9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9(NIV)
Today and tomorrow are two very special days in the year for me. Today is the day that my late grandmother was born back in 1929. And on tomorrow, if God should allow, I will celebrate my 33rd birthday! It has been especially tough around this time of year since "Muh" (grandma) passed away in 2012. There were many years that we would call and wish each other a Happy Birthday and I wish I could pick up the phone and do just that. I may not be able to call her, but what I can do, is take what I have learned from her and apply it to my life as a mother and a wife.
This morning, I was having one of my moments of doubt (I have a lot of those being pregnant and all!) where I felt like maybe I am not doing this thing right. "Can I really handle three boys?" "Am I a good wife?". "Am I missing the mark?" Well as I was wallowing in self-pity and going about my day, God reminded me that of course, I miss the mark!! I am not Him! I WILL make mistakes. I WILL NOT always get it right. I am a human being with MANY flaws. But my God is able. He can still use my flawed life to honor Him. Thank God, I AM PERFECTLY FLAWED!
My mind quickly went to my grandmother. I am sure she had these same feelings. I mean, she and my grandfather raised 15 children! If I had 15 kids, I would.....well, I don't know what I'd do. I would probably be in a corner somewhere shaking and praying that a cloud of smoke would just come whoosh me away. The point is, they did it. Sure, it wasn't easy and if they were still with us, I know they would say that they had their fears and disappointments too. But they depended on God and He was faithful to them.
My grandmother did a lot for our family. Much of who we are comes from who she was. Although there would be years at a time that I did not physically see my grandmother (because she lived all the way in Washington State), her example and her love crossed every geographical boundary. She was teaching even when she didn't know it. Through her, I saw what it meant to love your husband no matter what and to allow him to be the head of the home as God intended. I saw what it meant to love your children unconditionally, even when they refuse to listen. I saw how a perfectly flawed person can still accomplish the calling that God has for their lives.
Being a mother is so much more than giving birth or adopting a child. And being a wife is much more than a wedding ceremony and a name signed on a legal document. It's being an example of love, service, and grace. It's realizing that we are all works in progress and that we must look to the Word of God to guide us on our journey.
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
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| Muh and I the day of my high school graduation. |
Happy Birthday! January 10 is a date engrained in my mind from many many years ago as being your day. It always crosses my mind in the weeks leading up to it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. I think there are times when we can all stand to learn from those who came before us and who conquered situations that were even more trying than those we face. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that we're often dealing with just a small fraction of what our ancestors faced. (And often we have 10 times the amount of resources they did!) Not to say that our doubts, frustrations, and worries aren't valid, but it's good to have those examples to help us regroup and keep going!
Happy Birthday!! Child of mine. I thank God for the day He gave you to me. You are a good daughter,wife,and mother even being perfectly flawed. Praise the Lord! welcome to motherhood, but remember the best is yet to come. I can't wait for the stories behind this one. I do thank God for what my Mother(your grandmother) seeded into your life. Love
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