standing with hope

By Molly Klima

“Are you still writing?”

Ah, great question. I’ve been getting this a lot lately. The answer is “yes” but it is looks different. When I started this blog two years ago I was certain about the timing and told myself I’d give it one year. That one year was more fun and encouraging and impactful to me than I ever could have imagined. God’s grace and mercy was abundant and evident. Last year led to another fun writing project and was quite frankly a year of trying to put somethings back together after 2023 tried to take us out. So here it is, the blog is two years old and life is, of course, in a different season.

I’ve stopped taking assignments from Toledo Parent. Last January our pastor asked me to consider editing a monthly devotional that our church was publishing. I jumped into this editing opportunity and I love it. It’s called The Daily and you can check it out here. Each devotional covers a sermon series which is about 4-5 weeks, one devotion per day. Editing takes quite a bit of my time and energy. It’s been a great learning experience for me and working with others is life giving to my soul. I’m slowly getting into the writing aspect of this. If there’s anything I miss about working outside of the home it’s having co-workers to collaborate with.

That being said, there’s only so many hours in a day. A former co-worker once told me that staying home with your kids when they are older can be more important than when they are young. This has proven to be true for us. This tween/teen stage is my favorite so far and being home has been so helpful in dealing with new issues that have come up, and just to be present for all the things that are changing. What goes into supporting them and loving them well in this season naturally takes up more of my “free” hours than I could have imagined, as naive as that may sound. I’m so proud of these guys and witnessing their growth into young men is quite possibly the greatest privilege of my life.

I think about my blog every day. I pray often. The reality is that obedience in this season doesn’t look like reaching out as much as it does reaching in. I’d been praying for a way to serve my church other than serving in the kids ministry, which we’d been doing for years but was never my forte.(HUGE shoutout to all the kids ministry directors and volunteers whose hearts thrive in there!) The Lord has answered that prayer. My capacity for reaching out to the wider world has been decreased. My capcity is much more filled with reaching into my household and my inner circle.

There’s a multitude of unfinished writings in my drafts folder that I hope make their way out to you all in the next 12 months.

All of this has led to the reminder that all the work we do is important, regardless of how outward and public it may or may not be. I didn’t write about it as I once may have, but part of Black History month was spent talking with an educator in our son’s school who for the first time in her teaching career was afraid to celebrate Black History in her classroom and had decided not to. that is until my son respectfully asked her about this and the teacher and I were able to have our own dialogue. She needed support. She changed her mind. My son and his classmates were all excited and had great time with her plans.

Whatever is in front of you, do it well. Following God’s leading in your life will look different at different times.

The glamour of one season shouldn’t compare to the glory He receives in all seasons.

I love you all. I miss being here on the regular. Be well and take care of each other. I hope to see you soon.