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May 23-June 6
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Rhonda J. Smith is a former college speech
instructor & communications coordinator
turned full-time homemaker & journalist. The
writing of this committed wife and mother
who earned her Bachelor’s degree in
journalism and a Master’s degree in
communication from Wayne State University,
Detroit, has been featured in The Detroit
News, Newsday (New York), Chicago
Tribune, Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI),
Guideposts, and Charisma Magazine.
Rhonda frequently speaks at ministry
functions, writes and edits newsletters for
Christian ministries, and teaches public
speaking workshops. Three times a week,
she encourages women to lean on God's
strength instead of their own through her
blog, Musings of a (Recovering) Strong Black
Woman. She, her husband and three sons
attend Evangel Ministries in Detroit, where
they live.
Email Rhonda Smith:
rhonda@eewmagazine.com
Connect on Facebook:
Facebook.com
instructor & communications coordinator
turned full-time homemaker & journalist. The
writing of this committed wife and mother
who earned her Bachelor’s degree in
journalism and a Master’s degree in
communication from Wayne State University,
Detroit, has been featured in The Detroit
News, Newsday (New York), Chicago
Tribune, Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI),
Guideposts, and Charisma Magazine.
Rhonda frequently speaks at ministry
functions, writes and edits newsletters for
Christian ministries, and teaches public
speaking workshops. Three times a week,
she encourages women to lean on God's
strength instead of their own through her
blog, Musings of a (Recovering) Strong Black
Woman. She, her husband and three sons
attend Evangel Ministries in Detroit, where
they live.
Email Rhonda Smith:
rhonda@eewmagazine.com
Connect on Facebook:
Facebook.com
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In my early 20s, I had it all figured out: I
would be a foreign newspaper correspondent
and occasionally fall in love with some
illusive ignoble flirt. Maybe I would get
married. Maybe I would have children. For
sure I would do my own thing, never bound
by traditions. But I hated newspapers and
got tired of illicit love. Then true love, my
Jesus, found me and set me aright,
somewhat, because I still had my own
notions for my life.
In my late 20s, I was an academic and
married to Flynn.
would be a foreign newspaper correspondent
and occasionally fall in love with some
illusive ignoble flirt. Maybe I would get
married. Maybe I would have children. For
sure I would do my own thing, never bound
by traditions. But I hated newspapers and
got tired of illicit love. Then true love, my
Jesus, found me and set me aright,
somewhat, because I still had my own
notions for my life.
In my late 20s, I was an academic and
married to Flynn.
About the Writers
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Some didn't like my decision to quit my tenured teaching job with top seniority.
Others questioned why I would "waste" my degrees as a stay at home mom.
Some thought my homeschooling would deprive Joshua socially and academically.
Still others, after putting him in public school, thought Joshua would have trouble socially and
academically.
With each decision I welcomed the critics because I was clear about two things: why I parent
and who I was parenting. Malachi 2:15 (ESV) says God wants us to have children to produce
"Godly offspring." And Proverbs 22:6 (KJV), us parents' favorite, says "Train up a child in the
way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This verse has been translated
in the way he should go, but the literal Hebrew is in his way he should go, meaning in the way
God created the child to go--his purpose for living, for bringing God glory.
These verses have been the foundation of my parenting journey. They have guided me in
determining where I would work, in what school to enroll the children, who they should play
with, what activities to put them in, where they should serve, who they should serve, the season
for the involvement and all the small, everyday decisions in between these big ones. As a
married woman, my first job is to honor my marriage. Malachi 2:15 tells us that, too. And the
reason for having a strong marital union is to raise Godly children. It stands to reason, then, that
for single moms and dads, parenting has to be the first priority. We are all responsible for raising
children who will strengthen the Kingdom of God. We have to put the Kingdom first.
The best way to raise Godly children is to train them to be who God intended them to be. The
only way we know who God created our children to be is to seek Him for revelation. The only
way we know how to raise them "in their way" is to seek God and be sensitive to His Holy Spirit.
Godly counsel is great and biblical, but we can't confuse that with others' opinions based on their
experience and even the desires of our hearts. We have been called to parent the children God
gave us and He will unveil the perfect plan for their lives.
