7/29/2014 0 Comments We Could Change the World We Could Change the World This past week my husband left for an 8 day trip, with the youth at our church, to Colombia on a missions trip. We discussed the idea long before baby number four was even born, and I agreed. And every day this week, I am literally going through my mind trying to come up with some reason as to how I didn't actually agree to the trip, or that I was "influenced" by something the day we had the conversation. But the truth is, I did agree to it. I knew it would be hard work, being alone with four kids four and under, for a long time. I knew I would be tired. I knew I would be dying to have a "day off" or a "minute to myself" because I wouldn't have my glorious husband home to "releive" me. And while I never actually get a moment "alone" when he is home, somehow it lessens the load when he's just present. Paco is also the more heavy disciplinarian at our house, and keeps the kids in line on days I simply cannot. I think that's a double-sided coin being that I am home all day, so by five, or six, or nine, or whenever he gets home, the kids are sick of hearing from me, just as much as I may be sick of hearing whines from them. I know Paco is my head, my help-mate, my number one fan, but like anything of worth, you notice and appreciate the value when it's missing. And this week has done just that. Now I could go on and on about how Paco helps with putting the kids to bed, and how I miss terribly that his duty of "bath time" I've had to pick up. I could rant about the fact that I miss him being here to unload kids, groceries, or anything over paper-weight status from the car upon arriving home. I could even tell you how amazing it will be when he's home, because he will take the garbage out into the hot humid florida outside, stinking with diapers and chicken cutlet wrappers in all their glory, and how I won't. But I will not. That's not the point of this blog. It was brought to my attention yet AGAIN, by a very distant and far-away friend....in a blog post she shared with a bunch of moms. So I thought I would take the time to re-itterate the point even further: We Can Change the World. As a mom, especially a stay-at-home-mom, it can be really easy to overlook missions. Or really difficult. It's hard to see commercials about starving kids, dying generations, poverished villages, and know that in my season of life, (forget money cause that is a WHOLE different issue!) I just won't ever get to help. Now, if I HAD crazy amounts of money left over from my "left over" money, that is, money that's available after bills....and then the remnants are used for things like diapers, wipes, Clorox (you can see the picture now can't you) etc.....but I would, I really WOULD send some to those poor people in the far-away tv land. I would probably, selfishly, spend some on myself because it is so rare, to get a massage, or have my hair "professionally" colored. But I would support and send, donate and divulge my "riches" for their rags. I would. Given that the above simply is not, time is the next big thing. And it's more "achievable" for me, being in the middle class. Time. ha. That is another luxury I don't have. I don't have three minutes to go to the bathroom alone, much less fly to a country 8+ hours away and MINISTER to other people? Let's just be honest. One day, when my kids are grown and out of my house, so at LEAST 18+ years from now, I MIGHT get to go. MIGHT. Or maybe my family members will see it in their hearts to give up their time to let me go....Bless their little freaking hearts. But let's be honest: Time is a luxury for a mother. I don't care if you're a working mom, a S@H mom, a crunchy mom, a mom of one, a mom of twelve, ESPECIALLY a single mom (Lord knows I've had a small glimpse of that life this week, and I have moved the single moms up my prayer list about 27 spaces....because that is a TOUGH job. So shout out to all you single moms, rocking the single life, and sacrificing EVERYTHING to make life happen. Y'all are the BOMB dot COM. {notice the caps locks was on!}). So how do I change the world? My hands are literally empty. No money. No time. And usually tied up behind my back and held hostage by four small children. So what could I possibly do to "Change the World". (Circa to Matt Redman....because he has an answer in his song.) But it brings me to a story. well....actually, lots and LOTS of stories in the good o'le Bible. Moses. Gideon. Samson. Mary. There are countless others. But let's just focus on Moses for a moment because that's the one burning in my heart right now. Here he was, a man who wasn't even in the blood-line of Pharoah. Chosen, and literally, hand-picked and dropped into Royalty's lap. Literally. That part of the story is a miracle to be recognized....but I don't have the time with four kids to blog multiple stories at once. He then gets a bad...although