In the ordinariness
This was a great post on Girl Talk (by the way, I finished their book a few days ago, review to be forthcoming shortly!).
I know, in my own experience, it was my parents' example which spoke volumes more to me than anything they ever taught me. Christ was not just Someone they told us about, He was their life. The realness of their Christianity was evident every single moment of every single day. As a young person, there is nothing more powerful than seeing Christ living and breathing in your parents' lives day in and day out.
How I desire to be this kind of example to my own children - only by the grace of God!
You don't have to be a mother or a mother-in-law to apply Titus 2:3-5. Just take a look around and you will find many motherless women in need of that listening ear and practical advice. Give them a call. Offer to babysit or make a meal. Be their friend. "Show her, in the ordinariness of Monday through Saturday, how to keep a quiet heart" so that she "may glimpse the mystery of charity and the glory of womanhood.""The ordinariness." I love that! Even though I'm not an "older woman," I so desire that my family and others would see Christ in me in my ordinary life. That, as I often pray, He would "love through me, live through me, write through me, speak through me."
I know, in my own experience, it was my parents' example which spoke volumes more to me than anything they ever taught me. Christ was not just Someone they told us about, He was their life. The realness of their Christianity was evident every single moment of every single day. As a young person, there is nothing more powerful than seeing Christ living and breathing in your parents' lives day in and day out.
How I desire to be this kind of example to my own children - only by the grace of God!
posted by Crystal Paine at 5:47 PM
3 Comments:
Your post really rings true in my life. My mom died when I was six and I didn't have any female role models to speak of. So, I'm glad my three daughters have me! I don't think they would follow my example if I just "talked the talk" and didn't actually "walk the walk", as well. (I know I didn't really believe until later in life, even though my dad brought us to church each week. This is b/c he didn't "practice what he preached." So, I couldn't agree w/you more!
Great post Crystal!
If you have time to read this, Crystal, it is a testament of how God can live in and through people...like your mother(parents), and your young family, and ladies and their families here.
http://gty.org/resources.php?section=transcripts&aid=216548
My mother claimed to be a Christian, attended church fellowship, stayed home and was domestically inclined, talked some aspects of Jesus to me(some very wrong), etc. but came from a very dysfunctional family experience and was in a "far from how God desires" marriage and had health issues which all overflowed bitterly into my life(the book Stormie by Stormie O'Martian touched on it a bit). My father to this day will say that he is a Christian because of what He knows is in his heart(never read the Bible and refuses to and doesn't believe what I share) and goes on to use the name of Jesus in vain as normal conversation, claiming that life ends at the grave and we'll all just go 6 foot under.
I don't have the same type memories of childhood along with the specific blessings you do. My life is very much a contrast similar to how God speaks through Paul in the book of Romans. The first few chapters focus on unrighteousness and it being lived. Then God interjects a pivital phrase..."but God"...and then proceeds to reveal His righteousness in Christ Jesus and how a life is transformed. Even with the emotional and physical abuse memories, there were gracious and genuine believers God had be very instrumental in drawing me to Himself(a kindergarten teacher that later became a neighbor, the father of a school friend became a pastor and he and his wife had Good News Clubs in their home, etc.). I, too, was very blessed though very "differently" and believe God allowed me to learn of Him in a way that gives me "the rubber hits the pavement" empathy for others with the focus being Jesus and what He desires for individuals within a healthy body of believers and home. It's said that it can take many generations to undo dysfunction junction family experiences; that doesn't have to be so with God that makes all things possible in our most merciful and gracious Lord and Savior.
Sorry for the length; maybe others relate.
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