A Pivotal Moment

When I was growing up, I remember my mom diligently writing in her planner. Not the kind of planner that we think of that is leather bound with “to do” lists. But rather, an ordinary spiral bound notebook. She would use this notebook religiously, and would go to her favorite chair and write… and write… and write. Being a little girl, I knew that this notebook must be important—and it was.

My mom would write everything in her notebook. She started in January for the fresh new year and she would plan what she wanted to do and how she was going to do it. She paid very close attention to detail; no task was too small to write. Her months were broke down into days, and each day had a goal. With a scripture at the top, she would write down what she wanted to accomplish—from what she was going to wear, to what she was going to make for dinner and everything in between. My mom’s favorite scripture was, and still is, “This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 NASB.) Her life is an example of this verse. In her notebook, she had plenty of paper, which seemed endless at times and she loved to write and tear out lists such as our chores (I never did like this part of her planner). I specifically recall receiving one of these “tear outs” at seven in the morning after a late sleepover, my eyes were blurred and could barely read her long list. She had warned me to not stay up late… I guess she wasn’t kidding!

My mom was also tireless in her efforts in taking good care of our emotional well being. I remember a time in my life where this effort was most significant. A boy in my eighth grade class called me “chunky” in front of all who could hear on the school grounds. This was something my fragile esteem was not ready for, and I suffered trying to get through the rest of the day. When I finally got home from school I tried to stay composed and simply report to my mom about the hurtful slur. I failed. Miserably. And while blubbering and unsuccessfully drying my nose and eyes, told her what happened and expressed that maybe, just maybe, this boy was right. She sat me down and first expressed how offended she was! Then, she reached for her notebook. And together, we planned a way for me to lose a little weight. Not because she agreed with that boy in my class, but because she wanted me to be the best possible me, for me. She wrote out my nutritious meal and exercise plan for losing weight on the crisp white pages of her planner. At the time, I went to a one-room schoolhouse, and we lived close enough to walk, so we agreed that I would walk to and from school and home for lunch. She tore out our plan for success, gave it to me with a smile, and said she was with me all the way. Within a month, I had lost my “chunkiness” and can you believe that same boy asked me to be his girlfriend? My reply was easy, “No way!” Oh, how sweet it is.

You can see how much this planner of my mother’s impacted me. I associated healing and goals for success with planning and saw results! It was a pivotal moment in my life and little did my mom know, she was setting me up with an amazing life skill. This method of planning gives me the vision to go for what I am made to do and make everything I do—done well.

Do you have a pivotal moment?