We have introduced yet another category to the blog which we hope will be a blessing to you. “Letters to my younger self “ was birthed from Titus 2:3-5 where “Paul instructs the older women to teach the younger women.” In this world of social media where we have so much information floating around and people are constantly on their mobile phones or their social networks we decided to step out and reach out to our spiritual mothers. We believe as older woman they are much wiser than us and have had their fair share of battles and victories that they can use to light the way for us as younger women. Our goal for this category is to reach out to the “mature women” around us whom we know to be women seeking after God’s own heart and women we believe to be spiritual mothers. Our vision is that they share lessons God has taught them along the way. Lessons that will help to strengthen and edify the younger women who will read this advice. We really hope this encourages you. For our first letter we caught up with Mrs Tamara Conway
Hie Mrs Conway, Can you tell us little about yourself?
Hi! I am 38 yrs old. Married for 15 yrs. have 4 children. I love working with my hands and being busy. I come from a broken/abused background, which God has been good and gradually healed over the years and I love Ministry and helping women.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be faithful in the little things. Finish what you start. Be open and honest with yourself, and don’t ignore the obvious to get what you want. Relationships are far more than physical, they are first emotional for women, so save yourself for the right one who will honor you In front of God and protect that which is sacred. Keep exercising…..it will pay off in the long run. Forgive and move on. Your worth is not in your education or accomplishments. You can cut the cord on generational curses if you first surrender to God. So much more to say, but for now….this is what I have thought of. Hope it helps!
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you were young?
I wish I would have known that God’s purpose for my life actually involved the pain I experienced as a child. As a teen I ignored it and tried to act as though it didn’t affect me, but it came out in being sexual active and searching for love and acceptance. If I would have known that I was already enough, loved and accepted, I would not have chased some of the dreams and people I did as a teen and young adult.
What are the most important lessons that you’ve learnt in life that you would like to share?
Your past past, your family history, and your brokenness doesn’t have to dictate your future. You, by making some simple choices, can change the entire projection of your life if you choose to put God first.
What would you say are the major values or principles that you live by?
#1. Without God I am nothing and can do nothing.
#2. Pray first, then Wait on God to answer, because he always does.
#3. Honesty with ones self and with others is always the best policy
#4. When things are going good…pray harder.
#5. In marriage, my first and only best friend is my husband.
#6. Protect your mind, you can’t let everyone and everything in there.
#7. Time with God will impact time with others.
What would you say you know now about living a happy and successful life that you didn’t know when you were twenty?
You will make mistakes and are not perfect, so when you fail, because you will, take it in, learn from it and grow! Counseling is not a bad thing. It’s ok to say you need help. Reach out and find Godly women who will invest in your life, which you will in turn invest in others. God NEVER leaves you without answers. Wait on God to answer. Watch the man live his faith before you assume that he is a Christian. You will KNOW them by their fruit!
If a young person came to you asking what’s the most important thing for living a good life, what would you say?
Search out the righteousness of Christ in his word. It sounds so “Typical”, but the word is so practical, and reaches every part and stages of the human life and it experiences. For many of us, we are searching for happiness and what it means to be good. We tend to create our own image of that based on our experiences, upbringing (good or bad), and often times end up overwhelmed and discouraged and angry with God because it just seems too hard or impossible. The truth is that “a good life” example is only given by Christ. Studying His life and his example of what that looks like. Funny thing is, by be holding we become changed, says 2 Corinthians 3:18. The more you behold Him, the more you spend time with Him, the more you look at Him, you will find yourself becoming just like Him. And…..even in those time, you will make mistakes. Because the process is becoming changed takes time, and trial. It takes you seeing who you really are, and thus discovering just how much you really need Him to live a “good life”. Much more could be said, but I’ll stop there.
Lorraine Ngwenya says
Wow!!! More of these please. This is officially my fave work that Women Set Apart does! More more more please. Mrs Conway, what you have shared will go far beyond what you could imagine. Thank you for investing in younger women like myself. Your wisdom is appreciated. Women Set Apart team, I look forward to more of these.