Shoba's Corner: Journal Your Journey
A few months after my mother passed away I was leafing through her recipe book and came upon this section at the back where she had noted down some interesting things- she had written it at a time when she was away from home, in the UK, missing India as a young mum. Being a young mother myself at that time, I was happy to read that my mother too had struggled with time management, finding time to pray, bad moods and feeling alone. She also had noted that her mother’s prayers helped her at that time. This was in a sense my mother’s journal. Amma passed away 2 years after I had my first son, so this journal was very special for me.
Journaling can be done in many ways depending on your interest and the time you have. But our aim here is to pass on God’s faithfulness and goodness in our lives to our children,
“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.”-Psalm 78:4b NIV
This verse clearly states that we have to tell our children what God has done for us. I love writing and so I have a beautiful notebook in which I note down prayers, answers to prayers, my thank yous to God. My library of my journals has uplifted me often and I go back to them now and then. Sometimes I note down verses from hymns sung at church.
‘Low at his feet lay they burden of carefulness
High on His heart He will bear it for thee
Comfort thy sorrows and answer thy prayerfulness
Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.’
As I am praying a lot for guidance for my adult children at this time in my life, the words of this hymn struck a chord with me. I dwelt on the words. That God would bear my burdens high on his heart was so comforting. I was encouraged that God would guide my children and give them the best.
My journal also has verses which stand out to me during my study time. I draw them out or write them using colors. When I flip back in my journal I can see that God’s plans were always better than mine and that gladdens my heart in those ‘wait’ times.
If you would rather have something tangible in front of you, here are a few other suggestions.
We have a Wall of Praise in our home. This is a wall of pictures. It starts off with our engagement picture taken in 1988 in India, me in a pink silk sari, curly hair tied back and both of us strong and young and glowing, grinning from ear to ear. The wall showcases the 32 years of God’s presence with our family they ways in which he sustained and uplifted us. Our wedding, baby photos of our boys, school and college days, moving to New Zealand, the boys finding work, friends and family, wedding of our son, colorful photos of our daughter- to love and the newest addition- our little grandson Nivin.
A thank you jar is a good one for families with school going children. Place a large jar with little note cards and pencils nearby. Every time someone in the family is grateful they write down their thank you to God and drop it into the jar. Once a week these are read out and prayed for.
If you would rather write notes in your device or in your cookery book go ahead and do that. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen or at your computer that may be a good thing to do.
I have a scrap book of answered prayers and divine surprises! This is the verse on the cover of that book.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord: yes I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”-Psalm 77:11-12 NIV
As a mother I am sure, like Mary, you treasure a lot of things in your heart as you see your baby take his first steps, as your little girl plays with and feeds her dolls, as they start school and choose their careers.
“Mary treasured up all these things in her heart and pondered them.”-Luke 2:19NIV
So why not note them down? Motherhood is messy and magical all at once and you do want to treasure the moments with God.
BONUS RECIPE
Easy Chocolate Cake
Ingredients:
+Sieve 1 ½ cups of plain flour ½ cup cocoa powder
+ 1 tsp baking powder
+ 1 tsp baking soda together
+1 egg
+½ cup oil
+½ cup plain yogurt
+1 cup sugar
+1 tsp vanilla essence
+Warm water (about ⅓ cup)
Sieve together all dry ingredients
Add remaining wet ingredients, mix together until you get a well combined mix.
Pour into a greased and floured cake tin.
Bake for 35 min. in a 180 Celsius/350 Fahrenheit degree oven.
Enjoy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shoba Ranjitsingh is an architect, writer, a proud mother and an absolutely thrilled grandma to little Nivin. Shoba enjoys studying the Bible and her role as STL at Bible Study Fellowship in Auckland 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 everyday ordinary life is her prayer as a writer. Long walks, cakes, hymns, books, quiet family evenings, chatting with family across oceans describe Shoba. In this phase of life, Ranjit and Shoba enjoy feeding the birds, smelling the roses, pursuing their hobbies and being grateful for all that God has called them to do. Shoba works as a Learning Support in a Primary School in Auckland and everything simple, honest and true bring her joy!