On My Doorstep

Yesterday I saw how there are some advantages to city life. Reading all these blogs recently of the home-schoolin' mamas, raising their families in the wide-open spaces so they can give them the simple life, it's had me wondering if I'm missing it with my own kids.



Cell phones, facebook pages, my 10 year old having favorite series on netflix... are we allowing too much of the culture around us to influence the ideals we are trying to pass to our children?


Yesterday my son brought Darla home. Cute, funny, personable Darla. She was engaging, helpful. Playful with the younger siblings, sweet with the babe. 


And she was broken.


Years in the foster system will do that to a body. Leave some gaping wounds. 


Parents God-knows where and finally adopted a few months ago at 16. I could see it in her... 


God has a plan for this one. To still be smiling after so much trial. My heart was moved.


I'm not sure why my son is often drawn to the broken ones. But there she was. Standing on my doorstep. Sitting at my kitchen table. 




   Isn't this what I've been asking You for? To bring me the broken to love?




And here she was. and so I prayed.


       Help me love with Your love today.
       To see with Your eyes.


And He did. and it was a great day. She joined our family for worship that night. She heard the amazing good news that God's love is not far off but as close as the breath she breaths.
                                                                                    



Sometimes just seeing 'normal' in action can touch someone. Experiencing love in action can transform someone. 




I may not be the perfect mom.


Better said, I know I'm not. 


But if in the midst of our not-so-simple life, surrounded by hurting humanity, our kids are growing up with the message that

He first loved us

so we could love a broken world

to Him

    than somewhere in the midst I think we're doing something right.