Do you have a secret life? Most of us quickly answer NO! But as we ponder deeper, often there are vague, small differences in our life at home and our life out in public!
Since I have been a stay at home mom for several months, I'm adapting into a country lifestyle pretty well. As the temperature heats up, my old fashioned sundresses work best for my daily attire. Now that the garden is coming in, most days are spent putting up fresh vegetables. Last week green beans came in...with abundance! Fresh produce demands attention and waits for nothing, it must be dealt with immediately. One day I had spent the day snapping beans and canning them. There was a large bowl full of beans left to be snapped which would go into jars to be canned and then I would be finished with this day long job. But as it happens, time got away from me and it was time to take my youngest to baseball practice. Usually I make an effort to enhance my public appearance (clothes, make up etc.) before practice, but that day my focus was on getting the task at hand done. Since I was so close to finishing and couldn't bear the thought of a 2 hour practice with me sitting there doing nothing... I loaded up my beans and bowls and in my old fashioned sundress and no make up and went to town! As I sat with the other parents snapping beans at baseball practice, my country lifestyle shone through. It became pretty clear that what you are at home....is what you are!
So what are we to do? When can we just relax and let go? When we are at peace with God and ourselves. As we are able to freely pray, read God's Word and be obedient, we receive His grace. His grace changes our hearts. It may reveal an area we need to reign in or do some changing to. His grace although may point out unpleasant things, always is for our good. It always encourages us to be our best, with His help.
In our homes is the perfect practice field! As we receive grace, we can extend grace. As we count our blessings, we can in turn be a blessing. Often times an area that needs a little help, will find a lot of practice in the home!! As we cherish our home and seek to be a blessing to our family, we grow in grace. The good things we need to develop, patience, kindness, selflessness, sharing, compassion and love when put into practice day in and day out will become a part of us and bless our families and will go with us out in public. This is the path to being 'a gracious woman'.
This week may we be inspired to ask the Lord to reveal any 'hot spots' that need to be dealt with. In our homes, may we overcome these things with His goodness and be ready to be a 'sweet aroma of the Lord' to all we come in contact with.
When we're 'at home' our words and attitudes seem to be more free. We are not on guard of other's feelings and can easily adapt an attitude that is relaxed and may be called 'the real me'. I've found that with this freedom may come a few undesirable traits. Things like sarcasm, critical words, judgements or irritation may pop up. Eventually, if these little things are left unchecked, they will manifest themselves in our lives everywhere we go. The truth always falls back to 'what we are at home...is what we are'.
So what are we to do? When can we just relax and let go? When we are at peace with God and ourselves. As we are able to freely pray, read God's Word and be obedient, we receive His grace. His grace changes our hearts. It may reveal an area we need to reign in or do some changing to. His grace although may point out unpleasant things, always is for our good. It always encourages us to be our best, with His help.
In our homes is the perfect practice field! As we receive grace, we can extend grace. As we count our blessings, we can in turn be a blessing. Often times an area that needs a little help, will find a lot of practice in the home!! As we cherish our home and seek to be a blessing to our family, we grow in grace. The good things we need to develop, patience, kindness, selflessness, sharing, compassion and love when put into practice day in and day out will become a part of us and bless our families and will go with us out in public. This is the path to being 'a gracious woman'.
This week may we be inspired to ask the Lord to reveal any 'hot spots' that need to be dealt with. In our homes, may we overcome these things with His goodness and be ready to be a 'sweet aroma of the Lord' to all we come in contact with.
I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Psalms 101:2
What a beautiful post! So many wise words, my friend. I loved "His grace changes our hearts." This is such a beautiful promise because we weary of trying to change on our own. We can't. He changes us, just as you said.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday and for reminding us to be a sweet aroma of Christ to all we meet!
Yes...Home is a perfect place to "practice what we preach"... Thank you for your post. It is sad that sometimes we are hardest to those that we are closest too ...those family that are the dearest, our loved ones...in our homes... seems that the ones we are so comfortable with, we tend to be less patient with... May the love and grace of Jesus shine through us...always...wherever we may be and with whomever we are with.
ReplyDeleteBlessings & Aloha!
...unexpectedly, I dont have to be in at work until the afternoon today...so catching up on some blog reading :o) Please do stop by if you have time, and if you do, please leave a comment so that I know you were there. Stopping though "Making your Home Sing" Monday :o)
Oh wow, it's like you've been a fly on my wall at my own house. I just wrote a post similar to this, this is a subject that's been on my heart and mind quite a lot lately. And it is so encouraging reading what others are saying about what I'm feeling.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post- thank you!