Iron Sharpens Iron

I got an interesting phone call a few days ago. It was a man and he said, "Hello Holly, this is Sam, and your friend Joel gave me your contact info. I don't really have much of a reason to call other than to introduce myself. Joel said you were a really sharp businesswoman in the Nashville community who I must know." (Joel, by the way, was in a networking group with me when I was a recruiter, and is a wonderful businessman, and great family man). Ya'll, I couldn't help but laugh out loud when he said that, and returned his comment with, "Yes, maybe 2 kids ago! I'm not so sharp now, but rather dull." Anyway, we had a good laugh and agreed to meet for coffee soon to talk business.

As I thought about this conversation, I was first of all, very honored that Joel would think of me this way...a sharp businesswoman is quite a compliment! And while I run my own business now, it is nowhere on the level that I was doing business "pre 2nd child." But I also started thinking of the woman I was 3 or so years ago, and the woman I am today. Have I lost it? What do we "career women" sacrifice for our children? Or is it a sacrifice at all? When/if I get back to where I was in my career, how long will it take for me to switch back into business mode, or is my "business brain" gone. Don't get me wrong. I love my job as a mommy, and my life is richly blessed because of my children. But (excuse my transparency), you can't help but wonder if you will be able to hold a professional conversation when that time comes without saying somthing like "May I use your potty?"

As I pondered all of these questions in my mind, I started thinking of the people in my life that have been so dear to me since I have become a stay at home mom. They are very "sharp" women! Even though most of them are in similar situations as me, we have very intellectual conversations, they are just different than what my conversations would be 3 years ago with my colleagues.

All in all, I think I have come to this conclusion. If God wants me back in the workforce, he will help me make that transition just fine. In the meantime, he will continue to put women into my life so like we are told in Proverbs 27:17 we can keep each other sharp. Thanks to all of you who are my iron

Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens his fellow man."