Friday, August 29, 2008

Just thinkin


I read somewhere that it is good blogging etiquette to let the blogging world know when you will not be posting so as not to inconvenience them. Although I have never claimed to be nice (family joke, another story for another day) I am a relatively polite individual. I therefore, chose to blog ahead when I sashayed out the door for a two week hiatis beside the shimery sands of the outter banks with my family, which was 4 weeks ago now, I posted a blog for each of the 14 days that I would be missing. I was confident that telling the blogging world that myself, and my entire family would be gone for two weeks, and my home would be empty, and all my stuff was up for grabs on a first come first steal basis, was not especially safe. I realize that I flatter myself to think anyone out there is really concerning themselves with it, but still! So in an effort to be safe albeit a bit paranoid, and also considerate, I blogged ahead. I was quite pleased with myself........Then we returned, and all bets were off. I no longer cared about courtesy, and it has been two weeks since a post. So there it is, I'm sorry, sorta, kinda, well not really, but still.....

Life is hard, and I have spent much time questioning just what is the point of this thing I do , this thing we call mothering, where I sacrifice... for what? I did not like the place I was in, or kinda am, but God is good, and he is there always to sustain , and encourage. My quiet time last week brought me to the story of Esther. I was so struck with her sacrifice, or at least willingness to sacrifice with no promise of a positive outcome. She sacrificed out of a desire to obey, and please her God. She went before her King knowing she could pay with her own life, and most likely would. She had everything to loose, her prestige (she was the # 1 wife) her comfort, (she lived in the palace for goodness sake) her family, (it was their lives she was trying to spare), her time (she spent much time and effort implementing the plan to persuade the King) she was willing to give up everything to obey, and ultimately save her family, and an entire people group, with no assurance that it would work. Esther was an amazing woman, and has gone down in history as one, but she didn't know that, and sacrificed anyway. Was she afraid? I am certain of it. Did she wish she was someone else at times? No doubt! Did it seem like an insurmountable task she had before her? You bet! But, she did it anyway, cause it was what she was called to do. For such a time as this, the Holy Scriptures say...... just thinkin....

Vacation was okay, beautiful Ocean, beautiful place to stay, lotsa smiles, lotsa memories.....but just okay....like I said, life is hard. But God is good!

I hope you will read the book of Esther someday soon, and be encouraged. For those of you non bible readers who check my blog occasionally, Esther is a book in the bible that could be read in one sitting, and it is easily understood, and a really terrific true story about a really terrific women that because of her love, and bravery, saved her people from sure annihilation. Read it, and be encouraged....i'm glad I'm back....
so what you thinkin?

5 comments:

Monica Wilkinson said...

Hi Amy -

I've missed you! I have been reading Esther lately as well and have an entire post on the subject already written for next week! :)

We're headed out of town for the weekend - and on my mind is how discouraged I am with reading to my girls. What to read, how to interest them, etc...

I'll be in touch when we return!
Monica

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you're back. God does give strength, doesn't he, when there appears to be none.

Charlotte Cushman said...

Amy - Love you. char

Anonymous said...

Hi Amy.....I clicked over from your comment on my blog....I love the story of Esther...and the part I like best...is the part where (and I am paraphrasing...probably gonna chop it up...) it says....when her cousin Mordecai comes to her...says something like "How do you know your entire existence was not to come to the earth, for this very moment...for such a time as this?" ....like every single sacrifice she made, every decision she made her whole life, all boiled down to that moment...I think there's SO MANY moments in motherhood where we can really come to find out...that all of it was worth it for SUCH A TIME AS THIS...it was all to serve others...the way we do as mothers...
hope you have a great weekend...great blog!
melody ross

Dawn said...

I knew it was that time of year!
I was thinking about how hard this vacation would be for you.
Those smiles on the boys' faces are wonderful though!! Love the high five!
welcome back,
Dawn