As I child, I understood the concept of respect but didn’t know the actual word for word meaning.  I thought that everybody understood what respect meant but, since working at New Beginnings, I realize how wrong I was!  Some of the mothers who come into New Beginnings, view respect as, “You aren’t giving me what I want, and therefore, you are not respecting me!”  My favorite false idea of respect is “I will respect you as long as you respect me and do as I want.”  The two play hand in hand.  I then realized just how blessed I was to have the strong Christian upbringing that I had along with the guidance of my parents who taught me to respect others. 

​So, what is respect?  In the dictionary it has a few different meanings but I found two that really seem to nail down the definition.  

​This is the love and respect we give the mothers who come to us looking for a new beginning.  We strive to help them accomplish their goals and grow closer to God through His Word.  We help teach them what God has to say about respect for not only others but for themselves.  I quickly found out that not everybody grew up being respected by others and therefore don’t know how to respect themselves as an adult.  Through daily instruction in God’s Word, we learn together the love that He has for us, and how He sent His Son to die for us.  What a blessed message to share with the mothers and their little ones!

​Do your impressions change as you get to know someone?  Most often, it is the second or third interaction that help us form an opinion of who some one is.  I had asked Letisha if her impression of the program at New Beginnings was any different once she started in the program.  She honestly said that nothing had changed and that if anything, it had just gotten better and Nayari said that she started to feel more comfortable with the residents and staff.  Nayari also said that the program got easier as she started getting into it and that New Beginnings isn't just a program, but a family that eats together and talks together also.

​So, when does a good relationship actually start?  It slowly develops over time through trust and commitment.  We all have friends, and even friends that we consider family.  These are the people who will take us through our good days, bad days, and accept and love us as if they were family.  That is our goal with the mothers who come into the New Beginnings' program.  There is a reason why we call it the New Beginnings Family.  Letisha has been here over a year and she has developed a great relationship with New Beginnings.  She has a good relationship with staff and has proved herself as a positive mentor with the other residents.  When I asked her what she thinks of New Beginnings now that she has been here that long and become a Phase 2 resident, she said that it is everything that she wanted and needed and that she "will have something to say if anybody talks bad about New Beginnings."  Nayari, who has been here over two months said that she now thinks "that the staff is very supportive and they push us (in a loving way) to do better in life and get goals completed so we can be set for life, our future, and our kids."

So what drives us?  How do we build that relationship and trust?  Is it our doing?  No!  It is to God's Glory that we help these mothers and their children.  It was He who commanded us in His Word.  "We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19  "Share with the Lord's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality." - Romans 12:13  God also tells us "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2  This is what drives us and through His Grace, we can help these young women grow closer to Him. First impressions sometimes are not always how they initially seem, but overtime can develop into something beyond what we can imagine!

​Do these sound familiar?  Our busy lives keep us on the move.  We go here and there getting things done.  We are working, cooking, cleaning, watching the grandkids, or still running our own children to practices and games.  What if you were the key to just one mother’s success in the New Beginnings program?  Would you find time then?  How much would that be worth to you if you could help change that one life?   Just that one bit of knowledge that you could share or that one shift that you could cover once a month could make all the difference in the world.

​We have many different volunteers here at New Beginnings.  Some volunteers come in only one time for a school project.  Some come in to help with special projects.  Still others come in once a year to do a Group Night activity.  We do have a great group of volunteers who come in and three of them are very dedicated. I would like to take the time to give them a huge "Thank You" and share a little of who they are.

​​First, we have Julie.  Julie has been with us a long time and comes in about twice a month to have dinner and devotion with our mothers and babies here.  The residents absolutely love having her here and she loves to come in and share God’s Word with them.

​​Last but not least, we have another Julie!  Julie has such a beautiful skill set.  She comes in to help cover staff hours and she has been blessed with a wonderful gift to decorate.  Julie is in charge of our Boutique but has expanded her skills to holiday decorating and organizing.

We have plenty of other volunteers that I would like to mention but we also have plenty of volunteer opportunities if you would like to help make that difference for a mother and her baby.  For more information on volunteer opportunities, click here. 

If you would like to sign up to help out, please click the button below and make a difference in somebody's life.

​Everybody seems to have some reason to complain today.  You might have a coworker who comes to you saying that the extra hours are unfair, the workload is too much, or their salary isn’t enough.  You go home and listen to the kids complaining about school or how they don’t like the dinner that you made.  You turn on the evening news and it is more bad reports and people complaining and protesting the latest issue.  Even at church, sometimes there is grumbling or complaining that the new color of paint is too distracting or the pastor isn’t just exactly to your liking.

