SOWING

SOWING . . .

   In the morning
             in the noontide
                         in the dewy eve

      In the sunshine
                      in the shadows

When I was just a little girl, my favorite hymn was

Bringing in the Sheaves.

Sheaves: the fruit of the labor

The story goes that as we were leaving church I began to cry because we didn't sing my favorite song. 

Since no one likes to hear a little girl cry, every one went back in to open a hymnal and sing.

I got to sit right by the pianist.  Smiley face.

This past Sunday, Michael put this sweet old hymn in our bulletin to sing on my birthday.  As we sang, I actually looked at the words.

Sowing and Reaping.

Sowing.

Sowing is serving, encouraging, teaching.  At five years old the Lord was planting a heart of sowing. Many years later, when words in black and white confirmed that planting, and the head went to the desk to weep, I didn't recall the words or the tune. 

That call was not for me alone.  When Jesus was on His knees before the disciples, washing their dirty, nasty feet, He was showing all of us what to do.  

When He was done, He said "Go and do likewise".  

We are to wash the feet of His servants.  

Serve them. Teach them.

 In the morning, at noon, and in the evening.  

In the sunshine, in the shadows, and with weeping.

We are to wash the feet of His servants.

Encourage them to stay on the path.

In the morning, at noon, and in the evening.

In the sunshine, in the shadows, and with weeping.

Every waking hour.  No matter the circumstance.

From the heart.

Then sometimes when you feel tired, she comes with towel and bowl, and kneels down to take off dirty, nasty socks because she saw Jesus on His knees and said yes.  Yes to come alongside and dirty some towels with you.

When our weeping's over, 
He will bid us welcome, 
We shall come rejoicing, 
bringing in the sheaves.

Bringing in the fruit of our labor one dirty towel at a time.  Oh, the joy.

                                       

He Said Yes

It was yes to more than just a mate.  It was yes to three kids and a big girl learning to be a mom.  There were kinks to work out and growing to do, but we made a choice to do both.  

It never stopped being about choice.  The choice was to lay down our own desires to meet the other's needs.  Every single day.

It is remembering that the words "I deserve (more, better)" were never uttered from Jesus' mouth, so how do we dare?  We worked through.  

What I found was that when you line it up with the Word, it makes it so much easier.  But, then again, all of life is like that, isn't it?  Just line it up?

When he says beautiful but the mirror screams something else, I choose to look in his mirror  and believe what he says.  He makes me feel more beautiful and desirable than I am.  When the ugly does pop out, he steers it back to beautiful.  How did I ever become so blessed?

And almost every night when we lay like spoons in a drawer, the words come out either feminine or masculine, "this is my favorite place in all the world".  All the world.  This yes place.

Engagement  2003

Yes to three kids.  Aren't they all so cute?

Let's make it an even half dozen! 

I'm so grateful to the Lord for the last twenty years.  I am ready for the next twenty. I love the thought of growing old with this man.