After grumbling for many years about the work compulsion of my dearly loved husband, one day I took a good look at us and had to admit that David was accomplishing the work of ten men, reaching goals, affecting many lives, whereas I was gaining headway in virtually nothing.
It seemed as though I was always behind, always catching up on the housecleaning, the laundry, the decorating. I would stay up late to prepare for company the next day or get up in the wee hours to be ready to welcome people for dinner in the evening. I was always behind!
At that point, my life was racing toward age 30 and, without a doubt, I was trapped by trivia. Somehow I got only the unimportant things in my life done. I wanted to write. I wanted to learn. I wanted to make significant contributions as a Christian in our society. And, here I was (unexpectedly) expecting our fourth child. I was even behind on that!
I realized the basic difference between David and me was in our viewpoint of time. My husband had learned—albeit I often felt a little too well—how to be in control of time. On the other hand, time had always been in control of me.
I thought back to the overdue term papers, the unwritten letters, the belated reports, and I suddenly became avowed—a deep, firm commitment—that, even if I died in the effort, I would become organized, disciplined, and motivated.
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Award-winning author Karen Mains continues to write content for her Christian blog, “Thoughts-by-Karen-Mains.” In so doing, she desires to touch the lives of Christian women and men and help them find ways to walk closer with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through silent retreats, spiritual teaching, women’s retreats, Christian vacation opportunities, and other ministry activities, Karen helps each Christian woman and man receive vital spiritual food.
Karen has long had an interest in Christian hospitality and is the author of the best-selling book, Open Heart, Open Home.
Through her Hungry Souls ministry, Karen serves as a spiritual coach to many Christian women and men, and teaches a mentor-writing class. And, through the Global Bag Project, she is working to develop a network of African women who sew exquisite cloth reusable shopping bags. This microfinance women opportunity helps provide a much-needed sustainable income for struggling African families. For more information on this critically important project, please click here.
For decades, Karen and her husband, David, have served God through religious communications—radio, television, and print publication. The are the co-authors of the Kingdom Tales Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. To find many valuable resources for pastors and churches at the Mainstay Ministries main website, please click here.
Likewise, pastors will find special resources to help them prepare effective, life-transforming Sunday sermons by visiting David Mains’ website by clicking here.
