To say that in the last 4 years my life has changed is an understatement! 4 years ago, we were a family of 2, I was teaching piano full time at a private school in town, Dan was working at a great agency, and we had just finished our classes with the adoption agency, and wondering just how long it would be to get a child. It happened faster than we thought and more wonderful than we ever imagined. Now, our walls have pictures, numbers, letters and chore charts hanging on them. My life is completely different and I have switched careers, from Piano teacher to Construction worker! Yep, during this last Sunday's sermon, the pastor touched on a verse that spoke to my heart and put a "title" on my occupation! A title that convicted me and motivated me. It clarified my job discription and gave me a good swift kick in the pants.
Proverbs 14 :1 -
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
It hit me when I heard him read the words, and the Lord got my attention. I was holding one sleeping baby in my arms and tending to another at my side, while Dan had another on his lap, but the Lord spoke through and got my attention. Have I been following this verse. Have I been building up my house, or tearing it down? I am the Foreman and I have a job to do, and make sure it is done right so as to be a strong house hold and not one easily torn down. But I was reminded that I could be the one tearing down my house... this world and environment, I have spent so much of my time energy and effort to build up. My actions, my tone of voice, my focus on "what must get done" and not on the little story my boy wants to tell me about "wockets". The "don't bug me right now" and the so busy schedule that the people who matter most are pushed to the back. I am guilty of this more than I want to admit. I think it is good to get a refresher of our "job description" now and then.
I read in a book once, that Christ and His disciples are a good example of how we are to teach and raise our children in the truth. How he taught them and how was patient and kind and a strong leader. But what really caught me was when the author brought out the fact that the MAIN thing that Christ did with his disciples was that He was WITH them! He traveled with them lived with them ate, slept, and shared His life with them. The point is, that if it is my job as a mama, to lead these little ones and teach them...then I need to be the one who is with them. The Lord gave these children to Dan and I, not to a babysitter, or a grandparent, but to us. I don't want to sound "judgmental" of others who must work and have to make ends meet. I understand that I am SO blessed to have a husband with a job that is able to support us in a way that keeps me home. This is just simply MY conviction on the subject. And I felt it was a valid point that the author brought out. How would the disciples have learned all the stories and seen all the great works if Christ was only with them at night and on the weekends. The benefits of being there to teach, lead, comfort and love my children are so great! But what I have to remember, is that even though my body may be here, that does not automatically make me "there" for my family. If my mind is else where, busy with other things, then I am not available, I am not teaching, leading or loving my family. My physical presence is a must, but I must be ALL THE WAY there for my family, MIND BODY AND SOUL. Ready at anytime to hammer another nail in the structure of this home of ours. Because that is my job. And as in proverbs, if I am a WISE woman... I will build up my house. I will not let the stress and the busy craziness of life PLUCK down my house. I have worked too hard building it up, to turn around and tear it down.
Not too long ago, I wrote a post about Lessons in Adoption, and how that it is God who is teaching me how to be the best mama to my babies. Well, He is constantly with me too. When I am in need of anything, He is there. I want to follow that example. I want to Build Up my house. I may not know about wood, nails and all that goes into building a physical house, but I am in charge of building MY household. The only way I can do that is to stay close to HIM my example and work like CRAZY to not let anything especially ME to tear it down!
