Sometimes I wish we were the kind of family who gave a kiss and waved good-bye at the same time each morning. I find myself considering those who have their nightly ritual--with Daddy reading aloud and kids sitting and listening. I imagine what dinner all together every night of the week might look like. And I wish...
But, we are being spent for the Lord. It doesn't look like what I ideally invision, true. And yet, this is what I pray for deep down inside. More than having Saturdays to work around the house and Sundays to do fun things as a family, I want my life to be a drink offering for the Father.
So when I start to wish, I remind myself that it's a good thing He grants the right prayers and not every prayer.
We are all unique. God requires something different from each one. Your sacrifice may look different than mine, but when offered freely and in love it is a sweet aroma to the Lover of our souls.
ReplyDeleteThere will be seasons when what you have will appear to be lacking, especially when it is different from others. When you are tempted to resent the lack, for it indeed may be real, remember the One for whom you willingly gave it up. He is worthy of whatever He requires and will never allow us to suffer real harm. If He wants it, it must be that we don't really need it, for He supplies all of our needs.
A hubby who is home with regular routine often sounded nice to me, too. I would read about such homeschool settings or hear a friend recite the pattern established each evening in their home and more than a tinge of jealousy would sweep over me, settling at times into resentment. Dinnertimes with devotions, read-aloud around the fire before bedtime -- what novel ideas. But He has more than made up for it. Our family tapestry has been woven into a fabric different from that, but He is more than present in the weaving. Therein lies all the preciousness. It is not in any other thing -- only in His presence.
Keep Him at the heart of all you do and your family will be rich. True, we must use wisdom, represent Him with diligence, and there is a beautiful balance to seek after, but never at the expense of true obedience and faith. And since you want to follow Him, He will lead. He really will.
Love you and love to read about your everyday world. Thanks for posting!
Your mom is a great writer! I always like reading her stuff! SO anyways. Keith and I have been thinking the same things. We need to spend time doing good things with our kids as a family. His schedule is quite restricting right now, making it hard for us to get much time as a family. Even most weekends he has to work on his lesson plans, cover letters, or resumes. This is where we are right now. I pray one day when he is a great teacher, we will be able to get into such a routine. Although our husbands can't be there for now, we could be the ones doing so for now. I used to read to Hayla every night. After one of your father's sermons I started to incorporate the Bible first and then Hansy (Hans Brinker). We still have not finished that book. I have to get back into it all. I thought that the Bible should come first because you have to find those teachable times!
ReplyDeleteAndrea Josephs