Recently when a mom I know asked me some advice about her new home-based business, I was flooded with memories of when I left a full-time teaching position to embark on the adventure of a home-based business almost twenty years ago. Instead of heading for the classroom each morning and staying up late grading English papers, I put a load of laundry on and went straight to my computer to get an hour or two of work in before the household was up. Yes, I found I needed to drop tennis league and a daytime Bible study to focus on my goals as a writer, speaker, and consultant. But I found the sacrifices were more than worth it for the benefits.

My stress level decreased and I had more energy for my children (much needed for all kids, but especially when they reach the teen years!). There also was more of me left at the end of the day to pour into their emotional tanks. It wasn't that I didn't work - quite the contrary. I put lots of effort and work into my business. But the time flexibility, the opportunity to attend their sports, have a coke or a bike ride with Alison, throw the ball with Chris before dinner, and be there when they were sick or just needed a listening ear was invaluable. In fact, those two words—“being there�—sums up perhaps the greatest benefits of a home business mom. You can be there for your kids at every stage.

Looking back now since Justin, Chris, and Alison are all three grown and married, I wouldn't trade my years as a home business mom. Not for a big retirement fund, a title, monetary gain, or anything else. I had the best of both worlds - the blessing of being a mother who was actively involved in the lives of my children and the opportunity to have a career, a creative outlet, and a way to make income all at the same time. Now that we have three precious grandchildren and another one on the way, it's still great to have flexibility to put family first and continue my business and ministry.

From not only my own experience, but that of many women I've interviewed through the years—the home-based publicist, graphic artist, cross-stitch kit designer, adoption agency director, the Creative Memories consultant - to name a few, I firmly believe that working from home offers women the best opportunity to keep their priorities straight, make income, engage in a business they love, all the while giving their kids and husband the love and care they need and honoring God with their life. And since I wrote my book Home Business Happiness in 1995, the technology has advanced even more, making home-based businesses even more workable and efficient.

There are many challenges and obstacles to running a home-based business (which cause us to depend more and more on God for His adequacy and strength!), but it is more than worth it.

Cheri Fuller is the author of the best-selling When Mothers Pray which is encouraging mothers and grandmothers around the world to persevere in hope and pray for their kids. She has also written twenty-five other books including her newest gift books, The Fragrance of Kindness: Giving the Gift of Encouragement and My Wish for You: Blessing for Daughters.

Several of Cheri's books have been published in other languages and her books When Children Pray and When Families Pray encourage parents to raise a generation of prayer warriors. Extraordinary Kids is a gold medallion winner, and When Families Pray is a gold medallion finalist. Cheri has been interviewed by hundreds of radio and TV programs, and is a Contributing Editor for Today's Christian Women. Visit her website at www.cherifuller.com.