We had just moved from Chennai, India to Auckland, New Zealand. My husband started designing bridges here. Within a couple of weeks, the boys, 18 and 14, were busy with studies, and Ranjan worked long hours at the office. I realized I could not work as an architect in New Zealand with my Indian qualification. I took that and everything else to the Lord in prayer. 

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, EHV).

Each morning, I wrote out a to-do list. I included cooking, cleaning, pedicure or face pack at home, writing, walking and painting as part of the list. As soon as everyone left home, I started with a time of Bible study and prayer. Then I would shower and get ready, always making sure I had washed, well-ironed clothes on, even at home. I would then do each of the things on the list, cheerfully, praising God for health, the comfort of home, and His presence with me.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart”(Psalm 37:4, ESV).

I learned that ‘delighting’ in the Lord was an action; it had to be done intentionally and purposefully, every moment.

Walking featured on my list every day. I discovered new shops and routes and enjoyed the seasons and colors along the way. Once a week, on Wednesdays, I volunteered at the church opportunity shop in the mornings. I made friends there and enjoyed a cup of tea and biscuits after some hard work.

On Monday evenings I attended a Bible Study Fellowship evening class. Reading, studying, learning and sharing Scripture was a delight!

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth”(Psalm 119:103, NIV).

“I delight in your law”(Psalm 119:70b, NIV).

Once a week, I went to the library and borrowed books on cooking, Christianity, self-improvement and architecture. Sometimes I sat in the bus stop and wrote long newsy letters to family back home. Occasionally, I painted using watercolors. These helped to brighten our home, and little did I know that a few years later, they would be displayed in the local library. When my chores at home were done, I would write and email my articles to publishers in India. Seeing them in print gave me so much satisfaction. Making cards with scraps and colored cards kept me busy as the boys studied in the evenings.

When Ranjan and the boys came home, I was able to greet them with home-made goodies, and dinner was home-cooked, fresh food each night. I learned that money ‘not spent’ was money earned. When Mike and Meshak had their term breaks, I enjoyed time with them. I would drop them off at tennis or at their friends, and we would enjoy TV shows or go for walks. I made sure I baked each week, so we always had cakes to share with visitors and neighbours. Our little home had touches of art, sprigs of garden flowers and was always clean.

Change is inevitable in life. Embracing change has to be intentional and when done God’s way, it is beautiful! I am glad I made the most of those four years at home as Shoba, the homemaker.

“Rejoice always. Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).

During that time I had written out a ‘Thank you, God’ list. It hangs in our bedroom. It reads:

Thank you God:

• I am healthy in body and spirit 

• I can drive 

• I am not in the hospital 

• I am not in jail 

• I am not accused and standing in court 

• I am sane in mind, 

Thank you 

• for our small family 

• for the comfort of home 

• for beauty of creation 

• for family back home 

• for friends......

Being joy ’full’, prayer ’full’ and thank ’full’ helped me see my cup as ‘full’ and overflowing.

As I embraced this new life, God provided a beautiful piano through the hands of a generous friend. I taught music at home for a year. When the homeowner bought us a brand-new oven, I could also bake and sell cupcakes at the dairy nearby for some time. These were very different experiences — teaching music, working in an op shop, baking and selling cakes and seeing my paintings on display — precious and rare and God-ordained. 

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” -Colossians 3:17

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”- Colossians 3:23 NIV

At that time in my life, my calling was to be home as a mother and wife. Today, ten years later, it is quite different. I have been working in a primary school for six years now, teaching English reading and writing to five-year-olds. I am a Bible teacher, a new grandmother and we have grown to a family of six!

When we do our best with what is handed to us, then God does “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV).

If you are at a crossroads, or if you are in a season of waiting, I hope you will be encouraged. Hold on to these verses. Write them down, meditate on them, pray them and live them.

God’s grace is always sufficient, and He enables us to delight in Him!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shoba Ranjitsingh is an architect, writer, a proud mother and an excited new grandmother who works in a Primary school in New Zealand. Shoba enjoys studying God’s word and her role as a STL at Bible Study Fellowship in NZ for 6 years has enabled her to now write and lead Women’s Bible Studies. Helping women study and enjoy God’s word as they embrace each season of life is her prayer as a writer. Long walks, cakes, hymns, coffee, books and quiet family evenings describe Shoba. Ranjit and Shoba live in Auckland.