I want this column to play a part in helping you develop the perfect plan for each of your
children's lives. Infuse what you can use, always working to put the Kingdom first.
Did you enjoy Rhonda's very first column in EEW Magazine. Email our new mommy writer at
rhonda@eewmagazine.com and let her know you were blessed!
Others questioned why I would "waste" my degrees as a stay at home mom.
Some thought my homeschooling would deprive Joshua socially and academically.
Still others, after putting him in public school, thought Joshua would have trouble socially and
academically.
With each decision I welcomed the critics because I was clear about two things: why I parent
and who I was parenting. Malachi 2:15 (ESV) says God wants us to have children to produce
"Godly offspring." And Proverbs 22:6 (KJV), us parents' favorite, says "Train up a child in the
way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This verse has been translated
in the way he should go, but the literal Hebrew is in his way he should go, meaning in the way
God created the child to go--his purpose for living, for bringing God glory.
These verses have been the foundation of my parenting journey. They have guided me in
determining where I would work, in what school to enroll the children, who they should play
with, what activities to put them in, where they should serve, who they should serve, the season
for the involvement and all the small, everyday decisions in between these big ones. As a
married woman, my first job is to honor my marriage. Malachi 2:15 tells us that, too. And the
reason for having a strong marital union is to raise Godly children. It stands to reason, then, that
for single moms and dads, parenting has to be the first priority. We are all responsible for raising
children who will strengthen the Kingdom of God. We have to put the Kingdom first.
The best way to raise Godly children is to train them to be who God intended them to be. The
only way we know who God created our children to be is to seek Him for revelation. The only
way we know how to raise them "in their way" is to seek God and be sensitive to His Holy Spirit.
Godly counsel is great and biblical, but we can't confuse that with others' opinions based on their
experience and even the desires of our hearts. We have been called to parent the children God
gave us and He will unveil the perfect plan for their lives.
I want this column to play a part in helping you develop the perfect plan for each of your
children's lives. Infuse what you can use, always working to put the Kingdom first.
Did you enjoy Rhonda's very first column in EEW Magazine. Email our new mommy writer at
rhonda@eewmagazine.com and let her know you were blessed!
I told Flynn that I would take any child we had to my academic conferences because I didn't
plan to miss any professional opportunities. Four years later we had our first son and I had a
change of plans. I was no longer interested in conferences, just interested in having confidence
to parent and teach well without neglecting my husband and home. I wanted enough energy to
play with and pour God's word into Joshua; prepare lesson plans, check papers and lecture;
pamper my husband; and get the grime off my floors. But with the daily grind of crisscrossing
town to get to the sitter and to work, little was working for me. After much prayer, my husband
and I decided that our 10 year plan for me to leave the workforce had come three years early.
With all that was failing, we knew that Joshua suffered the most.
plan to miss any professional opportunities. Four years later we had our first son and I had a
change of plans. I was no longer interested in conferences, just interested in having confidence
to parent and teach well without neglecting my husband and home. I wanted enough energy to
play with and pour God's word into Joshua; prepare lesson plans, check papers and lecture;
pamper my husband; and get the grime off my floors. But with the daily grind of crisscrossing
town to get to the sitter and to work, little was working for me. After much prayer, my husband
and I decided that our 10 year plan for me to leave the workforce had come three years early.
With all that was failing, we knew that Joshua suffered the most.
I needed to quit so Joshua could be with me
apart from the morning rush, drive time,
bedtime routine and occasional sunset play
date. I needed to know that his clamoring was
just three-year-old antics and not from having a
partially-engaged mom. I don't know if Joshua
fully appreciated my move, but I knew I was
confident he would get the knowledge and skills
he needed to be the prayer warrior, praiser and
preacher God had called Him to be.
apart from the morning rush, drive time,
bedtime routine and occasional sunset play
date. I needed to know that his clamoring was
just three-year-old antics and not from having a
partially-engaged mom. I don't know if Joshua
fully appreciated my move, but I knew I was
confident he would get the knowledge and skills
he needed to be the prayer warrior, praiser and
preacher God had called Him to be.
