Sewing for Three : July 2011

Friday, July 29, 2011

Encouragement for Moms:)

Motherhood as a Mission Field
June 16, 2011 | by: Rachel Jankovic | Category: Commentary

There is a good old saying, perhaps only said by my Grandfather, that distance adds intrigue. It is certainly true — just think back to anything that has ever been distant from you that is now near. Your driver’s license. Marriage. Children. Things that used to seem so fascinating, but as they draw near become less mystical and more, well, real.

This same principle certainly applies to mission fields too. The closer you get to home, the less intriguing the work of sacrifice seems. As someone once said, “Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help Mom with the dishes.” When you are a mother at home with your children, the church is not clamoring for monthly ministry updates. When you talk to other believers, there is not any kind of awe about what you are sacrificing for the gospel. People are not pressing you for needs you might have, how they can pray for you. It does not feel intriguing, or glamorous. Your work is normal, because it is as close to home as you can possibly be. You have actually gone so far as to become home.

Home: The Headwaters of Mission

If you are a Christian woman who loves the Lord, the gospel is important to you. It is easy to become discouraged, thinking that the work you are doing does not matter much. If you were really doing something for Christ you would be out there, somewhere else, doing it. Even if you have a great perspective on your role in the kingdom, it is easy to lose sight of it in the mismatched socks, in the morning sickness, in the dirty dishes. It is easy to confuse intrigue with value, and begin viewing yourself as the least valuable part of the Church.

There are a number of ways in which mothers need to study their own roles, and begin to see them, not as boring and inconsequential, but as home, the headwaters of missions.

At the very heart of the gospel is sacrifice, and there is perhaps no occupation in the world so intrinsically sacrificial as motherhood. Motherhood is a wonderful opportunity to live the gospel. Jim Elliot famously said, “He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Motherhood provides you with an opportunity to lay down the things that you cannot keep on behalf of the people that you cannot lose. They are eternal souls, they are your children, they are your mission field.

Faith Makes the Small Offering Great

If you are like me, then you may be thinking “What did I ever give up for them? A desk job? Time at the gym? Extra spending money? My twenty- year- old figure? Some sleep?” Doesn’t seem like much when you put it next to the work of some of the great missionaries, people who gave their lives for the gospel.

Think about the feeding of the five thousand when the disciples went out and rounded up the food that was available. It wasn’t much. Some loaves. Some fish. Think of some woman pulling her fish out and handing it to one of the disciples. That had to have felt like a small offering. But the important thing about those loaves and those fishes was not how big they were when they were given, it was about whose hands they were given into. In the hands of the Lord, that offering was sufficient. It was more than sufficient. There were leftovers. Given in faith, even a small offering becomes great.

Look at your children in faith, and see how many people will be ministered to by your ministering to them. How many people will your children know in their lives? How many grandchildren are represented in the faces around your table now?

Gain What You Cannot Lose in Them

So, if mothers are strategically situated to impact missions so greatly, why do we see so little coming from it? I think the answer to this is quite simple: sin. Discontent, pettiness, selfishness, resentment. Christians often feel like the right thing to do is to be ashamed about what we have. We hear that quote of Jim Elliot’s and think that we ought to sell our homes and move to some place where they need the gospel.

But I’d like to challenge you to look at it differently. Giving up what you cannot keep does not mean giving up your home, or your job so you can go serve somewhere else. It is giving up yourself. Lay yourself down. Sacrifice yourself here, now. Cheerfully wipe the nose for the fiftieth time today. Make dinner again for the people who don’t like the green beans. Laugh when your plans are thwarted by a vomiting child. Lay yourself down for the people here with you, the people who annoy you, the people who get in your way, the people who take up so much of your time that you can’t read anymore. Rejoice in them. Sacrifice for them. Gain that which you cannot lose in them.

