Inspiring words from Kate Gosselin

Like millions of TV viewers, I have been drawn to the TLC program “Jon and Kate Plus 8.” In case you’ve haven’t seen the show (most likely you’ve been living in a cave), it’s about a Pennsylvania family with eight children – twins and sextuplets.

The show follows the family on its journey of life with 10 people in a household. I’ve enjoyed watching it for two main reasons: it’s comforting and it’s realistic. I take comfort in the fact I don’t have eight children. I take comfort in the fact that if this couple can survive with eight children, surely I can survive with one. The family seems real – Jon and Kate squabble and fight. They aren’t always all smiles, but they seem to really love each other and try to do the best they can as parents. Read more about the family here.

The show has its share of critics and people who think Jon and Kate Gosselin have exploited their children for financial profit. I think they’ve been able to give their kids some perks in life they normally would not have been able to afford or coordinate.

Earlier this year, Kate Gosselin published a book titled “Multiple Blessings,” which chronicles the family’s story and includes more about their faith and Christianity than TLC chooses to include in the TV show. (Photo: Kate Gosselin signs copies of “Multiple Blessings.”)

Last night I had the chance to hear Kate speak at my church, Seacoast in Mount Pleasant. The event was sold out and the place was packed with hundreds of women eager to hear from this mega-mom.

At the “Coffee with Kate” event, Kate Gosselin explained how she and Jon were Christians, but how early in their marriage and when their twin girls were small, life was good and they weren’t really relying on or consulting God. (Gee, haven’t we all been there. We’re cruising along, soaking up the blessings and, well, God is in there somewhere.)

But when life tosses us a curve ball, suddenly we run to God, giving him our full attention. Kate talked about how much she and Jon turned to God when they found out they were expecting not one or two, but six babies.

I can relate to Kate, who is Type A all the way and has a strong desire to plan and control her life. Suddenly, she had no control. She turned her worries over to God and accepted the fact this was his plan for her.

I took comfort in the fact she says it took more than two years before she completely came to terms with their child-filled life. My daughter is almost a year old, and I still have trouble accepting my life as a parent and my role as a mother.

Logically, we know life works better when we turn to God. Yet, why is that so hard for us to do? And better yet why is it so hard to do when life is going well? For some reason, we seem to think we know better. We want what we want how we want it and when we want it. I pray I begin to want what God wants how he wants it and when he wants it for me.

Thanks, Kate Gosselin, for sharing your story and for setting an example that God always provides and that he loves us enough to craft the perfect plan.

Kate shared this verse and how, even though she’d know this verse since she was a child, it really hit home when she was pregnant for sextuplets:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)