Salt and Light; at God's disposal

This morning I took a phonecall from an old acquaintance who said she's had it on her heart so many times to call and just felt she had to do it at last to thank us for the example that we were to them. She said she didn't "get it" back then, but the Lord has used her memory of us to unfold for her a life of obedience to His Word, a love for His Word, a life of contentment that comes from obedience. They are very happy. Sarah and Rachel turn nine next month. She said that when Tony first asked her to homeschool, she, being Columbian and never having known of it in all her Christian life (since 10 years old), was afraid it was just cultish. Tony did not pressure her, only prayed. God changed Adriana's thinking and they have been so happy with what God is producing in their family.

She said that she has always had joy and peace in her Christian walk, but not contentment. She told me how she noticed that since she was homeschooling the girls, she was NEVER out of the house. One day she realized how much she was enjoying their life. Commenting on it to Tony, he smiled at her and said: "Honey, that is called contentment and it comes after obedience."

She enjoyed hearing my short bio on Kilby since her days assisting in their Hollywood home, and though she doesn't much use facebook, she's happy to befriend us to see pictures of everyone.

It was such a blessing to hear her voice and her joy, it is also a blessing to see the fruit of prayers of long ago; long ago figured for disappearing into the vast atmosphere as so much dissipated smoke. Praise God for His kindness to let us see our prayers for another's obedience and joy answered so fully.

Gratification

It's nearly lunchtime for the rest of the world. At least for the three little kids that are visiting for the rest of the day. We picked the Thompson boys up on our way home from brunch at Denney's in Ft. Lauderdale where the kids met Cal and me who were up early taking a friend to the hospital for surgery. I am catching up on email and blogs: both Susan and Jeni asked if I'd read theirs this morning. And the kids have quickly settled into a game of hide and seek. I can hear it and the giggling. Now here is where the gratification part comes in: among the giggles I hear DAVID! He got up from his computer work when the Thompson boys arrived and joined in the childish fun. Oh, my. I love these kids. (And I'm going to miss him in a few weeks.)

In pain you will bring forth children

Peter, AJ, and Grace are watching a Yankees game on Grandpa's tv which has been set up on the organ bench for the occasion. Susan, Kilby, and Becky are up at the seminary with Cal and will be fetching Nonnie from the airport on their way home. David is still at Cintas working. I am desperately tired, sleepy, eyes stinging, unable to focus tired. But I keep putting one foot in front of the other, a load of laundry here, helping Grace stain her new stool there, and now a few minutes of blog before I straighten Nonnie's bed where Becky slept a week ago when the house was all torn up for carpeting. All the while, all day I've thought: just take a day off. Just get in to bed and read till you sleep and then sleep again. When was the last time I did that? I don't think it would be physically possible, not to mention logistics. I wonder if God will grant me rest by putting me up for awhile. Last time I had thoughts like that I had the perimenopausal bleed that put my anemic body in bed to be waited upon for two weeks. I'd like the rest. I just don't want something that drastic to give it me. I think part of what I need rest from is all the unfinished stuff. The niche in Susan's room that I don't know how to tile, the bookshelves in my room that need to get out, the going to the upholsterer with Penny to pick out fabric for a chair, the stuff, the stuff, the stuff that needs to be reshuffled and reorganized. All of that in addition to the normal everyday life. And then there is the garage. I wonder why no one else can do this stuff. Well, plenty COULD. No one DOES. That's MY job. Not to DO it but to GET IT DONE. Driving home from Sam's Club this a.m. listening to another wonderful, excellent sermon by Pastor Skogen on Christ's service to the disciples I thought on why I need to tell my kids to serve at all. Why don't I just DO it and they'll wonderfully follow my humble example? Does it work that way? Well, I was taught to serve by precept as well as example. So I think I need to teach by precept and command as well as by example. And driving home ruminating about all this I believe I had an insight which I hope is holy: It is my God-given and holy JOB to train these kids. It is not EASY. It makes me feel like a nag. It leaves me tired. But it is my JOB. May I do it faithfully, even when I don't think I'm doing it well. God did help me just moments later. I came in to find the work I'd hoped finished not quite done, and the worker moving too slowly. Employing several others we got lunch on only 25 minutes late. Bell rang while I was whirling around the kitchen to clean it up. And while I was sweeping the floor, the kids were taking their places at the table, waiting for Cal. God gave me grace not to whine at them; but to call one child to come and clear the dish rack, then another child to wipe off a counter, yet another child to clean the spots off the floor. Soon there were four of them at work alongside me, and we had the kitchen clean before Cal came in. God help me not to whine and complain, but to act. SDG.