July 2011

Homeschooling Mothers Arise

A wonderful article from At the Well speaking to the life of Homeschooling moms:

Homeschool mothers relate to the feelings that come from drudgery. The days are long and tedious. The success that comes of the toil sometimes goes unseen for months, maybe even years. Our lives seem downright plain and ordinary. Our work goes unnoticed. Our existence remains unobserved. Life can become commonplace. Where do we go from here? How can we keep going from day to day?

Oswald Chambers said, “Drudgery is one of the finest touchstones of character.” A touchstone is defined as “a hard black stone, such as jasper, formerly used to test the quality of gold or silver by comparing the streak left on the stone by one of these metals with that of a standard alloy.” A touchstone is a gauge, which is used to test the quality of a precious metal in comparison to a commonplace metal. During our times of drudgery, do we want to show our character as being that of pure gold or as a mixture of commonplace metals? I would much rather present myself to Jesus as gold–experiencing the ordinary–rather than being ordinary.

The truth is, our feelings of inadequacy overpower us when we fail to see God’s handiwork in the smallest details of our everyday lives. We wait for God to show us the extraordinary thing for which we have been laboring. We look for Him to guide us to our pinnacle of success so that we can give Him the glory. We should be giving Him the glory throughout the mundane tasks that are before us each day. It is when we are in the valley, between the pinnacles of success, we see where we have been and how far He has led us.

Jesus stepped down from His heavenly domain and meekly washed His disciple’s feet. In turn, let us walk the path of humility that He has placed before us. We are not so admirable that we deserve the praiseworthy work rather than what Jesus has given us to accomplish. His plan is perfect and we must accept the plan, no matter how ordinary that plan may seem. Seeing the exceptional within the ordinary makes the mundane extraordinary.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the Glory of the Lord rises upon you. – Isaiah 60:1

The glory of God is upon you on the mountain tops of success and in the valleys of the commonplace. Take your place, accept your calling, place your feet firmly on the path, look toward the goal, and arise and shine!

Love for the Long Haul- One Thousand Gifts

I love my husband...

He stands tall for Christ...

Works hard for his family...

Battles the inevitable struggle between work and home with patience and a quiet spirit...

He loves greatly...

Serves honestly...

Often puts himself last...

Loves comes easy...whispers sweetly in the quiet moments we have together...

I trust him...give our life to him...

The long pause comes in the question as to whether or not he FEELS my love...

Do I show my love..

Consider him in the things I do...

Serve him the way I serve the children...

What do the quiet moments look like?

Respect is a word that is difficult to achieve...it seems for me. It comes easy when times are easy and is much harder when the trust must be deeper...the falling could be harder...the risk with the children graver...

Emotionally I feel love for him, supreme respect for the life he gives to us and the giving he does for us...showing him must take a higher priority.

I found a few wonderful things to consider from Focus on the Family:

becoming better listeners;
taking responsibility for our actions and feelings;
avoiding blame;
being more affectionate and considerate;
becoming partners in parenting;
respecting each other's differences;
supporting each other in extended family conflicts;
praying individually and as a couple;
journaling feelings individually;
placing a priority on time together;
submitting to God as their authority;
being proactive in keeping the Love Alive.
Be Attentive
Be Available
Be Aware
Be Appreciative

If we pray to become more selfless, and Selflessness has to start with turning to Jesus. What better time is there? Jesus didn't wait till we became more kind or thoughtful before He died for us. He did it while we were still selfish and uncaring. This same extraordinary kind of love, shown in small acts of generous behavior, will improve your marriage. You may feel overwhelmed. Admit it to God, then my weakness becomes a conduit for divine strength.

In an effort to express my thankfulness and the gifts that embody my husband that I might feel compelled to Show Him my LOVE and in turn sacrificially love Him.

Gifts--A Husband Who...

276. Washes Dishes
277. Night time bed routine with the kids
278. Daddy's night time stories
279. Playing Rough House even after a LONG day
280. Gives sweet, honest Compliments
281. Working hard and playing with us harder
282. Tender hugs (even if briefly)
283. Watches a show late into the night
284. Prepares Candled baths
285. Cleans up Dinner
286. has Flexibility
287. has Passion
288. Serves the King
289. Raises Arrows
290. Brews fresh tea
291. Loves his friends
292. Serves others
293. has Vision
294. Provides
295. is Trustworthy
296. is Loving
297. is Kind and Generous
298. is Sensitive yet Strong
299. Loves adventure
300. Loves New

The reality is the list could continue for some time. God has blessed me with an amazing partner even though I never deserved it. I am thankful for His love for me and our children is guiding me to the right spouse. I only hope to be a great partner, girlfriend, and love for him.

Inspiring Moments

Inspiring Moments...They come often, and quietly.

I turn and God gives inspiration in the moments that take my breath.

My children and the hope that glistens on the edges of their growing bodies as I see glimpses of goodness coming from my mothering and our parenting.

The sweet turns to sweat when I hear them love, laugh, obey, and live contently.

Inspiration, often like breathing, comes and goes with only whispers and when it comes God wisks you forward, keeps you going. He simply moves you when you feel unable to move.

It is the carrying He does when I need to train them, the movement towards the vacuum for the third time that day, the still, quiet moments you sit to read to them and they listen...

Inspiration appears with many feelings and wearing many faces and comes in various times and seasons.

Ann's words, a source of inspiration He often uses in my life as I hear her speak the words my heart sings...

Motherhood’s a daily bravery. I can’t say that I don’t waver.

As she, Ann, talks of her youngest daughter I think upon my oldest son, soon turning six and the world of infancy being stolen from him like a thief and manhood rising up inside my boy-child.

I smile though it hurts. Mothers do this...

It’s like standing on the platform of the caboose, watching all the slipping world — when did they unfold out of me and into almost adults? Where do dimples on little hands go and how do you get back to the folds of necks and sweaty, sleep creased cheeks on your shoulder and when did all our beginnings become more like endings?

Why is it that the babies may birth the girl-child into womanhood? How do I make my way deep into womanhood without the babies, without a child clutching to me — or is it me, clutching a child? I need to know this. Some days I feel so bare and alone. A babe on the hip, clenched hands on the collar of my shirt, fingers on skin, this was a way to breathe. Do I forget that it is Christ who has grown me up through the babes made into men? And now, them near grown, we may both walk brave?

This is what I have always wanted, here in the hidden places. For the Holy Beautiful to use the wholly broken to shape a piece of eternity. And that need not happen somewhere else but wherever here is. This can happen at a sink, a stove, a kneeling smile into a child hopeful — the way the hands serve silent and daily.

My heart aches and rejoices with such inspiration...my children growing longer, leaner, and lovely...

Although mine are not "near grown" I feel time wrestling me for them...his grip tight upon their bodies as they stretch and grow...

I hear true her words:

Living slow never killed time like hurrying does

Be inspired....
Slow the pace....
Grow slowly and steadily...
Soak it in and sink it deep...