Treasure have I!
Not gold or fame,
But flesh, blood,
My own, my name,
Richest and dearest of all possessions,
My babies, my children.
Body, spirit!
Not cold objects
In ivory towers,
But mud and skinned knees,
Rocking-chair nights, and calls at dawn,
Beauty, love and all things rare,
My jewels, my children.
Love of all loves!
Not flashy sentimentality,
But bone and breath,
Sacrifice and heartache,
Lasting past death
And memories of unmatched happiness.
My children,
God-given,
Forever in my soul.
~ Sharon Davies
Picture: Lauren Robertson with her precious baby. Lauren used to be one of our Above Rubies helpers. She is now married with two children.
The above poem is published in QUIET REFLECTIONS FOR MOTHERS, a book of beautiful poems for mothers. Go to: http://aboverubiesbookstore.mybigcommerce.com/quiet-reflections-for-mothers-101-poems/
“As is the mother, so is the daughter” (Ezekiel 16:44). Isn’t this a challenging statement? Our children become like us. They watch us all day long. If we are sour and miserable, always complaining and sighing, then expect whining children! If we keep a smile on our face and praise the Lord, even in the midst of difficulties, our children learn this behavior also.
Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today;
As I read God’s Word I notice a different picture than what see in many families in the body of Christ today. It seems that the Biblical picture is too old-fashioned for modern believers today. Too archaic. Too straightjacket. And yet it is the way of power. It is the way of obedience. It is the way God planned for His people. But then again, many people think they know better than God, don’t they?
I don’t know about you, but when raising my children I was not content for the status quo. Although our children have all grown and have all done amazing things in this life (and they will yet do greater things), I was not really so much interested in what fêtes they would accomplish, but only that they would have a consuming passion for God and His kingdom. This was my passion that they would have this passion!
Josiah and Shelby who will be married 16th October.
My granddaughter, Meadow and Kendall Hall. They will be married on the 10th September.
I have inundated you with a number of family pictures the last few days, which I rarely do. However, I thought I'd catch you up with a little family news and two coming family weddings. How we love weddings!
After staying for a week to rest after giving birth this sweet little family return to their home. Selah and her husband, Samuel with their three little ones: Sammy, Eureka, and newborn Kyrah Joy. Selah and Samuel are wonderful parents and are also in the process of adopting three children from Liberia (from where they originally come). These are children of family members who have passed away, one through Ebola. The hard part is the long wait to get these children. Selah is Serene's oldest daughter.
Three of our grandsons--Cedar Allison, Arrow Johnson, and Vision Allison.
Here is another one of our sweet little great-granddaughters. Christiana with Liliana, her second daughter. Christiana is Serene's daughter-in-law.
Have you ever seen such a precious father/daughter picture? Jack Simpson (Rashida's husband) with their little daughter, Ezzie (our great-granddaughter). Rashida is Evangeline's daughter.
An old picture of Wesley, our eldest son with Stephen and Evangeline (the twins) who turned 51 this last week! Where do the years go? It seems like yesterday.
Yesterday our dog had 10 puppies! She kept on popping them out all day. We thought she was finished at seven, then eight, and then later we found nine and ten! Can you count them? I am amazed at how easily animals give birth and how instinctively and lovingly they mother. Goldie hasn't stopped licking and feeding them and is so content to let them nurse constantly.
Holding Kyrah Joy, our 6th great-grandbaby. Selah and her husband and children are staying with us for a week while she rests from the birth of Kyrah. Selah is Serene's oldest daughter. Kyrah is barely one week. Isn't she adorable?
Isn't amazing that when we embrace children into our lives we actually receive Jesus? Even more! Jesus states in Mark 9:37 that we not only embrace Him, but God Himself! What could be more powerful?
I read a study about geniuses, past and present, in all different fields (although I should emphasize that we should not put this label on children). Every child, no matter who they are, is brilliant in the field God intends for them if they have opportunity to explore and develop their God-given giftings. Studies revealed three things peculiar to these children. They had:
We are a word-formed people. Our children are word-formed people. They become what we speak into their lives. Our words determine the course of their destiny--for greatness or for destruction. Children shrivel up with negative words or thrive on encouragement. As they grow, we reap the reward of the words we continually speak into their lives.
It’s so easy to get involved in so many activities outside the home, isn’t it? We can even get entrenched serving in the church. This is just what Satan loves to do. He wants us to become so busy doing “good” things that we end up neglecting our greatest service to the Lord, that of caring for our children and managing our home. What’s the use of helping others outside the home if your own home is in a shambles?