build a life you love

Build a life we love.
This is the first statement of my Motherhood Manifesto.  These 5 words shaped the trajectory of our family’s life.  At the age of 23, with a little love in my womb, I began to think about our future.  What did I want for this child and any more to come?  What were we going to pour into their hearts?  What would life look like?  The beginning of parenthood was nothing like we expected. We were overcome with love. At the moment of birth, I would have sacrificed anything for that little love.  I did not know I had so much love in my heart.  LOVE changes the way you live.  LOVE causes you to build something that will last longer than you.  And so we began to build. There were quite a few changes to the building plan, but we at least started something intentionally. 

With those 5 words there is purpose.  With those 5 words there is action.  With those 5 words there is vision.  Steven Covey puts it this way, “Begin with the end in mind”.  I think that is what we did, with a lot of tweaking along the way to build a life we love.

What do you want to build?  It is never too early or too late to begin the building process with your life.  When Greg and I moved to Omaha in 1997, we decided to build our house.  To find the floor plan that would best fit our young family of five, we walked through the models of the development.  The models provided vision for us to be able to see the layout, size of rooms & openness of the home.  We found the perfect floor plan for our family and began the building process.  During the months of construction, we could see the progress on our property and if we needed to get fresh vision, we could walk through the model to remind ourselves of what our home would look like.  

This idea of a model helps us to have vision to build a life we love.  What is it you want to build? What is the future you want for yourself and your family?  Align yourself to the vision you see. “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,” Proverbs 29:18.  Vision gives us purpose and keeps us on track to what we see. If you do not have a vision for your future or your family’s future, get alone with God and begin to dream with Him about building a life you love.  What is His dream for you?  His dream for your children? Your marriage?  Your legacy? Get started now building a life you love.  There may be tweaks to the plan along the way, but at least you started something. 

When obstacles and resistance come and trials test your life, walk through the model to be reminded of the future you are building.  See yourself in it.  See your family in it.  Feel the emotions of it.  Do not doubt or let unbelief grip your heart. Keep focused on the vision and believe it to come forth.

It is time to build a life you love.