Last week was a hard week for me. Both my kids were sick. A simple sentence which doesn't convey the loss of sleep, the hours of comforting, the struggles to not worry, the cabin fever, the repeated wiping of snotty noses and laying awake in bed listening to rasping coughs.
I really struggled with wanting to wish it all away; wanting to return to my "comfortable" life. Obviously, for my children's sakes, I wanted them to be better, but much more selfishly, for MY sake, I wanted them to be better, too. God kept bringing to mind again and again that He is doing a work of sanctification in my life and it is these times of difficulty - much more than the times of ease - which take me beyond my limits and teach me to rely on Him. I shouldn't be so quick to wish them away.
Many times in the past week I have been reminded that life - TRUE LIFE - is dying to myself.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
This verse always gives me mental images of stories from communist China or Russia where believers literally lost their lives for the gospel and for their fellow Christian. It sounds so noble and exceptional. And yet, this is not a call to that one, special occasion, but rather a calling for our daily lives.... dying to our wants, even our needs, for those around us. What better training ground do I have than motherhood?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1.
What an amazing perspective when I can see that my acts of nursing and comforting my children are acts of worship to an Almighty God. As I go through this often painful process of learning to give up ME, I gain HIM.
photo from www.allposters.co.uk
9:12 PM |
Category:
Matters of the Heart
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Lindsay Edmonds over at Passionate Homemaking is hosting a Crockpot Carnival. Her goal is to share nourishing crockpot meals to help out women in the busy seasons of life. I thought I would post one of my favorite soups that can easily be turned into crockpot fare. It is loaded with spices and nutrients.
Spicy Chicken and Sweet Potato Soup (this recipe is taken from allrecipes.com)
1 tsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 lb. chicken, cooked and shredded/cubed
1 can diced tomatoes (or 2-4 chopped tomatoes)
2+ c. chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 c. frozen corn
1 can kidney beans (or 1-2 c. cooked)
***
1 1/2 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. water
Stir-fry onions and garlic in oil. Throw into crockpot with remaining ingredients except the final two. Cook until sweet potatoes are tender (2-4 hours on high; 4-8 hours on low - depending on your crockpot). Combine the flour and water and stir into the soup. Best served with chopped cilantro, lemon/lime slices and sour cream.
8:57 AM |
Category:
Healthy Choices,
Recipes
|
I'm learning more and more about the seasons of life - a natural occurrence of aging, I'm sure. Apparently this is not the season for regular blogging as my poor, neglected website shows. I've probably started about five different posts, but I have run into one problem or another, and they've sat there, unpublished.
So, what's keeping me away?
1. I've cut back on the amount of time the computer is on. A very good thing for me and my family, but it makes me have a lot less time to get the important things done, much less blogging.
2. We've been dealing with a fair bit of sickness lately. It's that time of year again.
3. We've been busier with our church/community, so I have to make wise use of the time I'm at home.
4. I'm too tired, lazy or uninspired when I do sit down to the computer.
I'll pop back in every once in a while, but meanwhile, these two munchkins need to be my priority.
1:49 PM |
Category:
For the Family
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