Tag: Wife

An Ordinary Life

9 Comments

living-room-12569325_640

Today, my son turns nine. We’ve blown up balloons, and are excitedly looking forward to when daddy arrives home so a few presents can be opened. Bookshelves have been organized, and my oldest daughter took the little guys on a picnic outside.

Yesterday, I spent a bit of time planting a couple of climbing roses and seed potatoes. We did some school work in between a trip to the grocery store and violin lessons.

The day before that, we worked on our lessons and worked through our chores. The day was gloriously warm, and we spent some of our day outdoors!

I have quite an ordinary life. I’m a house wife and stay-at-home mom. My days are usually pretty similar. Once upon a time, I used to wonder if what I did truly mattered. After all, I’m not a “boss babe,” or “mom boss,” or whatever the hip thing to call working moms is nowadays. Sure, I have an Etsy store, but that isn’t my job. My true calling in life is to be a wife and mom.

I encourage. I kiss boo boos. I teach children how to read. I organize. I sometimes fail or get discouraged. Then I get back up and do it all over again.

I’ve realized that working diligently within my role as a wife and mother is glorifying to God. It honors Him when I joyfully accept my lot in life. My lot is to be a wife and mom. And it’s a good one. Having a small part in raising children for the Lord is a big deal. They are His handiwork, created in His image. They deserve all of my time and attention.

Being a suitable help meet to my husband is also a big deal. Our marriage is a picture of the Father’s love for the world. Putting my own needs aside and serving my husband is an offering to God, and mirrors the service the assembly is to offer Messiah.

All of the little moments in life spent serving our families form into a beautiful picture of God’s love for us. So relish the little moments, mamas. Enjoy the ordinary.

Paul David Tripp says, “Our lives are comprised of 10,000 little moments and maybe only three or four dramatic ones.” How much we would miss if we skimmed over the ordinary, hoping for a glimpse of a “big moment.” God is present in the ordinary. God is present in the little things we do for our families.

Being a housewife and stay-at-home mom isn’t a sacrifice. It is a glorious honor, bestowed upon us by the King of Kings.

So yes, I have an ordinary life. I wouldn’t want it any other way. How about you?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters,

Colossians 3:23

Thank you for stopping by, ladies. It has been such a blessing to chat with you.

img_1370

A House Divided Will Not Stand

4 Comments

img_7981

Marriage can seem so hard sometimes.  When God meshes two people into one this is bound to happen.  Feelings get hurt, and our lines get crossed.

My husband and I have a pretty good relationship.  I’m so thankful to the LORD for him!  But even during the best of times, we sometimes have misunderstandings.  Sometimes when we disagree about an issue I’m insistent that my way is the best way, even if it is not.

I forget that the LORD has so graciously given my husband to our family to be the leader and provider.  And I also forget that a house divided will not stand.

Read: Allowing My Husband to Lead Me

I hate to say that lots of times I’m the dividing influence.  My sin nature sometimes pulls me outside of the feminine role that the LORD called me to, and instead, I try to be the boss.

Satan likes when our houses are divided.  He can slip in much easier this way.  But praise God, there is a better way!

And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

Mark 3:25

Read: She Employs All Her Living for Her Husband’s Good

Ladies, we can be the peacemakers and glue in our families.  Instead of division, we can help bring resolution.  This involves coming to the end of ourselves and forgetting offenses.  Being offended comes from a sense of pride.  It’s hard to believe, but it’s true.  I cringe when I think of the times when I’ve thought, “I can’t believe so-and-so talked to me that way.  How dare they!” This is ugly sin through and through.

To combat division, we must remain humble.  We must think of others before ourselves.  Again, this can be so hard!  And yes, I do fail at this sometimes.  But when I think of our Savior as the picture of true humility, I can’t help but want to be like Him.  We are walking like He walked when we pick up our cross and become humble.

Read: Stop Walking in the Curse

When I pit myself against my husband I ask myself, “Do I want my house to stand or not?”  I look at our children and think, “What example do I want them to see?” Last week I became annoyed at my husband for not putting our camper up for sale on my own timeline.  How silly and trivial!  Fast forward to today, and a few people are coming to look at it and all is well.  My annoyance last week did nothing but stole time away from me.  Time that I could have spent investing in my husband and children. Time that I could have spent growing closer to the LORD.

I’d like to encourage you to look at the big picture when it comes to your home.  I so often forget the big picture, and sweat the small stuff.  But the LORD is the author of our big picture, and He is for us.  He wants our house to stand!  And so do I.  The enemy would like nothing more than to pull apart, to splinter, our beautiful marriage covenants, and he often uses our own weaknesses to divide our homes. I am going to try my best to choose joy instead of frustration, and unity instead of division when it comes to the relationship with my husband.  This is God’s best for us.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I would love to connect with you on Facebook. I’d also like to invite you to my Mary & Martha Facebook Page, and to my Mary & Martha website. It is a such a blessing to serve you!