Slacker

I talked to a friend yesterday. Her name rhymes with Sharon. I call her that behind her back. (That's a lie; I call her Schrute). Anyhoo, she mentioned a call God has spoken to her regularly for several years that she wants to be more aggressive about living out. Frankly, I already think she is pretty awesome, and has probably let more of this calling in than she realizes. But, this got me thinking; this morning I was reminded of a project God placed in my mind, soul, heart, gut, and my lap. He probably even tied it via little strings to my ankles, but I have been running 50 miles an hour like Phoebe Buffay, so I have not noticed.
Several years ago, God said, "Hey, write this book."
Because I am a project planner, I set up files in my computer. I did research. Lots of it. I sent out surveys to moms. I calculated results. I constantly collect excerpts from writings and label it FOR THE BOOK. I wrote four chapters (mostly all completed). I outlined. I wrote. I read a gazillion books.
Because I am not a project finisher, I have yet to finish.

I had a dream a few years back that I walked into a book store and saw my book for sale on the shelf. I was SO excited! The book looked amazing! Was I really a published author!! For sale in a major bookstore? No, actually. When I turned the book over, some other woman's face was there, having actually listened to God's call, not just planned for it. OUCH. Then we got laid off, and life was in upheaval, and I was in college and couldn't wrap my head around any of it.
So when Schrute brought this up, it stuck with me all the way until this morning's bible study when BAM, God did it again. I am on it. I have no excuses. This is the year. I am going in.

And while this may be the longest post you will ever read on this blog, I am including an excerpt of my book Missionary Mom by Shontell Brewer below.(Dear Lord, please don't let anyone steal my title).

On doing a little research on women who accomplished much and changed the world in some way, I read Gilda Radner's It's Always Something (Radner, G., 1989).

"When I was little, my nurse Dibby's cousin had a dog, just a mutt, and the dog was pregnant. I don't know how long dogs are pregnant, but she was due to have her puppies in about a week. She was out in the yard one day and got in the way of the lawn mower and her two hind legs got cut off. They rushed her to the vet and he said, 'I can sew her up, or you can put her to sleep if you want, but the puppies are okay. She'll be able to deliver the puppies.'

Dibby's cousin said, "Keep her alive."

So the vet sewed up her backside, and over the next week the dog learned to walk.She didn't spend any time worrying, she just learned to walk by taking two steps in the front and flipping up her backside, and then taking two steps and flipping up her backside again. She gave birth to six little puppies, all in perfect health. She nursed them and then weaned them. And when they learned to walk, they all walked like her."

From birth, we are learning from the adults around us, as is human nature. If those leading are too far fetched or cause too much pain, we may look elsewhere. Unfortunately, especially when we are hurting, our judgement is not brilliant. Girls turn to boyfriends, and boys turn to trouble in many varieties. A puppy learns how to walk from his mamma. A child learns to EVERYthing from his mother. So, the next time your bundle of joy throws a tantrum, and you want to chalk it up to human nature, you may want to remind yourself that you are the human Baby is naturally following. And, now you are thinking the "P" word right? But, it's probably the wrong one. 

Think PURPOSE not PRESSURE.

Think OPPORTUNITY not OVERWHELMING.

You may feel as if your children are being pulled in every direction except the right one and that your input is small. Be reassured that God has placed that little bundle in your hands. Not the lady next door who seems to have it all together. Not the pastor whose prayers get heard before yours because he is of the cloth (not something; we all wear cloth). 

Children will mimic your walk, your laugh, your handwriting, your love for your favorite football team, and your stance on organic produce. 

They will also mimic what really matters:

your faith

your peace

your mercy

your grace

your willingness

your love

your joy

your kindness

your patience

your goodness

your gentleness

and your self-control

How do I know? Because the Bible tells me so. Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not part from it." (KJV) 

What can you do today to seize the opportunity to be purposeful in your child's life? Sure, you could pack your bags and whisk little Jimmy on the next plane to Africa to be a missionary. But, wouldn't holding the door for the lady with the stroller teach him the same thing? Wouldn't tithing at your church teach him the same thing? Wouldn't stopping your day to pray for someone in need, and then giving whatever you could to help that person do the same thing? If missionaries travel far and wide to show people the love of Jesus, couldn't you just look around and show people the love of Jesus? Who knows; maybe the next time you walk through a door it will be little Jimmy that says, "Here, let me get that for you. My mom taught me this."

Thanks Erin. Click.