Thursday, June 21, 2007
I'm a Star...Not!!
Posted in Food for the Spirit
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“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” --Philippians 2:14-16a
The kiddos and I are working at memorizing this passage right now, both for their benefit, as well as mine. I want so much to be a light in the darkness around me. But I find that I really struggle to let my light shine in a way that lets others see Jesus in me. So many times the Lord shows me my own ugly, sinful attitudes, my pride, my selfishness, my grumbling and complaining, my lack of love.
Paul tells us that we will ‘shine like stars in the universe’ if we can do everything without grumbling or complaining. This is a hard lesson for me. I tend to be a wee bit negative, and it shows. It shows when I hear my children spouting off remarks that are uncomfortably familiar. It shows when I see them grumbling and complaining about their school work, their chores, their siblings, or just about anything.
I am convinced that God gave me my beautiful children to help transform my character into Christlikeness. I'm also convinced that God put me in a situation that got me homeschooling to take me into more intensive character training. My three children are a very clear reflection of myself because they tend to begin to mimic my words and behaviors. I see myself through my children’s eyes, and they often help me to see myself through God’s eyes, and I am, more often than not, disappointed in what I see.
James talks about people who look into a mirror, and, after looking at themselves, walk away and immediately forget what they look like. Mirrors are to help us arrange ourselves to look as attractive and appropriate as we can in a given situation. But when I see and hear my mirrors (my children) reflecting my negativity, do I adjust myself and try to put on a positive, thankful spirit in place of the selfish, negative one? Lord, help me to do just that!
I choose gratitude. I choose grace. I choose forgiveness. I choose joy. I choose thankfulness. I choose purity. I choose loveliness. I choose goodness. I choose faith. I choose truth. I choose justice. I choose kindness. I choose self-control. I choose honesty. I choose faithfulness. I choose to shine!
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