I'm a mom. A mom to a few children. Some were given to me at conception, others are placed in my care by the sovereign hand of God and the watchful eye of the Department of Human Resources. My kids are amazing, unpredictable, impulsive, active little people. They make every day an adventure. Some days feel like an adventure on the road to crazy town, and others... Well, lets be honest. Most days are the crazy town days!
But, you know what? I think the road to crazy town is a pretty awesome place to be. Maybe not for everyone, but it seems to suit us just fine. (And, I think that if we are honest with ourselves, a lot of us are on that same road!) There are definitely some things we can improve upon. Always. But, in the end, God knew what he was doing when He set the lonely in our family!
I have some amazingly wise friends who love Jesus - like a lot. For real. I am so thankful God has shared His beautiful daughters with me. I learn from them. I grown with them. I pray with them and for them. It is just amazing to have people in my life who love Jesus so much that I don't have to fear being judged or looked down on for any reason. They are amazing reflections of God's love for me.
And this has become my soapbox lately. (At least, the soapbox in my mind.) Why must we constantly fear the judgement of others? I guess that statement could be reworded a few different ways, but you get the point.
I go to the grocery store with all 5 kids. I do it a lot, actually. (Even though, each time I swear I will never do it again) I have a few children with a great love for alcoholic beverages. So much so, that they scream in excitement Everytime they see beer. And they are NOT screaming "yay!" They are screaming, "beer! I want some beer!" Over and over and over and over. I try to avoid the aisle, but the frozen pizzas are directly across from it, and what mom of 5 kids do you know that does not keep frozen pizza on hand? ..... Exactly.
Who wants to guess what the grocery store shopper and employees look like when they see my kids screaming for beer? Anyone? ...Bueller? ...Bueller? Right... That's because we all KNOW it is not a pretty sight.
Or how about when we are having screaming tantrums, or when I sanitize my baby's hands after someone has touched her. Or, when my big kids haul off and shove each other down, or when I look as scraggly as I feel inside. And let's not forget to mention Mount Foldmore - the 4-6 loads of clean laundry that grace my couch pretty much all the time.
I told a friend of mine, "I think God is just trying to make me humble." And she responds, "Maybe He chose you for the job because He knows you are the one who can do it. That He has given you everything you need to be successful."
Praise God for speaking through that friend, and for reaffirming that very thing to me in His Word! I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with friends who encourage me and love me. I'm so thankful for a God who loves me and allows me to live in the freedom of what He can do through me.
My hope and prayer is that we - the church - God's own beloved - would STOP the judging and start the loving. There is so much freedom and power when we spend our time loving others and encouraging them. It's kind of a big deal. So, to all you out there who love and encourage me, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. And, to those of you in the grocery store - the next time you hear kids yelling for beer, feel free to come say hello! :)
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