Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Truth


Just One Of Those Days

I wrote this blog post 3 years ago. It is still fitting to this day. Enjoy!

The Proverbs 31 woman evades me. She is a ghost eluding capture within the pages of God's word on some days.

"She seeks wool, and flax and works willingly with her hands."

I seek peace and quiet when I get home from work and look forward to bed time.

"She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong."

I dress myself in modern day mu mu's for comfort, all while apologizing to my husband.

"She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

I scream, holler, and threaten exile to their bedroom for the remainder of the evening.

"Her children rise up and call her blessed."

My children rise up and call me mean mommy.

Maybe I'll be whisked away in a supernatural (God ordained) tornado to a land flowing with free facials, massages, and 100% cotton robes complete with fuzzy slippers. And when its time to return home I'll click my heels together 3 times while repeating, "there's no place like home."

This is what I've become ( I state to myself in frustration)----a haggard wife & mother who spends her days taming her children with a sharp tongue, washing laundry at every minute and trying to answer the question why boys can't aim and hit the toilet (that includes grown men). All this while trying to keep the little sanity I have left and convincingly trying to hide my need for Prozac and xanax.

At the end of the day, when the children are in bed (2 hours past their bedtime) and I'm finally left alone for a moment of peace I can't imagine my life being anything else. God never said the Proverbs 31 woman had it easy. He never said she wasn't like me and had 'one of those days", but He did say "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." And I'm laughing all the way to my knees in prayer!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Putting Things In Perspective

I read something today that sparked a fire of outrage inside of me. It's the one thing that America has plenty of, it's the one thing that many take so much pride in that they can't see as far as the building their sitting in. If you guessed another mega church--you are correct. It seems that another church is planning the construction of another mega-church that will cost 35 million dollars! First Presbyterian Church of Colorado is building a "church" that will house a cafe, bookstore, library, childcare area, oh and let's not forget the sanctuary. This truly grieves my heart, breaks it into a million pieces really. The picture to the left really puts things in perspective doesn't it? Do you find it hard to look at the children--bones easily visible through their skin. Does it bother you to know that tomorrow, if they see tomorrow they will awake to the horror of another day without the basic necessities of food, water, shelter, or clothing? All while people pour millions of dollars into their magnificent buildings--their treasures here on earth that will burn, rust, and succumb to the elements. It bothers me, it grieves me, it saddens me, and it angers me! Will you think of these children, and other's all over the world who face these same bleak conditions when you get dressed in the morning jump in your car, enter your building that is as grand as a hotel lobby. Will you think of the least of these as you sit in your cafe, browse the bookstore, sip on your coffee, eat your pastries, and marvel at the beauty of the building that pride built? Will you think of them as you enter the grandeur of the sanctuary, sit in the plush seats, and try your best to be closet to the stage, listen to the newest worship songs, lift your hands in awe and wonder? As you look around at the huge TV screens, lighting, and admire the show, admire what man built--will you see the faces of those you really could have served? Sad to say most won't. Some call it church growth--I call it the pride and selfishness of man at its greatest. If I am grieved, I know that Jesus weeps!