Lexi Shipp is a passionate writer, speaker, and Bible teacher. With a Bachelors in Religion and Masters in Human Services Counseling, both specified in Christian Ministry, Lexi is currently serving alongside her husband as Girls Student Ministry Director at London Bridge Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Working with middle and high school girls for years, she has a heart for connecting all generations of women and championing the next generation for the cause of Christ – starting within her own home as a mom. Lexi serves as a regular LifeWay Girls blogger, the Blog Team Lead for the SBC of Virginia’s Women’s Ministry Blog, and as a part of the SBCV Ministry Wives and Women’s Ministry Strategy teams. To read more of Lexi’s writings or to book her as a speaker, connect with her on Instagram @alexisleeshipp.
We weren’t even to the middle of Thanksgiving week yet and the Black Friday sales posts were taking over. My Instagram stories were overrun with health and wellness influencers talking about all their favorite products and the best sale of the year. One right after the other right after the other, I began to sense that it must be a sale I couldn’t afford to miss. Not if I *actually* care about my health and wellness, right? Not if I care about being a good wife and a good mom…how can I be a good wife and a good mom if I’m not prioritizing taking care of myself? Our family needs these products to support our bodies! A sale I can’t afford to miss, unless I literally can’t afford it.
It didn’t take long before I realized that in the midst of a week where I am supposed to be more intentional than usual about placing my heart in a posture of gratitude, I was feeling very discontent and unsatisfied. Upset that I couldn’t purchase anything I felt we “needed” at the drop of a hat.
But the truth is, I’m the same wife and mom before I was when I saw those social media slides. Are the products beneficial? Sure. But at what expense?
It reminds me similarly of a few social media reels I’ve seen recently where women have said something along the lines of, “Just a reminder, this is what normal homes look like.” Homes are not made up of perfectly curated content – they are made up of love filled moments where the gospel is displayed by imperfect people.
At the end of the day, that’s where my mind and heart should be.
In a season where our hearts may be tempted to follow a pattern of hustle and bustle, feeling the pressure to experience more, gift more, do more…may we rest in our call not to attain or preform, but to steward what HAS been entrusted to us. Sisters, please join me in praying that Jesus captures our hearts this advent season.
