We have all heard the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” As a church, we don’t just believe that children need a village, we believe that every human needs a village. What we love about our village is that it is Christ-centered and our church is an extension of our household families. Ephesians 1:4-5 tells us that we are adopted into God’s family through Jesus Christ. The church is not just a building, it is the people inside that are a direct extension of the family.
When I reflect on Mother Mary, I immediately am brought to her song of praise located in the Gospel of Luke. Referred to as the Magnificat, this is a beautiful and soulful section of poetry, praise, and remembrance of who God is (Luke 1:46-55). It is laced with many allusions to the Old Testament, speaking to Mary’s own spiritual maturity and relationship with God. Yet, I can only imagine what must have gone through her head as a young teenager being visited by an angel from God. Her humble nature recognizes that she is but a lowly servant for the Lord, and that God’s favor has rested upon her (Luke 1:29-30, 48). Unaware of the fate of her baby boy, Mary seeks for God’s will to be done as it has been said (Luke 1:38). This exalting song to the Lord is the summation of Mary’s character, and brings great glory to God.
Every year I make myself a wall calendar. I have tried to use the calendar on my phone, I really have. It is not for me. As a visual/tactile learner, I need to see myself write things down or I will not keep them in my brain. So, every year in November, I begin gathering all the photos we have taken throughout the year and make myself a calendar. I make one for my mother-in-law, my grandfather-in-law, and, together, my sister and I make one that we give to my mother and my grandmother. These calendars basically serve as a journal of our lives. Appointments, parties, concerts, soccer games, etc. It’s all there.
I love the story I heard of Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn. Herman had a barn that flooded terribly every time it rained. After many failed solutions, he decided the only way to save his barn was to physically move it. So his community showed up and 344 people literally lifted the barn up by metal supports and moved it up a hill so that his livestock would have dry shelter and food. What a beautiful picture of community - everyone banning together to do a small thing in order to perform something that alone seemed impossible.
Have you ever dreamed of what you could do with just a little financial start? My family is full of idea people, so I have grown up with people around me dreaming up new entrepreneur projects, thinking of how to plan an awesome family get together, and scheming about how to help others in need. Do you have those people around you?
He clung to that doorway like his life depended on it. He screamed like he was being kidnapped, which is probably what it felt like to him. He cried and cried and cried.
She talked. Talked and talked and talked. On the drive home, she counted to 100. Twice. She tried to ignore the sobs and sniffles of the little brother sitting next to her. She put on a brave face.
The other two just watched. Stared in wonder at the drama unfolding around them. Gave up space in their rooms to allow another person to live there. Shared their toys and clothes. Shared their mommy and daddy.
This is how my story merged with the story of adoption. Dramatically. Traumatically. Saying yes to the call to adopt was the best, hardest thing we have ever done. Prior to that yes, we were living the ‘American Dream.’ Living in a nice suburb on a greenbelt. Two kids, one boy, one girl. We had it all.
Then God flipped our world upside down.
Gloria Furman hits home again with another book on motherhood. However, unlike her book Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full, Missional Motherhood is not so much about the nitty, gritty of day to day life in motherhood. We find a revealing statement in the Introduction: “The aim in Missional Motherhood is to give you laser focus on what God’s word says about his mission, how motherhood fits in to that, and what Christ has done to fuel and fulfill our everyday ministry as moms” (p.17). She states a few times in her book that this concept is not just for women with children in their home but “the spiritual motherhood of making disciples of all nations” (p. 24). This is for all women!