The mothers here at New Beginnings are no exception.  There have been many complaints about different aspects of our program and house rules.  It breaks your heart to hear them talk about how their family gave them up or didn’t want them around so they went from house to house or the abuse that happened at home.  Lack of personal transportation seems to be another common complaint.  It is difficult to haul a stroller with baby, diaper bag, purse, and groceries onto a city bus every time you need to run out. 

​What does God tell us about complaining though?  In James 5:9 we are told “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.  The Judge is standing at the door!”  Paul tells the church in Ephesus “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”- Ephesians 4:29.  

The mothers here at New Beginnings have had rougher lives and have seen the hardships that many of us have not.  They, too, have reason to rejoice.  The complaints about the program should be rejoicing that there is a safe place to help them get on their feet and share God’s Word with them.  No matter what their complaints are about their families, they can rejoice in knowing that they are part of the New Beginnings family and are children of God.  Hauling a baby on a bus to get groceries can be a struggle but they can rejoice that they have been blessed with a child, have money to buy food, and a safe place to store and prepare the food they have been blessed with.

How do we know that we should be rejoicing?  Romans 5:3 says “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;”.  We are also told in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!”  This last one is one to truly live by.  “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

As a final thought, I would like to share with you Romans 15:13 as my prayer for you as you continue to follow Him.
 
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

​What??  We not only have to believe in God, grow in our knowledge of Him, share His Word with others, but now we have to live our lives according to His Will?  

Think of it this way: Without telling others what your faith is, would they know that you are a Christian just by watching your actions?  How about your bank?  Would they know?  Would your records show just shopping sprees, bill payments, and groceries or would there also be donations to your church, food pantries, or other nonprofits?  Would your neighbors know that you are Christian even if you never speak?  Would they see your car pulling out of the driveway every Sunday morning with you in your Sunday best?  Would your friends see you acting like a follower of Christ or would they see just another person of the world?  If you are not sure if people can see that you are a Christian or not, perhaps you should re-evaluate if you are truly Living the Faith.

​How can you live the faith?  Well, besides some of the things that I mentioned above, God tells us another way to show that we are His children.  There are many times throughout His Word that he tells us to help others.  Here are some examples:
 
Deuteronomy 15:11 – There will always be poor people in the land.  Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
 
Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way your will fulfill the law of Christ.
 
Hebrews 6:10 – God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
 
John 15:12 – My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
 
Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
 
Proverbs 19:17 – Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
 
James 2:14-17 – What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

​My question for you:  What have you done to help those in need?  Did you help your friend move or did you find a way out?  Did you stop by your neighbor’s house to help shovel their driveway when you knew they struggle in their old age?  Have you given of your time and talents?

If you feel that the Holy Spirit is moving you to do more, step it up and help out.  Did you know that even a $10 donation can help a mother in need?  Why not just send in the $10?  You can do it by clicking the link below.  It can do a world of good to help another person and you can continue to LIVE THE FAITH!

​What do you do?  Some will take a walk while others will sit and have a glass of wine.  What about that small bit of ice cream in the freezer?  No matter what your coping mechanism might be, you were given the skills to take that break and pull yourself back up.  You might have family or friends who you can talk to and help you work through the pain and sadness.  You pray, hope, and look for a better tomorrow.

​What if you didn’t have the skills it takes to cope with your bad day?  What if you didn’t have a strong enough faith to go to God for help?  What if you didn’t have a fridge or freezer to keep that little bit of ice cream or you don’t have the family or friend support to help you work through your problems?  What happens then?  Many people fall into depression.  The hurt and abuse of their past along with the struggle of their today does not bring much hope for tomorrow.

​Did you know that many of the young women who apply and are accepted into New Beginnings admit to be suffering from depression?  They have seen no hope for a brighter future for themselves or their babies.  A kindness from some one only brings a temporary relief from the sadness and struggle.  Did you notice that after a bad day, you are not as productive as you usually would be?  Maybe you don’t sleep as much or you hurt a bit.  For those who suffer from depression, this is an everyday bad day.  Every day it is a struggle to do the simplest of tasks.  When it is really bad, even getting showered and dressed is a task that proves to be too complicated so to ask them to go out and work, would be asking the impossible.  The feelings of worthlessness and sadness just increase after not being productive.  Its an endless cycle.

