“Mothering is no second-rate ministry for
the spiritually and intellectually mediocre.
Mothering is a Christ-rated ministry for soul and mind sculptors
and what could ever be substandard about passing on Christ’s standard?” --Ann Voskamp
I do wonder long at why, in
today’s culture, we’ve lost sight of the magnitude of the work we as mothers
have to do in our own home: studying the
personalities, needs, spiritual acumen of our children, encouraging them in
appetites and endeavors that keep them focused on the Christ-path and not
looking to the right nor the left for their identity or satisfaction. Full time job, yes? And that’s second-fiddle,
even so, to being a help-meet to our husbands primarily and foremost. There is altogether too much to distract us.
I do love the opening quote by Ann. Another wonderful and godly mentor,
Mary Winslow, writes the following in a letter to one in ministry; I am seeking
to apply its truths and wisdom to the ministry of my motherhood, and I find it
fits well-adorned to the cause…(note how boldly she addresses this person, for
the sake and goal of encouragement in the Lord! Should we find ourselves closer in our
friendships if we dared such an approach to exhibiting our love for one another?)
“I am wishing to know from yourself, not only how it is with
your own soul, but how it is with the little flock over whom you are placed as
overseer. Are you gathering in souls for
the harvest? Does the Lord bless you
with success? Are poor sinners
converted? I do think it depends a good
deal on our own state of soul whether we are useful or not. I do hope yours is prospering, and if so, the
Spirit within you will shew Himself in your work. This I have had occasion often to
observe. And yet, the Lord might not
bless us in the way we mark out for ourselves; for though in our poor wisdom it
may seem the right way, He might see differently.
“I have learned much from long though painful experience of
the narrow road, and seem now to be left a little longer that I might speak a
word in season to those who are coming after me—a word of warning, a word of
counsel, a word of encouragement. It is
a mercy to be employed in any way, however humble the attempt and weak the
instrument.
Dear friend, do you feel
Jesus precious to your soul? Is He not
the fountain, yea, the ocean of love?
Oh, get much of it into your heart!
Aim to live on high. The soul
naturally, through the weakness of the flesh, cleaves to the dust; and Satan is
ever busy encumbering out minds with the poor world we are rapidly passing through. Well might he be called ‘the god of this
world’. Be not ignorant of his
devices. A throne of grace is always accessible. Never stop to argue with Satan, but flee to
Jesus your strength; He will give you the victory over His old enemy. What a precious resource is this! How could we live a moment without it! A throne of grace is the only verdant spot in
this wide wilderness. Oh, the power of
prayer! Coming in the name of Jesus, the
Father can withhold no good thing from us.
“You need wisdom from above to accomplish this great
work. The Holy Spirit must be your teacher. He alone can accompany His own word spoken to
the soul. He it is who gives life…”
--in the middle of a bike ride
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