Since my daughter, Ivey, has come back home life has been interesting. I find unflattering pictures of me at bedtime holding her cat on social media. After texting our small group, "studying chapter 10, 'I beg your pardon'", we all got a text from Ivey, saying, "Mom does talk texting y'all so she didn't mean to say I beg your pardon." What?!? I responded, all, "I did mean 'I beg your pardon' because that is the name of the chapter!" Her response, "Omg Hahaha". Yesterday she posted, "Nobody is more hopeful than a Mom who places items on the stairs for her family members to carry up!" She thought I would be made fun of but that didn't happen. It is a generational thing and I bet she will do it! There does not need to be a big announcement, like at a concert, "Ivey is in the house" or "Leo is in the house". Oh, you know it!
I pray our lives have shown my girls faith. As an adult in our house, I hope Ivey will remember that "Jesus is in the house!" And as I heard last week at church that should be yelled and not whispered, "JESUS IS IN THE HOUSE!" Matthew 28: 20, "...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Hopefully, she has a daily awareness that Jesus is real, He is good and He is amazing! Hopefully, she see's her parents rejoice in God's goodness through His creation, through His provisions and through His grace! James 1: 17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Hopefully, she has seen God guide us. Psalm 37: 23, "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him..." Hopefully, she will remember the healing spiritually, physically and emotionally she has witnessed. Psalm 9: 10, "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." I hope she has seen our faith, especially during tough, uncertain times that will help her trust grow. Hopefully, she knows who gets all the glory and honor! 1 Timothy 1: 17, "All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen."
And because our home is far from perfect, with lots of mistakes made and lots more to come...hopefully, she will extend grace to her parents as she sees them extend grace to each other. Romans 3: 23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." Hopefully she will forgive us over and over again. Matthew 18: 21, "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"
Change is hard. I was the Mom that cried the whole summer before they started school and then each year and milestone. I remember when we no longer had Friday night high school games to go to it was not the same. Sarah is 3000 miles away and we miss her greatly but I cherish our time and our memories. I constantly lift her before God in prayer. My joy does not go away because she lives away, I am proud of her finding her way. Mike and I learned to create new Friday night fun with our friends. We have come to love this season of our life. In a Bible study with Ivey and her friends, someone mentioned that some people make being a Christian look boring. Ivey said she always knew her parents were Christians and they always have fun! She said she wanted to be like us! Thank You, God, that my girls know being a Christian is fun! And that we laugh a lot!
As a mom, I am thankful for this time together, even if it is hard at times. I want nothing more for my girls than for them to live their life in joy, knowing that no matter the circumstances, God is in control. I want them to know they are worthy and His beloved. I want them to have a daily awareness that Jesus is Lord, He is good and His grace is sufficient. I have a sign on my front porch that reads, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord", Joshua 24: 15. They do not have to have the sign, I just want to know when I walk in their home it screams, "JESUS IS IN THE HOUSE!" And the best part is that Jesus wants this more than I do!
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