The Cheerio Family: Staying at Home - Joy's Story

I don?t mean to cheat but, I want to start this post with a little line from Deanna?s story. She wrote:

?God had known exactly what I needed in my life, when I didn't.?

This statement encapsulates my life story; from beginning to end, including, but not limited to my motherhood. I have had so many dreams in my lifetime, mostly shallow dreams of self-fulfillment, popularity, travel, new and exciting experiences, changing the world. Dreams of big things.

God knew all along that what I really needed was something small; small, but significant.

I am thankful to say that I grew up in a family that taught me to value motherhood as a worthy calling. My mother and older sisters were and are stay-at-home moms. I always knew that I wanted my life to include marriage and children, but I didn?t know that this life would be the fulfillment of my soul. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the One who knows the deepest needs and desires of our hearts and can fill them, no matter what our stage or station in life ?single or married, a parent or childless. I?m thankful that His plan for me, so far includes three people, one big and two little, who He has used to fulfill my heart. Deep peace is mine because of the work He has done in my life. Yes, there are ups and downs, of course; mistakes in abundance. He uses this little life to show me the depths of my heart and sanctify me. Often I don?t like to look at the darkness that lies down there in the depths, but He shows me to help me grow, to enable me to glorify Him. And that deep peace lingers because He has lead me to the place where I belong.

My life is now full of little things. From those teeny-tiny newborn diapers to the happiness that a two-year-old can receive from an ice cube or an acorn, I live a little life. My children have opened up my eyes to the beauty of small things. My travel circuit has been condensed too. On any given day I?m not likely to travel much further than a block or two down the road, usually pushing a double stroller or holding little hands. I am so thankful for this little life. My revolves around cooking little meals and wiping little hands. Cleaning little messes, telling little stories, folding little clothes, writing little notes. As far as fame goes, will I gain worldly recognition for collecting chestnuts or pushing swings? Will I win any awards for wiping noses, kissing owies or trying to prevent another tantrum? Probably not, at least not on earth, but I hope to be found faithful. I thank the Lord for this little, predictably unpredictable life full of small things that teach me about His goodness.

I will conclude with yet another quote from Charles Spurgeon which I read on this blog recently:

?To a man (or woman) who lives unto God nothing is secular, everything is sacred...

To draw a hard and fast line and say, ?This is sacred and this is secular,? is, to my mind, diametrically opposed to the teaching of Christ and the spirit of the gospel?

Peter saw a sheet let down from heaven in which were all manner of beasts and four-footed creatures, which he was bidden to kill and eat, and when he refused because they were unclean, he was rebuked by a voice from heaven, saying, ?What God hath cleansed that call not thou common? [Acts 10:15; 11:9].

The Lord hath cleansed your houses, he has cleansed your bed chambers, your tables? ?He has made the common pots and pans of your kitchens to be as the bowls before the altar ?

if you know what you are and live according to your high calling.

You housemaids, you cooks, you nurses, you ploughmen, you housewives, you traders, you sailors, your labor is holy if you serve the Lord Christ in it, by living unto Him as you ought to live.

The sacred has absorbed the secular.?

Source: http://www.thecheeriofamily.com/2012/12/staying-at-home-joys-story.html

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