Feb
2
52home
Filed under Biblical Womanhood | 52home 9:01 a.m.
Today was the same as yesterday, which was the same as the day before that, and so on—for about as long as I can remember now. I changed diapers, made lunches, put toys away, corrected bad attitudes, prayed for ouchies, and imagined what it would feel like to take a really long nap. The days are long and the days are ordinary; and sometimes I lose sight of an eternal perspective. But this quote from Martin Luther on Justin Taylor’s blog brought me fresh encouragement today. It is written to fathers but applies all the more to us moms:
Now observe that when that clever harlot, our natural reason . . . , takes a look at married life, she turns up her nose and says, “Alas, must I rock the baby, wash its diapers, make its bed, smell its stench, stay up nights with it, take care of it when it cries, heal its rashes and sores. . . ?” [LW 45:39]
What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant, distasteful, and despised duties in the Spirit, and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as with the costliest gold and jewels. It says, O God, because I am certain that thou hast created me as a man and hast from my body begotten this child, I also know for a certainty that it meets with thy perfect pleasure. I confess to thee that I am not worthy to rock the little babe or wash its diapers, or to be entrusted with the care of the child and its mother. How is it that I, without any merit, have come to this distinction of being certain that I am serving thy creature and thy most precious will? O how gladly will I do so, though the duties should be even more insignificant and despised. Neither frost nor heat, neither drudgery nor labor, will distress or dissuade me, for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in thy sight. . . . God, with all his angels and creatures is smiling—not because the father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so in Christian faith.[LW 45:39-40]
You keep sending us so many inspiring 5 O’Clock Club testimonies, we just have to keep posting them. This one is from Kat:
As I write, I am wrapping up my morning meeting with the Lord. In ten minutes, the oldest of my 3 small children will come bounding into the office where I have been studying and praying. Like many others that have written to you, I enjoy the warm comforts of my bed and do not enjoy getting out of it! A few weeks ago I clicked onto your blog and as I began to read the stories of women rising early and carving out that time in their day, it made me cry. I struggle with finding time to study and pray—for years my husband has been gently encouraging me to wake up early to do this, but for some reason I couldn’t do it until I saw the stories of other mothers that were doing it. Not only is it such a blessing throughout my day to have my eyes and heart fixed on Christ from the start, it is such a blessing for my five year old son to sneak up behind me each morning and see an open Bible on my lap; he usually pulls down his illustrated Bible and cuddles up with me for a few minutes. My prayer is that he would remember these times throughout his life and make it a tradition of his own! I am prone to inconsistency, so even as I write, I am praying that this will become a lifelong habit. Thank you for sharing your club and for encouraging a even a sleepy sinner like me study and pray when I would usually be in bed!
The other day, my three boys tramped downstairs to the kitchen. They were arguing.
“He took my quarters!” my seven-year-old pointed to his brother.
“No, Mom, I brought these quarters home from Mom-Mom’s house!” the accused brother defended himself.
As I tried to get the story from them, one…at…a…time, the words of blame kept flowing, with frequent interruptions and scowls.
My temptation in these moments? I want to bring swift resolution through my commands and directives: “Boy #1 is wrong. Boy #2 is right. Case closed.” I want peace for myself more than I want to teach my children God’s Word.
But my words—although very important!—are not sufficient. My children need to hear God’s Words. They need Scripture, which is “profitable for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). They need God’s promises and commands sown like seed into their little hearts. They need the words from God’s mouth, which never return empty (Is. 55:11).
So we return to the most often quoted verse in the Chesemore home—Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
“Is corrupting talk coming out of your mouths?” I ask my boys. “What words would give grace to your brother?”
And surprise, surprise—Scripture serves me too. I need the life-giving words of Scripture as much as my sons. I too need the encouragement and correction of Ephesians 4:29.
This is one reason why I must sit and listen to Jesus’ teaching every day. So that I—and my boys—can profit from His Words.
—from the archives
My new favorite album:
Counting Stars by Andrew Peterson
“Planting Trees” became my favorite track when I read this interview:
“The song “Planting Trees” is about investing in the things that matter and kingdom work. I wrote it for my wife who is not a singer/song writer, is not a musician or an artist—she is a great mom and makes our home this beautiful, magical place. We were at a retreat together, and I think we were in a small group, like a little breakout group, and the question we were all answering was, ‘What is it that you’re doing to change the world?’
“My answer was easy because for the last 15 years or so, I have had a clear sense of my call, I’m called to write songs and to encourage people and to teach people and entertain them, too, while I’m doing it. So I have a clear vision for what it is that I do and it’s easy for me to see the fruit of that ministry because I’ll get a case of e-mails or I’ll get to talk to people at shows.
“Then the question came around to my wife and her answer to the question ... was that she’s raising these three kids in the kingdom. She’s impressing the words of the Lord on these children and raising them up to change the world. It was just a beautiful thought to me. It’s too bad that moms out there don’t get e-mails from random people telling them what great mothers they are. So this song is kind of an e-mail thanks to her for that idea that the greatest work we can do on this earth is investing in other human beings for the sake of Christ. It’s hard to picture a more direct version of that than a mother blessing her children.”
She rises up as morning breaks
She moves among these rooms alone
Before we wake
And her heart is so full; it overflows
She waters us with love and the children grow
So many years from now
Long after we are gone
These trees will spread their branches out
And bless the dawn
These trees will spread their branches out
And bless someone
And I can’t sign off without thanking you for all your encouragement and support in response to yesterday’s post. Your care never ceases to amaze us! Thank you!
Nicole for my mom and sisters
If you’ve been reading this blog from the beginning, then like it or not, you’ve been along for the bumpy ride that has been my pregnancies.
First, you read about my health crisis following the birth of my son, Jack; then you waited and prayed with me through secondary infertility; you rejoiced with me when I got pregnant, prayed for the safe pregnancy and delivery of my second child, Tori, and shared in my joy when she was born. And then you waited, and even kindly inquired, as my sisters got pregnant and had babies (my adorable niece and nephew!).
Little did my husband and I know, that in the midst of all that waiting, God was working. He was creating new life, and He was preparing our home to receive that life.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce that we are expecting. Two.
No, I’m not pregnant with twins. In God’s gracious and surprising providence, my husband and I are hoping to adopt two children from Ethiopia.
We haven’t met our new children yet, but, God-willing, we would like to adopt a boy and girl around Jack and Tori’s ages. They may be biological siblings or become siblings upon joining our family. We don’t know. And we don’t know how long the adoption process will take—it could be a couple of months, or as long as a year. In fact, there is a lot we don’t know yet!
But we do know that God has led us. We do know that He is faithful. And we are very excited to one day meet the children God has ordained to be a part of our family.
Right now, we’re slogging our way through a “paper pregnancy” (which, let me tell you, is vastly preferable to three months with one’s head hanging in a toilet!). We’ve completed our home study and hope to be able to send our request to Ethiopia in a few weeks.
We’ve already been immensely blessed by the support and encouragement of both of our families, dear friends, and our local church—a community with a rich legacy of adoption.
And all of you—you who have been so very kind to me and my family through the last six years—can I ask you to pray for us once more? I know you will, and my heart is full of gratefulness.
I can’t wait, some day soon, to introduce you to my new children.
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
