The Purpose of "Finding the Beauty"

I have thought a lot about why I blog. I started this blog about 5 years ago to chronicle the life of our first child. So over the years the majority of my posts have been about our children. But for some reason, at the beginning of this year, I started posting quite a bit about my personal thoughts.

So I have asked myself - What's the point? What am I trying to get out of it?  And I heard things from my friends and family like:

"Wow, what's gotten in to you?"

"What's prompted all this blogging?"

"Was it part of your New Year's resolution?"

"Man, you're awesome." - Well, I didn't really hear that exact statement, but I like to think that is what I heard. ;)

I have always journaled. As far back as I can remember I had a diary. My first one was purple with hearts and it had a lock on it. I would write silly things about the boys I liked, the things my friends said to me, and the music I listened to. I would hide the key in my sock drawer, just in case those boys or friends ever got a hold of my diary. A friend recently told me that one time when her parents read her diary, the pastor was in their living room the next morning! Has anything like that happened to you?

Writing down my thoughts continued through high school. It was in college, where I really grew and my journal entries were often times filled with prayers and scripture.

I kept a journal off and on when I got married. But once I entered motherhood, it was sporadic at best. This past 6 months I have felt like I have come out of the "fog" so to speak and my morning routine of coffee and reading has been more consistent. Journaling has become cathartic for me as a make my way through this phase in my life.

John Piper says, "I know not how the light is shed, nor understand their lens. I only know that there are eyes in pencils and in pens" (When I Don't Desire God). And I have to say that is so true. Writing helps me process the thousands of thoughts that flood my mind each day. It brings me back to the Truth. And blogging does the same thing. But it also adds, of course, the public element. I asked myself why am I putting my thoughts out there for others to read? Is it for "a pat on the back," for accolades, for the # of pageviews to spike? While I definitely have to guard myself from that, ultimately I believe it is essential for me in this season of my life. Writing for others to read keeps me honest. It challenges me to think through what I want to say and it forces me to articulate the thoughts in my mind. I believe it has helped me to take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ:

 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:4-5

I also am passionate about motherhood. I am passionate about sharing life with other moms in the nitty-grittiness of it all. And I strive to be honest about the struggles. I strive to encourage other moms, not because I am an expert, but because I value authentic community. I am striving, by God's grace, to find His Beauty in the everyday — in the struggles and in the victories.

the precious girl that made me a mother

I am passionate about women in general. And I think it is important for women to have other women in their life who are going or who have gone through the same thing. It's the whole Titus 2 thing. And I think it is crucial for women to journey together and have a place where we don't feel alone. Ultimately I believe, that community of women needs to be in flesh and blood, but I think an online community serves a purpose as well. It's pretty neat when you connect with someone who lives thousands of miles away. Having a larger community broadens my sense of accountability. When I know that there are other people on this journey reading my blog, it challenges me to practice what I preach.
I want this blog to be a place of honest discussion. I want this to be a place where you know that I love Jesus and that I am keepin it real. I love to talk and debate and have intelligent discussions. And at this phase in my life, it's hard for that to happen in a setting that isn't interrupted a bajillion times by someone needing me to wipe their toosh. So this blog can be a place where we can laugh, talk, and discuss everything from our struggles to loving the least of these to our favorite bits of pop culture. The way I see it, I can be Linda Richman from "Coffee Talk," and when I get veklempted, you can all talk amongst yourselves by all leaving comments. 

What do you think?
Did you have a diary when you were young?
Do you journal now? Why or why not?
Leave me a comment and let me know! ;)

~cheryl~