A Still Small Voice

Their voices carried up the stairs breaking into my sleepy thoughts as my eyes opened for the day after a long night with the baby. You could call it a short night as I was up from 1:00-3:00. In any case, I did not want to face whatever or whoever was mixing the pot of emotions in my children this morning. Thankfully, grace rose before I did. God spoke quietly to my heart reminding me of what I already knew. Speak to Him; speak His Word. Exhaustion rarely lends itself to rational thinking, but that is where grace comes in. God knew I needed help mothering this morning, so the Holy Spirit pricked my heart to act righteously despite how I wanted to act and sadly, how I usually act.

We sat down together in the family room to recalibrate. Using examples of things that were broken or difficult in my little ones’ lives, we all realized that it takes purpose, time, effort, and the right tools to make something work smoothly and effectively. Our morning was not working smoothly we all agreed, but how were we going to fix it? Grace poured into my little kids’ lives. We realized that God’s Word would give us all a clue to how we should think and act in our home. I chose a passage in Philippians 2 and read it aloud. Even amidst the interruptions of the babies, God’s Word spoke loudly to all our hearts. I enjoyed the time to pray with my kids and brought each of them before the Lord as they listened. I could see on their faces that God’s grace felt good to them too.

There is no magic potion or unexplainable phenomenon to my morning. It is, however, supernatural. God spoke quietly and gently and worked greatly in my home today. I saw a change in how my children lived the rest of their day. It was not perfect, but it was very pleasant. They practiced enjoying and not just tolerating the creative differences of each other Their voices were loud as usual, but not angry. Even my toddler, who is just learning about Jesus, evidenced God’s grace.

Thank you God for showing me grace and reminding me that you are there to help me to do the job that you have called me to do. Thank you that your grace is sufficient and that your mercies are new every morning.

Gratitude

Life has changed drastically in our home within the last week. We went from six kids to seven, left uninterrupted sleep for midnight feedings, invited more than enough state workers into our home, and made a continued impact on a single mom. God, for some crazy reason chose us for this journey into ministry. Thankfully he also chooses to bless us in multiple ways every day. Here is a glimpse of my heart today.

I am thankful for –

• · Lemonade stands
• · Homemade banana bread
• · Newborn sweetness
• · Dinners brought to my home by friends
• · Naps in the afternoon
• · Naps in the evening
• · God’s never changing, life changing Word
• · Opportunities to pray with my kids
• · Espresso in the afternoon
• · Thoughtful and caring church family
• · Pacifiers
• · Sibling friendship
• · Three babies napping at the same time

What is on your heart today? I would enjoy reading your perspective of gratitude.

Stirring Hearts

It takes a little of this, a lot of that, and a pinch of something else to make food taste delicious. Eaten alone, the ingredients taste bitter, bland, or even disgusting. This week, I have witnessed both tears of joy and laughter as well as tears of pain and hurt. My arms embraced a woman lost in the craziness of life as well as held her newborn son close to my heart. Some of these ingredients left a bitter taste. Some of them left a mom feeling helpless. Still others left a sweet, delicate taste never to be forgotten. All of these are part of a bigger plan, a recipe if you will, designed by a sovereign God.

As with any recipe, you need to work with what you have. There is no magic wand miraculously producing a chocolate cake, a blueberry pie, or a peach cobbler. (Now that I have you drooling.) Such is life. It takes work to make something deliciously beautiful. Sometimes you mess up and start over again. Life takes some sifting, some stretching, some draining, some blending, and some stirring.

Her heart is stirring this week. God is talking as he is allowing some distasteful ingredients to be mixed into her recipe. His words are being integrated into what will be beautifully delicious. This week she feels helplessly out of control. The heat is on her life. Her little one is being removed from her. Yet, in it all, He is still stirring. God will not forget His plan. He will not walk away from her only to forget and let her life burn.

I am humbled to be a small ingredient that God is using in her life. Please pray for the mother of my foster babies that she will see God’s role in her life. Pray that she will know that it is He who is stirring her heart to make something deliciously beautiful.

She is Getting Ready to Leave

Her laundry is done, and her bags are packed. She scrounged the cabinets looking for any snacks that would fit into her backpack. Her friends have texted her and are awaiting her return to camp. Am I ready? That may be a better question.

The goal all along is to have our children grow up, but somewhere between diapers, braces, and homework, they amazingly and secretly turn into almost adults. We want our kids to be independent, Godly, self-sufficient, hard-working people. We work diligently to instill character that will establish the foundation for that edifice we call adulthood. Yet tonight, I saw my firstborn in a slightly new light. She loves us dearly and enjoys being home, but she is excited to go back to work and be a part of something even bigger. She is almost ready to leave.

Her senior year looms closely, and college is not that far beyond. For now, she enjoys the summer a mere hour and a half away and comes home most weekends. I could not ask for more than for my child to be in a place where she hears the Word of God daily, works diligently alongside a Christian woman whom I admire, lives with other teens who are serious about God, and is paid for it. I miss Angel when she is gone. I love her smile. She makes great quesadillas, and mows the lawn when she is home. Our table is not as crowded when she is gone, but that is not really a good thing. All those little things add up to a lot.

She will be home again on Saturday for the weekend. When she comes home, there will be another baby in the house. Time keeps marching on. I am proud of what God is doing in Angel’s life. Little by little, He is carving her niche.

I Wonder

What are they thinking . . .

When my voice reaches dangerous levels

When they try repeatedly to get what they have been told they cannot have

When they walk past the laundry basket sitting in the foyer at the base of the stairs for the fiftieth time

When the dishes are in the sink and the dishwasher is clean

When my words do not match my actions

Or

When I secretly hug them and whisper in their ear

When I choose their favorite meal

When I show grace and mercy

When I sit and read with her or him or them

When we sit together, talking, eating, playing

Just wondering.