righteous, attitude one day and MURDERS a man. He then run away from everything He knows. He can't speak well....as in he stutters, and stammers over words. He doesn't have money, time, respect. He doesn't have anything but a stick to walk with. To lean on. A crutch, for thought. He gives all, and has all, the reasons to NOT do the very thing God tells him to do: Free the people. Free MY people. Save them. Deliver Them. Change the WORLD. Moses basically freaks out. And tells God why he simply cannot. And God replies in a fairly humorous way, at least in my opinion. He says "who made man's mouth? Was it not I?" I mean.... God is pretty hilarious and baller if you ask me. And He goes on and tells Moses...forget all the things you can't do.... Take that pathetic stick you have IN YOUR HAND, and I will do great and mighty things with it. Do you see where this is going? We can argue with God. We can give Him reasons....valid and true reasons why we cannot do what He has asked of us, but He MADE the very things we call "excuses". And if we would simply give Him what is ALREADY IN OUR HANDS, He will use it, and do GREAT and MIGHTY things with it. The things He's given me? My kids. Yes...I probably cannot allot the time or funds for a mission trip abroad...but my mission trip starts when my feet hit the floor in the morning, or middle of the night, or whenever my kids get up. It ends when they leave my care. It's the longest, most intense mission trip of my life. Because I am literally responsible for discipling and training up WORLD CHANGERS, and I get to do it with every luxury that the Western American Culture offers. I don't have to sacrifice my AC. Or my comfortable bed. Delicious and comforting foods. Family life, or all the perks of being home. But all the more responsible I will be for training these people, who've been loaned to me, (YES I said LOANED. They aren't mine.) to know the Maker of the world. They will be bankers, politicians, news anchors, teachers, writers, for the next generation, and my MISSION is to teach them all about Jesus, so they can GO into their worlds, and make disciples one day. Our MISSION as MOMS is not to minister abroad....our first calling is to our families. And if we cannot minister to the people who live in our homes, we are not ever going to minister to those in another country. If we say we have a heart for missionary work, and cannot have a heart to make lunch and pray for our own children, then we are decieving ourselves. You have a mission field. It's not cheap, but it is free. It's not hard, but it is the most difficult job you will ever have. And it's one that you will have to answer for when judgement day comes. I don't know about you, but I want to be able to look Jesus in the eyes on that glorious day, and when he asks what I did with my talents...scratch that.... children, I want to answer with things other than: I showed them every Disney movie ever, and they know all the classic songs! or I gave them so many of the best sensory experiences, that they learned a lot about the world around them, and opened their minds to all kinds of cultures! I want to be able to say more than, I spent every minute with them, playing, baking, laughing, learning, and creating the best family bond ever! Don't get me wrong....those things are fun. And some of them are good. But in the sceme of eternity, they pale in comparison. I want to be able to say " I taught those four kids EVERYTHING I knew about You, and they learned even MORE because I showed them the truth of Your Word, and they CHANGED THEIR WORLDS because they knew JESUS!" That is my goal as a mom. That is my mission field. And as small and as impossible as it seems, if I allow God to use what I have here with me, He will bless it, He will use and work through it, and He will honor it and make it greater than I ever could, would, or will. Moms.... GET ON A MISSION TRIP. Because you have been since you conceived your first child. Be Mission Minded...whether at home or abroad. Minister in the grocery store. At the doctors office. In school or extra-curricular activities. Be Jesus. Train them up to know and love Christ, because His word promises that that will NOT return void. They will NOT turn away....they will NOT depart from Him. And you can take that to the bank. I'm on a mission trip, and so is my husband. His ends at the end of the week. Mine.... well, they say parenting never quits, until you or your children leave the earth. So I guess I'm on this thing indefinitely. Go with me. It WILL be worth it. Let's change the world. One kid at a time.
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AuthorBri is the mom to four little people, the wife to a gentle giant, and a lover of Jesus. She's figuring out the best ways to parent by trial and error, and sharing her struggles, successes, and stories with you! Archives
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