It is easy to think you have a heart for orphans on the other side of the world, but if you spend your time at home resenting the imposition your children are on you, you do not. You cannot have a heart for the gospel and a fussiness about your life at the same time. You will never make any difference there if you cannot be at peace here. You cannot have a heart for missions, but not for the people around you. A true love of the gospel overflows and overpowers. It will be in everything you do, however drab, however simple, however repetitive.

God loves the little offerings. Given in faith, that plate of PB&J’s will feed thousands. Given in faith, those presents on Christmas morning will bring delight to more children than you can count. Offered with thankfulness, your work at home is only the beginning. Your laundry pile, selflessly tackled daily, will be used in the hands of God to clothe many. Do not think that your work does not matter. In God’s hands, it will be broken, and broken, and broken again, until all who have need of it have eaten and are satisfied. And even then, there will be leftovers.

Rachel Jankovic is a wife, homemaker, and mother. She is the author of "Loving the Little Years" and blogs at Femina. Her husband is Luke, and they have five children: Evangeline (5), Daphne (4), Chloe (2), Titus (2), and Blaire (5 months).

Topic: The Unwasted Life

Monday, July 25, 2011

1st Day of School

Today was our first day of school. I know it seems a bit early, but with our addition coming in December, it might be wise to get a head start. We are studying Adventures in My Father's World this year. This year's focus will be on American History. Our snack was even red, white, and blue today:)

Marcus did great today. He picked right up where we left off in everything. He loved his new art curriculum. He will do art everyday this year. He is excited about that.

Luke loved his new preschool stuff. I made copies for Kate. I new she would be right in there with him. In the picture they are smiling with their letter A made from stuffed animals.

I feel blessed to be able to be with them everyday and watch them learn and grow.

Fried Okra!

This spring we planted a garden. The kids and I have loved watching everything grow. We had some corn, red potatoes, and carrots. But what we really had luck with is cucumbers and okra. We are picking okra 2-3 times a week. We are having fried okra all the time and sharing with neighbors. We will definitely plant okra next year!

Our favorite fried okra recipe is Paula Deen's fried okra recipe:)

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Summer Projects!

Okay, this is the last post for this blog marathon! The kids and I have been couch potatoes today so I can get the blog caught up before school starts. I promise from now on to sit at the sewing machine less and keep the blog up to date:)

The first one is a smocked sock monkey bubble for a friend that just had her baby boy.

For the crab dress I used the "Frannie" pattern from Children's Corner. I made the boys shorts to match and put a small crab on the leg.

The owl skirt was for fun to add to her collection.

The fish dress is her favorite for the moment. I used the "Mary De" pattern. Kate Kate says that the big blue fish is her Daddy and she is other big one. Some days I get to be one of the little ones on the side. Daddy's Girl!

The dress I am wearing I made earlier this summer. This is my favorite dress especially in my growing condition. Very comfy:) I hope to make a few more.

Memphis Zoo 2

More pics from the Memphis Zoo. Marcus going nose to nose with a grizzly and lots of fun in the bird house.

Memphis Zoo

We went to Memphis Zoo. The kids had a great time playing in all of the splash pads. Daddy was a superhero. He bought all three an icee that came in a polar bear bottle. They were $6.50 a piece. You do the math and figure out what we paid for a drink at the zoo:)

He Lost His 1st Tooth!

Marcus Baseball

We loved watching Marcus play this year. He could really hit that ball!

Luke's Birthday Party

Thank you to all of our great friends who came to celebrate with us.

Awana Awards

What a great year in Awana. We are so proud of the hard work memorizing verses these little guys put in this year.This is Marcus and his Sparky teacher Mrs. Margaret. He says she is his favorite because "she teaches me about missionaries and she has the same name as my Grammy!"

Molly and Chance's Wedding

The kids and I were in Molly and Chance Smith's wedding. What a fun weekend. The kids did great, but I think I held my breath the whole weekend! I ask the kids what were their favorite parts of the wedding. They said "the sticker books and the cupcakes, but not the kiss(Marcus)."