The stomach bug has invaded our home again for the second time in as many weeks. It is 7:30 a.m. and I've been up since 5:00 a.m. washing bedding, floors, walls and little ones. At one point, I breathed a quick prayer asking the Lord to help the toddler fall asleep without her coveted blanket that was being washed. When she didn't settle down, I realized I needed to pray instead for the grace and peace to minister to my children. He will sustain me. The coveted blanket is now clean again and maybe the toddler will sleep...we'll see.
I found Elizabeth Elliott's words in my in-box this morning. The encouragement could not have been timelier.
When I imagine that I want to learn to love God--and to love my husband and others whom God has given me to love--let me test the desire of my willingness to accept trial and grief. If I can welcome them--Yes, Lord!--and believe God's purpose in them, I am learning the lesson of love. If I cannot, it's a fair indication that my desire to love is a delusion.
I breathed another prayer, thanking God for the opportunity to minister to my family in sickness and in health. Motherhood is so many things. Can I accept the good, but not the bad? Not if I'm really going to love. Peace and thankfulness has replaced weariness this morning...for that I am extremely grateful.
Oh, Angela -I've been there! I got to do the clean-up act on my BIRTHDAY. It was such a pleasant gift.
But He uses each of these trials to make us more like Jesus - to be a gentle, kind, humble, gracious servant. How I long to be more like Him!
So sorry to hear that your family is not well. What wonderful encouragement from Elizabeth Elliott, though. Praying for God's healing touch. Patricia of Pollywog Creek
By the way, I'm still working on sorting through my "rocks". I'm having such a hard time, though. I feel as though I have fallen trapped underneath the bucket. Makes is a little harder to sort through but I'll get there! Thanks for your advice!
If you're interested, I'm hosting a state shoebox swap. Hope you can join in!
So sorry about your children being sick again! Your mention of Emma's blanket brought back sweet memories of when our children were attached to their blankets. : )
Thanks for sharing the quote by Elizabeth Elliot. I'm always challenged by her words.
I've been praying for (((you))) this week.
Julie D.
This is so true~ Thanks for sharing your insights. I love Elizabeth Elliot's writing. Such keen insights into our devotion. Of course we want it easier, but often the harder road is for our growth and stretching. Can I surrender all? Great reminder! Christa
I'm in the same phase with my family. All four down with cold/flu, not eating much, sleeping lots, and battling temperatures.
Praying you are all feeling better soon. The quote is fabulous. Definitely something to ponder and take to heart.
The daily, sometimes hourly, musings of a homeschooling mom of four surviving on prayer, friendship and lots of Starbucks. Some days my cup runs over and some days it all spills out the cracks...and I wouldn't have it any other way.
