I’ve been stuck staying home from work so far this week. Not by choice…but because it has been a necessity. If wasn’t one child it was another. Seriously! One child has a sinus and throat infection accompanied by two days of constant fevers. Another was throwing up. And Wednesday night something hit me. UGH! I had plans. I went from excited…to very annoyed. I hate staying home from church when God is evidently moving! I just couldn’t muster up the energy to get off the couch though. My head was pounding and I just couldn’t. Keep. My. Eyes. Open.
Normally I’d be a bit bummed to have to stay home while my husband went on to church without me. (Is bummed a strong enough word? Border line angry maybe…) That night though, I was really, really excited that he was going! I knew that God had a purpose. I trusted it. I had a relaxing night of working from my bed. (No really…I was working. Not as in the ‘keeping track of my eyelids’ type of working…but for real work. Promise! Haha!) God used my children to bless me and it was so awesome to experience, that I had no regrets. =)
These were the highlights of my night. (They might not ‘appear’ to be highlights…but I can assure you, they encouraged me to change my outlook. What a blessing these young children of mine are to me!!)
If you don’t know me…keep in mind that my children are all young. They range in age from 7 to 2. My two youngest were my sickly ones last night. At one point right after my husband got home from work I laid down on my couch to doze. As soon as my daughter walked in and saw me resting…she got my favorite warm, fuzzy blanket and gently covered me up. I am not even sure if I thanked her…but oh how thankful I was. I snuggled in for a quick, much needed snooze.
Random acts of thoughtfulness and kindness…those are traits of my King. =)
Just a short while later, after my husband had left for the evening, I walked into the living room to see my oldest son holding a bucket for his little brother to throw up into. While my daughter was gagging and complaining…my son was right there soothing his little brother.
Random acts of service…another trait of the King.
After Titus had gotten sick several times, I told the kids that we needed to pray for him. Aiden’s response…”I’ve been praying for him mom. I’ve been asking God to heal him and take away his pain and discomfort.”
Oh the sweet, but ever powerful prayers of a child…conversations with their King.
Finally it was bedtime for all the kids…and their mother! ;) I had made it! 7:30pm! I put it the movie of that the kids had agreed on. (Aiden tried really really hard to get them to agree to a coon hunting video…but he did not succeed. Go fig. *shrugs shoulders*) They settled in to watch a series of bible stories. Before I crashed for the night I went to the basement to check on my laundry and fill up the wood stove. Pretty soon I heard a little sniffle from the basement steps. I turned to see Ariel standing at the bottom of the steps crying. What could’ve happened? If I’m being honest…I was a little annoyed because I assumed it was because of a fight.
I’m sure I sighed. And I’m sure I asked what happened with a ‘tone’. Haha! My children are good at shutting me up. They down-right shock me on many occasions. Last night was no exception.
To my surprise, she explained that her tears were because of the movie she was watching. They had been watching a bible cartoon about the last days of Jesus. She said, “Mom, I knew that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but I didn’t like watching it. I didn’t like seeing Him dead.”
Heart…melting… We went right up and sat down on my bed. I wasn’t going brush off this opportunity to speak life into my little 6 year old daughter’s heart. I had her attention and she had mine! This is how I responded. “I understand how seeing that must have been hard. It is difficult to see what Jesus had to go through for us. But remember…He didn’t stay dead. Right?!”
She nodded her head slowly.
I continued. “And do you know what? We get to have Jesus ALIVE in our hearts because he was willing to die for us. When you see Mom cleaning and you decide to come help without being asked…that is because Jesus is in your heart telling you to show kindness. When you see Mom crying and you hug me and tell me you love me…that is because Jesus is living in you and wants you to speak words of life. When you see that Mom is stressed and you tell me how beautiful I am…that is Jesus in you speaking words of encouragement through you. It is a never ending blessing that Jesus suffered like He did.” She accepted my answer and the tears stopped. We hugged and kissed and off to bed she went. It is moments like that. That is what I was created to do. To be a mother, encourager, teacher, and example to the four most precious people in my life. I want to help shape and mold God’s design in them. And all it takes is trust and time. I trust God’s plan and I trust His time.
Had I gone to church…I would’ve missed that conversation. God’s strategy is unlike mine. He makes sense of what seems to be a mess. I bow humbly at His feet and continue to trust His path. Every day he teaches me something new. Each day fresh, with a new sunrise to enjoy.
This one was from a few weeks ago over a cemetery. God’s beauty is not limited to what we might think is beautiful. He can make anything beautiful!
As for my husband…God had a specific plan for him that night too. Had the kids and I been there it would not, could not have happened. I believe in God’s plan. I trust His hand. And I am so in love with how extravagantly He loves me and mine. If you you’ve forgotten what it is to be loved like that…listen to the words to this song about his Extravagant Love. Sing it out. You know I am! =)
Oh and if you get a chance you should check out another blogger that I have come upon recently. It seems as though God is teaching us similar things when it comes to our children. Her blog post title said it perfectly…and I had tears as I read it. “Show Them ME”. Click on those words to read how the move of God is specific and simple.
Our God is so loving and faithful to take all the hurtful and painful (both physically, emotionally and spiritually) things we look at as junk and use them for good in our lives. And he doesn't sit back with an "I told you so" attitude, but with his head tilted a little to the side and leaning toward us saying (with body language), "Come, my child. See what great and wonderful things I can do with all the pieces of your life!" When we feel as though we're Humpty Dumpty and couldn't possibly be put back together again, He takes each of those pieces in His loving hands, cleans it up and puts it back in its place in such a way that when they are all together, we are better than we were before. "Thank you, Lord, for loving Eric & Vanesa and their children. Continue to bless their lives in unimaginable ways as you have already done! Put your guardian angels around Eric as he works and keep him safe. Show Eric how much you love him in ways that are unmistakable. Guard his heart from the enemy and enable him to grow and serve you even more perfectly than he already does. I know how much this family loves you and am excited to see what you will be doing over the years. I look back in my life and think of the families I have seen raised and their children are following you--for themselves, not their parents--and I am so blessed to know them. I am anticipating the same future for Eric, Vanesa and their family! Thank you Jesus!" Love you all, Ruth Ann
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