I’ll be honest with you — I’ve been struggling with my blog focus this year. I’ve wondered if my content is relevant to your needs. Am I only adding to all the noise on this crazy internet! Should I make money doing this? Should I quit?!
Times Change –
A lot has changed since I began blogging eight years ago! It used to be that we simply blogged to share our hearts and lives when the mood struck. But current blogging advice tells us to post religiously, send newsletters weekly, add to that daily Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram — basically invade every bit of our followers’ world!
With 500 million blogs out there — really 😯 — it’s hard for a blogger to avoid these temptations just to be found.
Last year, I had this idea (yup, I got it on the internet) that I might actually make some money doing this blogging thing. But after much frustration, I found it was distracting me from my love of writing (and making my follow-the-rules personality a bit crazy!). So here’s where I’m at — even though it’s hard to gain readers — I just can’t bring myself to play their game! And I bet you’re glad! 😉
I find it super annoying when bloggers I follow won’t stay out of my inbox for more than a few days, and I’m guessing you do too. I get tired of being told I need some amazing, incredible, easy, fast – trick, gadget, schedule, book, or course – in order to be a better person, blogger, mom, wife, plus be instantly rich. I’m sure you get my drift! So I’m stopping all the racket and I’m going back to blogging the way I like it!
Ahhhh
Biblical Truth for a Blogger –
While sorting through my conflicting thoughts, praying, reading, and seeking counsel, I read the book of Titus. I was again reminded that I am the “older woman” Paul speaks of. Now, I’m not completely thrilled to have earned this title 😊 but it’s where I am in life! And I do understand that because of my age and experience, I have a clear calling to meet the Titus 2 commands.
According to Scripture, older women are to encourage / teach / train younger women to:
– love their husbands (love isn’t always easy – we need ideas and help to do this well)
– love their children (it can be really hard being a momma)
– manage / keep their homes (it’s a tough job but it has to be done!)
All of this so “that the Word of God may not be dishonored.”
I’m accepting that God has called me to this journey. At least for now. I will use my gift of writing — and my decades spent journaling to capture and chew on thoughts and ideas — to help “younger” women love the life they’ve been given. And that includes all the emotional, spiritual, digging-in-the-dirt details of how that actually might look in real life.
I also want to make this a place where “older” women feel comfortable having conversations about life in middle age: menopause, empty nest, relationships in marriage after the kids are gone, finding purpose, and more. This season of life can be quite unsettling to navigate. We need friends to help smooth the bumps in the road.
Miscellany –
By the way, you’ll only hear from me a few times a month, more or less as the mood or Spirit strikes. And I will link to a few products I think you’ll find useful. But only things I use and value and possibly some I hope to create — but mostly — I’m offering you some hard-won wisdom and discernment in the realm of wife-dom, mothering, personal and spiritual encouragement, along with home management and care.
Please reach out if there’s anything I can help with. Anything you’d like to get a conversation started on. Shoot me an email with encouraging happenings in your life. I’d love to hear from you! Honestly, blogging can be lonely.
Another thing — my blog hasn’t grown in years, so I’d love it if you’d share my posts with women you care about.
PS – Check out a few of my favorite finds below!
Thanks for your time.
Blessings and prayers as you seek to do your life’s work!
Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5
Encouragement from Emily Freeman!
If you haven’t discovered her podcasts, you’re in for a treat.
She’s calm and balanced and just what I need to center me in God’s will! Enjoy!
How To Organize A Brain Dump
Are you tired of holding your whole to-do list in your head!?
Well, here’s a great post on brainstorming I think you’ll find helpful.
