Houses and Hearts

I can see that I struck a chord (or hit a nerve?) in sharing about my FSS.  Sometimes I wonder if I go too far in putting the details of our (not-so-pretty) lives out there for all the world (or the handful of you who read this stuff!) to see.  There is motivation in it, though, in that one day I'm going to put pictures up of the progress we've been able to make. "The Eye of the Tiger" is playing over and over in my mind for some reason.  It makes me feel strong. Tonight will be brief, because I have enough dishes to wash by hand that it looks like I fed Cox's army-they were set aside last night in order to tackle some of those surfaces!  But I must get to them tonight.  I also want to keep going on my mission.  But first I wanted to share one of the reasons I was nudged into action; you may want to get a box of tissues ready. I like to blog-hop.  I read random blogs every now and then, and a few blogs very regularly.  I enjoy seeing what other people are up to, making up voices for writers I don't actually know, knowing I'm not the only mom/wife out there who is trying hard and not always getting it right or done.  Plus, there are some really funny people out there, and I love to laugh. One of the bloggers I visit is a Compassion International sponsor.  We sponsor two children through World Vision, but I think they are similar organizations as far as their goals for meeting needs as well as sharing the Gospel and offering hope both here and now, as well as eternally.  Compassion International has had teams of bloggers going out and "reporting" back on their experiences, giving a great deal of exposure to the situations they are dealing with/trying to make better, as well as to the sweet, beautiful faces all around the world of those who are suffering in poverty but are living joyfully because of their hope in the Lord.  Back to the blogger I like to visit...she has a link in one (probably a couple) of her posts to the Compassion bloggers' website, which then links you to personal websites of the folks who went on any given trip.  The link I'm sharing here is to a woman who went to India, and her story, and more significantly the story of the girl she meets, is compelling, touching, heart-breaking, and inspiring.  Please take a minute to read this post. When I read that, I was stunned, shamed, and chastened.  I have complained about our homes, especially the last three, because they did not meet my standards in various ways.  I have spent countless hours watching T.V. (when we lived in Louisville, because Mike traveled a lot, the kids went to bed early, and it was company), reading (when we first moved to Texas, because I was depressed and wanted to escape into the world of Les Miserables, The Princess Bride, The Brothers Karamozov, and The Secret Garden), and cruising around the internet as well as keeping up our blog.  The hours spent doing all of these things could have been spent managing my home, preparing for school lessons, preparing to move, unpacking boxes-depending on whatever our situation was at a particular time.  I always apologize to whomever comes knocking at our door, invited or uninvited, because it is always a disaster.  There are pajamas left on the floor; breakfast dishes on the table; magazines, toys, books, papers, and really random stuff on the coffee table or the end table in the living room.  These are habits that should be easy to change but somehow I haven't done it.  I am teaching my children the wrong way to live in and take care of a home for they will undoubtedly follow my example rather than my verbal directions if there is a discrepancy between the two.  And there is. I don't want to beat myself up, because I know that won't help.  Instead I want to change, to be a good steward of what we have, and to have a home that honors the One who provided it for us.  The One who has always provided for us.  The One who gives such joy and humility to those who are already humble that they can give their guests the best that they have to offer with no shame. Now when [Jesus] saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:1-10 (So much for being brief!  And I didn't even touch on the whole subject of ministering to those in need...)

Comments

[Mindee@ourfrontdoor]

Ugh.
Conviction.
Thanks?