RSS subscribers... sorry for the re-posts.. The "interesting" characters in the text below- are problems with copy-cut pasting a word doc into blogger... if annyone knows how to fix or avoid- I'd greatly appreciate the help--- I promise- it's ROUGH.. but not THAT rough! ;) Seems to be an issue with just the punctuation, btw;) Please do not copy without permission: See copyright info at sidebar;) Update on book project..... well- 96 pages in- I can tell you this--- printing 96 pages takes more than an hour. My printer is squeaking like a mouse with cramps. I may need a new printer before this project is complete. The 96 pages are very rough, and the printing is so that I can better organize and edit- (just easier for me to "see" the hardcopy- verses the doc file;) so a little bit to share: Excerpt from Book Project- Missional Mom
What is a “Missional Mom”?
In the middle of the night, the missionary closed her eyes in silent prayer. “Oh Jesus, I need your help.” Since responding to the call to missions, her nights had become times of struggle, tears and exhaustion. The natives were most needy at night. It was also at night, that the missionary was most tired.
All day long, she fed the hungry, clothed the naked and bound up both broken bodies, and the broken hearted. Over time, she had gained the natives’ trust, and they requested her judgment, in their social squabbles. In meeting the needs of those she ministered to, she cleaned, she cooked and she served. She also spent time in working to support her ministry financially. It was exhausting, and exhilarating at the same time. Boring and adventurous.
“Oh Jesus, I need your help”
The same prayer was on her lips the day she discovered God’s call on her life, to join the mission field. There had been a rare, visible sign, that day. One that had made clear to her, what He was planning for her.
A visible “blue double line”, sign. Blue double lines, in the tiny window of her home pregnancy test. “Oh Jesus, I need your help” She prayed then, too.
I know, because the missionary, is me. Those blue lines were one of the most concrete messages God, has ever given me. It was my “Clear Blue Easy” calling into the mission field of mothering. Since that day, it has been an adventure that has been just as dangerous, thrilling and sometimes as mind numbingly boring, as any other mission field.
I am a wife of 18 years. I am a Mom to 3 boys, 17, 14 and (surprise) 4. I am a neighbor, and a friend. I am a missionary. I’ve clothed little naked children, I’ve fed hungry stomaches. (Sometimes, I’ve wondered if my teenagers have some kind of strange mission field parasite, that causes never ending hunger! These boys can EAT!) I’ve been the judge over countless “native counsels” where wisdom was required. “Who’s turn is it on the computer?” is a common one, at this point. I’ve had to learn their changing cultures, from Thomas the Tank Engine, Dora the Explorer, to online gaming and internet safety. I’ve grown in my skill with their languages and needs. “What up, Dawg?” sounds ridiculous when it comes from a mom of teens mouth, fyi.
I’ve been supportive of my husband, through struggles and job changes, sickness and health. I’ve tried to make sure there is (at least occasionally) time for sex, in a marriage crammed with responsibilities. All along I’ve prayed the same prayer “Oh Jesus, help me.”
There are languages and cultures I’ve had to learn to understand and respect, like the world of Dora the Explorer, and online gaming, The culture of a business man, and the language of a marketing executive. I have learned the socio-cultural ritual of deer hunting. I have learned to live with and love my native neighbors, whether they are Muslim, Hindi or cranky yard gestapo members. There is no doubt, that I am a missionary. Right here in my home.
If you’re reading this, I say with confidence, so are you. Regardless of how you came into mothering, whether conventionally, through marriage and pregnancy, finding your “Clear Blue Easy” double “calling” line, like I did, or through single parenting or step parenting or adoption, you are called.
A Missional Mom’s primary mission, is to (ad) minister the love and grace of Christ, through modeling and loving her family and friends in the way that Christ loved her. She does this through meeting their needs, effectively teaching the truth and sharing the comfort that He has given her.
