HS + 31 DNA + U = AWESOME YOU!

I am very happy and honoured to introduce you to a wonderful friend of mine, Tita Cook.  I have succesfully persuaded her to be a guest writer on MLM for Christian Women!  Lucky me!!  Tita uses stories from her own life to minister God’s Word to others in an honest and caring manner – there is nothing “holier than thou” about Tita, in fact she is one of the most humble people I know.  Go and get a cup of tea, relax and read about the formula that makes you AWESOME!

I grew up in a family where education was important.  Since both my parents are professionals with university degrees, my siblings and I grew up with the un-said expectation that we would all have university degrees and careers.

I became a dentist and within this field I specialized in pediatric dentistry. I loved both the medical aspect of this profession as well as working with children. However I have to confess that I had also chosen this career because I knew that one day when I would have my own surgery, it would allow me to be my own boss.  This all fitted well with my plans. I wanted to get married one day and have children, but still be able to combine working with being a mother and wife.

I did have my surgery and after working for a couple of years, I did get married. The only ‘problem’ was that I married a South African man and went to live in his country!  Sadly I soon found out that my qualifications were not recognized! And I had to go through a long re-qualifying process.  I was then able to work for a couple of years.  Little did I know how my life was about to change! For the next 15 yrs, my husband’s   job required for us to move to different countries where the rules never allowed me to practice dentistry!  To top this all up, it was never put in written or officially said, but my husband’s company expected spouses not to work!

In the beginning I found this extremely frustrating! But I had to learn to accept this reality, and sooner than later I became aware that being a staying at home mum ‘was a real blessing! I did not have to leave my children in stranger’s hands to bring them up since we never had family support around us during those precious formative years! However deep inside my heart there was a niggling feeling: I loved my children dearly but I still wanted to be able to work and do something more with my life! And the more I thought of this, the more I wondered: “Is this wrong? Should I just be grateful and stay at home being somebody’s mum and wife”?

Time flew and before I knew it, they began going to school. I knew then, that I could begin thinking of working again.  As ready as I felt wanting to work again, it was a scary prospect! I had not worked for at least 5 years and I knew that I could not practice in my profession.  I needed to find work using other skills I had.

This made me feel so vulnerable and insecure! I clearly remember how all of a sudden I began feeling very uncomfortable and threatened every time I met professional women at business functions with my husband. They seemed to have it all together: a good job, functions to attend, a salary, elegant work clothes to wear, a family, a home and much more! Meanwhile I felt inadequate doing the simpler work I could do with my ‘non-professional’ skills.

Have you ever read the description of the ‘Proverbs 31 woman’ in the Bible? In some ways I felt the same when I first came across her! She sounded like ‘Wonder Woman’: compassionate, kind, well spoken, virtuous, intelligent,   good wife, mother, house wife, house keeper, administrator, entrepreneur, charitable and most probably beautiful as well! I hated her!  She was obviously a not just a great wife, mother and house keeper but she was successful in the market-place too!

I have to admit that the more I thought about this woman I asked myself: ‘is she real? is there anybody in real life that can be like that?  She sounded too good to be true.  Thank goodness I did not remain just hating her…. As I kept pondering about her, one day the penny dropped!  I discovered that Proverbs 31 is a poem that presents a pattern for women who want to develop a life of wisdom!

The fear of the Lord inspires people to be faithful stewards of the gifts and talents God gives us all; wisdom is beneficial and productive not just for an individual but for others depending on the way he lives his /her life.   The success of the home requires wisdom, and this poem teaches that wisdom is balanced living, giving attention to domestic and personal responsibilities as well as to business enterprises and charitable work.

I believe that Proverbs 31 is the ‘spiritual DNA ‘available to women who want to develop wisdom and godliness as well as achieve results in their personal, family and business life like those described in this poem.

I have been on a journey of transformation by the Holy Spirit to become more like the Proverbs 31 woman and I have learned many valuable lessons that I would like to share with you:

• Value all aspects of your life:  As a woman it is as important to value yourself as an individual, your role as a single or married woman, as a spouse, wife, mother, daughter, friend, work colleague, boss, employee or employer!

• Ask God the difficult questions in life, HE has the right answers! If I had not asked Him to show me if it was wrong of me wanting to do something else with my life, I would not have discovered the truth contained in Prov. 31.  God’s answer to me was: “Tita it is ok to be a mother and wife but it s also ok for you to seek to do something else with your life because I know the plans that I have for you”.   I did not have to hear only the company that kept telling me I had to just be a ‘corporate wife’ for the rest of my life.

• God will help you become more and more a Proverbs 31 woman!
  I can honestly say that as the Holy Spirit began making this ‘Spiritual DNA’ develop  in my life, I became the most fulfilled I have ever been! I am still a mother, and a wife and a house wife.  But I am also now working outside from home having discovered gifts and talents I never knew God had given me!  Years ago I discovered a passion to share the word of God and its relevance to anybody I have the opportunity to share with.  I would have never imagined myself doing this type of ministry, but here I am and the satisfaction and fulfillment I feel, have never been greater! 

However, as my ministry and opportunities have grown over the years I began facing another issue: As much as I love doing what I do, I live in a real world, with real bills to be paid and expenses to be met.  I began wrestling then with the question: “should I continue ministering without any remuneration or was it ok to be paid for what I am called to do?  

I went to The One who has the right answers and He made me see clearly that the Proverbs 31 woman is godly, wise, works in the house but also outside the house and is obviously remunerated for that work because she invests her profit in new enterprises! I found the answer to my question!

I don’t know who you are, or what your life and circumstances are like, but if you are a woman who has spent a lot of your time being a wife/mum at home and feeling the need to develop other areas of your life, here is a formula that I have tested and highly recommend:

HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER + ‘SPIRITUAL DNA’ OF PROV .31 + YOU = AN AWESOME YOU!

TITA COOK is a gifted, passionate and accomplished public speaker whose unique style of delivery and relating to her audiences brings out the very heart of her messages in real, applicable and practical ways. Tita takes her audiences on a journey beyond words with her unique style of combining real life stories, props and her own experiences to teach people everyday life application of Biblical principles.

Tita believes that a growing emphasis on reaching out into the broader community and seeking to provide a non threatening, fun and inspiring environment aimed at un-churched people is very relevant  to the Australian environment.  Through this format people can discover the life transforming difference of Christ’s message.

Born in Mexico, Tita trained as a Paediatric Dentist but has now graduated from ICI Global University with distinction in a BA in Bible and Theology. Her wide experiences in practical ministry in a number of countries, cultures and languages as well as a natural teaching ability have been combined to produce a multi lingual speaker of broad experience and theological substance, well grounded in real life issues, experiences and realities.

Married to Ian with two adolescent sons, Tita currently lives in Melbourne, Australia and ministers at New Community Ringwood church.