My living room has been my sacred sanctuary for many years. It is where I read, study my Bible, write in my journal, sip my tea in candlelight with music.. And it looks out to my small forest. Do you have such a place?
Friends, join me for the book club for Mission of Motherhood on LifewithSally.com in my link. Be refreshed with kindred spirits.
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Most of our life is invisible--this noble cause we embrace is often fraught with challenges, exhaustion, relentless repetition, spiritual challenge— yet this is the very place of our worship where faith is being forged, character is being modeled, love is going deep into the heart of your children. This is why I champion the cause of motherhood. What you are doing matters so much. Most of all, Jesus, who sacrificed his time, emotions, body, freedom, sees you! Is so very pleased, cheers you on from the heavenly realm. We are a picture of God's sacrificial love to the brains, souls, and hearts of those He entrusts into our hands.
Yet I was unprepared. No one said, "Yea, Sally, you chose to be patient with one more ear infection & sleepless night! Congratulations, you are the queen of mentally challenged children with OCD, asthma, learning issues. Of course, all four are sinful, fuss, make messes, want to eat & wear relatively clean clothes. Congratulations, you are so patient with those hormonal teenagers, you just waited for a toddler to get over his tantrum, you handled it patiently--you a hero!"
One of the strengths & profound work of a woman, is to bring civility & order out of chaos, to bring beauty, intelligence, excellence in subduing her kingdom of home into a life-giving haven.
My home & all the little choices of each day became a sanctuary of worship, my sacrifice of praise. Bringing light into the dark corners of life, singing, dancing/ celebrating God's reality into the mundane world of dishes, the late nights of Winnie the Pooh cartoons and ear infections. hot steamy showers, sweat, hollow exhaustion where my children felt the comfort and grace of His touch through me.
It is the glory of a woman to choose to love & embrace her precious child as a gift, a work straight from the heart of God.