable contributions for the homeless, hungry and the sick. Right now, me and my husband are saving up to buy our first home and almost all the money I have is going to the saving up. We lucked out that we had friends who went to a first time home buyers course, otherwise we would not have known one was out there and would have been even more lost when starting this big step in our lives. Knowing what it really takes to save up for and buy a home is overwhelming to say the least. So right now I do not feel I have the money to really contribute financially, and my husband and I are not always on the same page when it does come time to donate money.

I have prayed on this and have found something that truly feels right for me at the moment. I found out that there is a food pantry in my community and I have taken a few cans of food that would have otherwise stayed in the cabinets and donated that. However, since it is a community food pantry, there is only one day a week that donations are accepted, and timing wise, it ends up being the same day (and practically at the same time) I need to drop my daughter off with my mother-in-law on Thursdays while I work. Well, just when I thought that idea was out the window (I wanted to drop off some items at least once a week), I found out that the local grocery store, actually has a bin that anyone one can use to drop off items for the Food Pantry. This is very convenient, and I realized, instead of taking items from home and dropping them off, I can just pick-up a few dollars worth of items and leave them there whenever I do my grocery shopping. I also try to buy a can or two of cat food since they also have a drop off for "Kitty Angels" too which is a great charity for cats. Animals need love too!

I also realized when I was at church the other day, instead of having a yard sale when the spring comes, I can just drop off my old clothes at the bin they have in the parking lot, but that spring cleaning still doesn't feel like enough, people need clothes through out the year. Then it hit me, I am always looking for clearance clothes for my daughter so I can stock-up for the next year, without overpaying for kids clothes since they both ruin and grow out of them so quickly. Well, why not take up a few extra items since I am at the store anyway, and donate some of my clearance picks. This way I can get stuff for my family, while making sure I help out other families along the way.

This may not be perfect, and it may not be for everyone, but I want to ensure I am going above doing the least I can do. The least you can do is just that, the least.  I want to find a way to do more without pushing my family and their needs to the side. And when my girl is in school (I'm not wishing that to come too quickly, I already feel like she's just growing up too fast), I can take another step above and volunteer my free time when she is at school.

I pray each day for new ways to better the world through my small works, and I really do hope that they help. Every one's life runs so differently, that we can not all help out the same way, but trying to find a way that works with your needs, that is what matters.

If there is anyone else out there who is reading this, or any of my future posts, and is either struggling with their faith and needs someone to share their fears and doubts with, or anyone who just wants to share words of encouragement and faith so that everyone can hear, please don't hesitate to leave a note on this blog. This is not just for me, but for anyone who needs to know that they are truly not alone out there and someone else may be going through the same things that they are now, or have gone through the same things in the past.


Thank you all of listening and Gold Bless!