Be Faith-FULL!

Children have a way of humbling you, teaching you lessons, helping you see things a different way. A simpler way. We as adults tend to complicate things. We add so much in sometimes, that we forget why we are here, and what we are doing! This morning, my beautiful oldest children did just that for me. Grayson, as he gazed out the window, asked "Mommy, is God the sun?" So we had a long, in-depth (I have mentioned his need to know the details and the details of the details before...that boy can talk!) conversation about God, His creation, and our job or responsibility in caring for that. And Ada as she sat and listened, piped up in her little four year old way...."Being Faith-FULL means you love everyone, just like God does." This doesn't sound like much, and to most, it isn't, but there was something about the way she said it and the emphasis she put on the FULL part. Something about it made me see that word in a different light. Faith-FULL. Filled up with faith. Not just aware of God and his beautiful creations, but filled up with faith. Faith in God. Faith in love. Faith in each other. If you are filled up with faith, you can't help but love each other and this beautiful creation of God's. And not only can you help but love it, you are filled with faith. Faith in HIM. Faith in HIS timing. Faith in HIS plan. Faith in yourself to trust the goodness of His plan and to follow His plan.

There have been a few occurrences over the last couple weeks that have put me in a weird mood. I like loving people! I like being a friend. I enjoy seeing people smile.  As a stay-at-home mom, you get the "oh, so you're JUST a mom" comments regularly, and I am actually getting used to them. And then you throw homeschooling in the mix and the comments get taken up to a whole new level. My response is usually to just smile it off and move on. But certain times of the month, when my feelings are on my sleeve, I get in a funk! People don't get me. Honestly sometimes I think I was born about 100 years too late. I appreciate the old way. Not that it makes the "new" way wrong or worse. I just personally wish you could do what you were called to do, in my case...stay at home and teach my kids at home...and that be okay with folks, that there wasn't anything to explain. People would not think you're weird or outdated, but I guess I am. I am outdated. I am a vintage girl in a fast paced, modern world. I have a huge appreciation for modern social media (as you probably know since I blog, Facebook, and Pinterest) but when it comes to home life, I tend to be old fashioned.  We are simple people. My children participate in outside activities, but we also love just hanging out at home, making our own trouble!

Yes, I love my children. We ALL do. Yes, I stay at home with my children. No, not because we are rich and it is easy, but because we felt led to do this and we sacrifice. Yes, we homeschool. No, not because I don't want my children to leave the house and I want to "shelter" them,. Not because there's something particular I have against public school teachers or kids, but because this is the place God has led us and it is what we feel is right for our family. And boy has it blessed both my husband and I during this experience! And to answer your question, I don't think my children lack in "socialization", and I do NOT have an overabundance of patience or nerves of steel. Yes, I post a lot about my children. No, not because I want to prove anything to anyone, or because I am a "mommy of the year", but because I am with my children all day and that leaves me nothing else to talk about, and because they are my happiness, they make me smile. I like to smile, therefore, I like to share little smiles too!

Something about Ada's comment this morning, just put me where I need to be. Yes, I know that people don't get me, and honestly you don't have to! This, our children and homeschooling, is what God has placed on our heart as being our first priority, and no one has to "get" that. And, I will continue on and be faith-FULL, because after all, there's no one else who has to be pleased with my life but God and me. And honestly, I can't imagine doing anything else!! We were all made to fill a purpose, and for me, it's being JUST a mom. 

So, in the words of my daughter, be faith-FULL.  And I challenge you, "Love everyone, just like God does." And that doesn't mean love only the people who do things your way! ;)