Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Mott.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Natalie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Whoa! That is a loaded question. LOL. My story has many complexities but in brief. My daughter and I moved to Katy in 2005 by way of Hurricane Katrina. She was 5 1/2 years old at the time, and now she will be turning 21 soon. We were in a hotel for a few days. We moved to a shelter at a local church in Katy a short time after. I knew almost immediately that I would not be returning to New Orleans, and we would make Katy our home. We have not looked back since.
I have been a single mom for almost 21 years, it has been hard, but God has been with us every step of the way. My daughter is in college and thriving. I recently transitioned from the corporate world to full-time ministry. It has never been my desire to work in full-time ministry, but I am so glad I made the change. I currently work as the Resource Planner for Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore. I never thought God could ever love a girl like me, especially with all I had done, so this was never on my radar, but God has shown me that my life experiences were filling out an application for the job he has always planned for me.
A considerable part of my life is a blur because of all the struggles and various obstacles I was going through, but today, I realize it was preparing me for where I am today.
I have to be honest there were so many days I was mad at God, but at the time I didn’t realize how much he was protecting my daughter and I. He always had a rescue and recovery mission in my mind for my life. I remember when my daughter was younger. She spilled a cup of juice all over the bathroom floor. I instructed her to clean it up. I watched her wipe it up as best her little-girl-self could when she finished. I stepped in and dropped to my hands and knees with the rag and went straight for the grout. I scrubbed the sticky that was left in the crevices. I mopped the places that she didn’t know to reach. I knew where the mess remained. I found the hidden dirt that she couldn’t clean.
Listen, I learned that my mess is too much to clean up. God had to come in and do it. God reaches past the polished surfaces into the crevices that we try to hide. Trust me; I ran the rag repetitively over the surface of my life. But there remained a dark, sticky mess in deeper places. He reached past the shiny and to the dark places that I couldn’t make clean. I have learned there’s nothing that’s such a mess that God’s not willing to clean it. Moving to Katy was the best decision I have ever made. It was a fresh start and helped me to break a cycle in my life that was breaking me.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has not been smooth at all. I dropped out of high school at a young age, and I had to go back to school to get my GED. I went back to school immediately after having my daughter to obtain it. There was something in me that knew I would not make it far without it. I was a teen mom, so that came with countless struggles, but I was determined to change my environment. I can honestly say that I have been blessed with a community of people that have helped me along the way. I keep a notebook with everyone’s name, who has come alongside me throughout my life to give guidance and counsel. Without them, I would still be wandering hopelessly.
I faced numerous struggles from relationships to financial struggles and everything else in between. I made so many poor choices, but I never quit. I continued to persevere, no matter what. I knew that I was wired for struggle, but I also knew that it was only temporary.
My advice to young women would be not to make permanent decisions based on a temporary circumstance. Your life will change, and things will turn around. You have to keep showing up even if you have to cry through it, but don’t ever stop showing up. You never know when God will alter your life or who you will encounter that will elevate you to the next phase of your life. It all works out in the end. I wish I would have known that when I was starting. I cried and worried so much, but now that I am on the other side, I can tell you that it will be okay!
Also, I would tell them to find a community or an organization that’s committed to helping them move forward. When I was coming up, I did not even know that there were programs that helped kick start your journey, but I will say do not sign up if you are not serious or committed to participating in the change you want to see in your life. The choices we make are critical to the change that will occur in our lives.
I want young women to know that there will be bumps in the road, but they have what it takes to navigate through all of life challenges. Believe in yourself. Even if things seem impossible, do not get distracted by how long the process takes. I did not know that it would take over fifteen years for God to carve out space for me in a role I wasn’t even seeking, but remain faithful in the small things in He will reward you with so much more!
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I currently work in the resource department at Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore. It entails so much. In short, I handle all things relating to new product development, and it is my sweet spot. I love the creativity involved. I also manage our inventory control for various products. I love being able to create resources that will offer hope to women all over the world. Outreach is another component of my job. Last year we partnered with Life House Houston to teach Bible study, and I still do not have the words to describe what that meant to me. I also consider myself a novice speaker. I have had many opportunities to share my personal story with many organizations. I believe a qualification for helping others find God in their stories often requires that you look at the truth of your life and unlock the most painful parts of your own story.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Oh yes, as a young girl, I loved bringing people together and making sure no one was overlooked. I remember a time when I was about nine years old. My mom bought me a bike for Christmas. It was a pink and purple ten-speed bike. She firmly told me to now allow anyone to ride it. I took my bike outside for a ride, and a friend of mine didn’t get anything for Christmas. I recall the sadness on her face. I thought to myself well; my mom didn’t say that she couldn’t ride the bike with me, so I jumped on the back of the bike and let her ride. I recall her having the biggest smile, but shortly after, she made a sharp turn, and my foot got caught in the spokes.
My mom spanked me as she was cleaning my wound (LOL), but the pain didn’t bother me because I just remembered how happy my friend was to be riding a bike for Christmas. I also got into a fight with my best friend in the schoolyard when I was a little girl because she was mean to another girl on the bus. I have always stood up for people, and defended the weak. I would ever pick the least likely to win for my team when I was captain, although others would be so mean and always wanted to select first to get the best people. We didn’t always win, but being chosen made them feel seen and known. All of these experiences play a huge role in what I do now. I advocate for the vulnerable and help them understand how significant they are in a much bigger story. Every experience has prepared me for where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Email: n_mott09@hotmail.com
- Instagram: nataliecmott
Image Credit:
Selena Schorken, Maggie Gomez Photography and Kendy Kam Photography
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