---------------------------A Gift for the Homeschool Mom
Paula Moldenhauer
Come.
Do you hear the
Master calling?
Look, there's a twinkle in His eyes and a huge gift in His
hands. Notice how the golden paper glistens with a metallic gleam. And don't you
just love the big, blood red bow?
A present. Just in time for the
holidays.
Give the big kids an audio classic and put the little ones down to
nap. School can wait. Ignore the dust. Meal preparation can be delayed. No one
will starve, though your teenage son may think he will. You'll be able to face
those holiday preparations with renewed vigor after you've basked in the
Master's generosity.
Your Best Friend is really excited about your gift. He's
done all the work--choosing carefully what you need most, going to great
sacrifice to procure it for you. All that's left is for you to open it. Won't
you focus on Him and unwrap His gift?
You pull the pretty velvet bow apart
and lift the lid. You can't see what's inside, but you can smell it. It smells
like lilacs and fresh cut grass and sunshine. You can feel the present, too.
It's solid as iron, soft as a baby's cheek, and makes you warm all over. You can
even hear your gift. One minute it swells with symphonic melody, the next it
sings with the sweetness of a child. You can almost taste it on your tongue.
It's meat, potatoes, and vegetables--all that is solid and healthy--and it is
also silky chocolate and all that is sweet.
"What is it?" You ask.
"It's
my grace." He speaks with hushed voice, a tinge of emotion lacing His
words.
You stare at the box. You've heard about grace before, but you've
never really experienced it. Who knew that grace would have a smell, a feel, a
taste?
He suggests you reach inside.
You pull out a "G" and
frown.
Jesus chuckles. "G is for guilty no more. Too many times you heap
condemnation upon yourself. The children bicker and you think it's your fault
for not training them well enough. You are overwhelmed with your many tasks and
feel guilty that there's dust on the mantle. Your teen has a meltdown and you
blame yourself, sure that if you'd spent more time with her she'd be
happy.
"But it goes deeper. You beat yourself up for faults and failures I've
erased from your record. I've already forgotten them. There's no need to be
angry with yourself. I gave my life so you could live without condemnation. You
are guilty no more. If you don't believe me, read Romans 8:1. Read it a thousand
times and tape it on your bathroom mirror. Live as you are, my dear: Free from
condemnation."
You have a big lump in your throat and since you can't talk,
you reach back into the box. The letter "R" is in your hand.
The Lord gently
lifts your face to his. "R is for Rest in Me. Come to Me when you labor and are
heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and
relieve and refresh your soul." 1
"I try, but it is so hard to rest,"
You say.
Jesus tilts his head. "Think about when you nursed your last baby.
Do you remember how you cradled him in your arms and he nuzzled to your breast?
You nourished him, body and soul. Even as he was fed, he never took his eyes off
of you. He gazed at you with complete satisfaction, trust, and peace. Rest in me
as your baby rested in you. I will nourish you. I will lead and comfort
you."
Your eyes are glued to the Master, hungry to believe all He is saying,
but there is hesitancy, a fear you don't deserve to rest.
"My daughter, did
your baby do anything to earn your love?"
You shake your head. "No. I loved
him more as I served him, even though he could do nothing to help me."
"In
the same way, I don't expect you to earn My love or the right to rest. I simply
come and say, 'Are you tired? Let me help you. Are you burdened? Let me carry
it. Do you feel guilty or ashamed? Let Me take that and replace it with
forgiveness and acceptance.'"
Little tears gather in your eyes as you listen
to Him. It's so much to absorb and you haven't even spelled out the whole word.
You hesitate. The Lord reaches in the box and pulls out the next letter, "A."
With trembling fingers you reach for it, running your thumb down it's long,
sleek sides.
"It's time for you to accept my unconditional love," He says. "
So often I stand before you with my arms open wide, longing to enfold you in
them, but you duck your head and walk away. You let shame, guilt, or feelings of
inadequacy keep you from Me. I have loved you with an everlasting love. 2
Nothing you've ever done has made me regret that great love and nothing can take
it away.
"When I died on Calvary, I made it possible for us to be in close
relationship. I washed your every misstep away in the river of my blood. There
is nothing to separate us. Yet sometimes you are so determined to make yourself
worthy that you refuse my free, unconditional love." 3
You're weeping freely
now. He's right. The Christian life is about Jesus and the righteousness He
gives. You keep making it about your performance, causing both your pride and
your guilt to keep you from His arms. "I'm sorry." You whisper.
Jesus puts an
arm around you. "Take the next letter."
You reach into the box and hand Him
the "C." He lays it across your heart. "C is for Christ in you, dearest. I am
your hope of glory. You try so hard to be good. Trust Me and let Me make you
good. The good work I've begun in you will be completed. Stop striving. You are
My masterpiece. Will I not finish it?" 4
The Lord reaches into the box for
the last letter. You still weep silently, leaning your head against His
shoulder.
"E is for Empowered. I am the One who empowers you to be all
I've created you to be. Spiritual maturity isn't chasing after good works or
achieving your dreams. It isn't being the perfect mother, wife, or daughter. It
is knowing Me and letting your life flow from our relationship.
"Let me
empower you, dear one. I am the one who gives you the grace to accomplish all I
ask of you." 5
You nod. He hugs you and then kisses your cheek. As He walks
away you finger each letter, His words echoing in your soul. You place the
letters back into the box, one by one:
G-Guilty no moreR-Rest in
ChristA-Accept His unconditional loveC-Christ, my hope of gloryE-Empowered by
His Spirit
You linger with the open box in your lap, breathing in the scent
of grace. There could be no greater gift.
A home schooling mother of four, Paula Moldenhauer is passionate about God's grace and intimacy with Jesus. Her website offers home schooling hints, book reviews, and a free weekly devotional, Soul Scents. Subscribe to Soul Scents at www.soulscents.us. You can contact Paula at Paula@soulscents.us.
1 Matthew 11:28 (AMP)
2 Jeremiah 31:33
Ephesians 2:134
Philippians 1:6 & Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)5 Philippians 4:13, 2 Timothy 3:17