In this blog I talk mainly about depression due to circumstance and situation.  Of course, there are other reasons for depression and by no means am I trying to overlook or ignore them.  Sometimes it is really a chemical imbalance and your mind is wired different and therefore experience depression.  In this case, seeking out a professional who will be able to treat you effectively would be the way to go.  Another form of depression that we might see a lot at New Beginnings would be postpartum depression.  This is very common in new mothers as there are so many changes happening not only in a woman's environment but also in her body.  For more information, resources, and tips and tricks to help combat these baby blues, check out the website below by clicking on the button called "Baby Blues".  This article was written by Jackie Edwards who had gone through her own baby blues and found ways to help through research and learning.  Take a peek and learn some strategies to help yourself and others you love who may be going through it.

​Christina Pritzlaff is married with two children. She has completed Early Childhood 1 & 2 classes, Infant Toddler classes, and completed the coursework for her Associates degree in Child Development. Christina splits her time between spending time with her family and working at New Beginnings. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, camping, fishing, reading, and doing counted cross-stitch.

​Where does New Beginnings fit in to this?  Well, take that single, struggling mother and give her a safe place where she can lay down at night with her baby and know that those few possessions she has, won’t get robbed from her.  Give her love and support.  Guide her toward resources for food and education.  Give her diapers, wipes, towels and blankets for her baby.  Teach her about God’s love for her and her child.  All of a sudden that cry doesn’t mean the same thing.  It might mean hope and a future now.  It might mean that they can now pass that love onto their child.  With a warm place to live and baby’s needs taken care of, the focus of the mother goes from Survive to Thrive.

​It is the beginning of a new year!  It is a year to start over, start fresh, and have a new beginning.  Many people make New Year’s resolutions to achieve something that they want that they don’t already have.  Your new year’s promise to yourself could be to stop smoking, lose some weight, finally get those bills paid, take that trip that you have putting off, or many other things that you want to achieve in the coming year.

​While setting goals for ourselves is good and healthy to do, we shouldn’t lose sight of the things that we already have.  God has blessed each and every one of us richly but sometimes we are so focused on what is to come, we fail to see what we already have.

​Do you have any blessings or thoughts that you would like to share with us?  Comment in the section below to tell us what God has blessed you with this year.

​What sets Christians apart from the world?  Why do we have the hope that we have?  We put so much of our faith and trust in God…but why?  In Peter’s letter to the church in Rome he writes:

​“But in your heats revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect,” - 1 Peter 3:15

The answer is right at our fingertips.  We have access to Bibles at home, church, and scripture on the internet.  Most of the time we can access God’s Word right on our smart phones.  It is amazing how quickly we can read what God promises to us and yet how little we view God’s Word on a daily basis.  Could you imagine scrolling through God’s Word and reading what He is saying to us as often as we scroll through our Facebook feed?  I am blessed in my job here at New Beginnings because I get the chance to read and teach God’s Word on a daily basis.  Here is what I found and why I put my hope in Him:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:31

The Lord will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. – Psalm 121:7-8

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. –Matthew 11:28

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. - Romans 8:25

​I could go on and on about what the Lord promises to us.  There are definitely more in the Holy Scriptures that I could share with you.  As you can see, we are promised that He will take care of us.

​Why will God take care of us?  How do we know this is truth?  The answers are quite simple. God is love.  God loves us.  He always has.  We call Him “Father” and we are His children.  For those of you who are parents, you know the kind of love that you have for your own children and how fierce that love is.  Now imagine what kind of love our perfect Father has for us.  As parents, we pretty much think we know what is best for our children.  God always knows what is best for His children.  All of them.  All the time.

​Here at New Beginnings, some of the mothers are just learning about God’s (Agape) love for them and what His plans are for them and their babies.  Daily devotions, weekly Bible Studies and weekly church services are all ways in which we help our young moms grow to know God’s love for them and they slowly, through the Holy Spirit, learn to put their trust and hope in Him.

​Please use the comment section to share your own stories about how you have seen God’s hand in your life and why you put your hope in Him.

​Our moms here at New Beginnings had plans too.  They were perhaps planning on continuing the struggle to support themselves, to find yet another shelter who would take them in, or perhaps they had no plan at all and was just living day to day in an effort to survive.  What a wonderful thing that God’s Plan brought them to New Beginnings!  Each mother now has a safe and stable place to have her baby.  They learn new skills and hear God’s Word daily.  The mothers here are gaining an education to get a degree and will then be able to find a job to be able to support themselves.  I’m sure that being a young, single mom with no place to go was not in their plans but according to God’s Plan, it brought them here to make a New Beginning.

​How has God changed your plans?  In the comments section below, let me know how God has led you to where you are now?

​Christina Pritzlaff is married with two children. She has completed Early Childhood 1 & 2 classes, Infant Toddler classes, and completed the coursework for her Associates degree in Child Development. Christina splits her time between spending time with her family and working at New Beginnings. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, camping, fishing, reading, and doing counted cross-stitch.