Things We Used To Do
pamela
spurling
Have you noticed that there are times or seasons of
your life where you’re just clipping along and
things seem to come together fairly easily? Have
there been seasons where you just seemed to have a
good pace and sensible order to your days and in
your home? Are there things you *used*
to do but have, for various reasons, left off
doing? Well, these are the things I’ve been
considering these last few weeks: Things we used to
do.
"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and
see, and ask for the old paths, where is the
good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find
rest for your souls..."
Jeremiah 6.16
Things We Used To Do
Probably what’s most prompted my thinking and has
influenced this writing is the mulling over the
passing of time, sorrows of friends, changes in
life, etc., and once again, I recall a question I’ve
often pondered as I think on what might be a
question at the end of my life: “Lord, how would You
have used me had my whole life been yielded to
You?” I pray the LORD is using me now and that my
heart is fully yielded to Him. As we seek to obey
and to serve Him, many times others will question
our actions and our motives. Something I’ve desired
more and more, in the last several months
especially, is that my life will not be
misunderstood or an irritation to others, but a
blessing. Truly a blessing to others. Though my
decisions may cause some discomfort or puzzlement, I
trust that as they’re fully yielding to Him that
they’ll focus less on me and more on Jesus.
Likewise, when my decisions bring joy to someone, I
pray: they’ll all the more focus on Him. This is so
true and important here in our home. I seek that we
have a joy-filled home with joyful family
members---but if I’m not doing my “reasonable”
service, then perhaps some things suffer or are
neglected.
I’ve been asking the LORD: what good things (that I
used to do well) have I neglected or have left off
doing? What habits or practices have I allowed to
slip or be ended altogether? I recognize there are
several things and it didn’t take me but a moment to
list them---they’re random---but they came quickly
to mind!!
The first is in-depth Bible Study---on my
own---apart from the family Bible study. I tend to
read sections, mull them over and then move on to
another passage, often writing out what I want to
remember. But The LORD is showing me that I need to
spend more *quality*
study time in the Word. Passages I had committed to
memory are not as clear to me now, nor can I quickly
repeat them---so I’m resolving to get back into
meaningful in depth study instead of topical
studying. O, the journey just begins with a step of
faith!
Another thing that quickly popped in my mind was
early rising which hasn’t been so early lately!
While this hasn’t been a “bad thing” per se, it
hasn’t appeared to have helped us much, either! My
very-early-riser friends would possibly disagree
with the following rationale, but in the past few
months I’ve not been well, and additionally, there
have been “holidays” and other schedule changes.
Our older children have really been needing those
late night chats and “one on one” times---it seems a
couple of them just liven up at night––late at
night! (ahhhh then I remember: eyes on Jesus!)
These generally occur when the little ones are
tucked into bed and the home is more quiet. I’m
attempting a bit more of a balance to this by rising
a bit earlier some days and not so on days after
late nights. Maybe *your*
schedule is varied and you’ve wondered how to adjust
it to meet the demands of your family. Could I
encourage you to “go with the season” and adjust to
what works best for your family---not to what works
well for other women in different circumstances.
Also---and this is always preeminent: seek your
husband’s thought on this matter. If you’ll talk
“schedules” over, then you’ll more easily come to a
peaceful, workable arrangement.
Then, here’s another… Instead of *taking*
little ones to bed, I’ve too often *sent*
little ones on their way to bed. O, this is one
that grieves me much! I realize that many nights
I’ll spend time with some but not all the littles
ones individually at their bedsides. This is
something I have determined *not*
to do and yet, I’ve allowed busyness to rush the
face washing, brushing of teeth, saying prayers and
one last story and then it’s: hurry, hurry, off to
bed! So… as each evening progresses, my resolve is
strengthened to *take*
and not *send*
to bed! O, the blessing of many, many years of
bedside prayers, kisses and hugs goodnight. I don’t
want to hurry this season away! I have boys I can
no longer hug goodnight and tuck into bed… and it’s
been so long since they’ve been home. I try to keep
this in mind as I look at the little boys and girls
I can still kiss goodnight. I must remember to be
sweet to my family---my children need mama to be
sweet… they need to remember back on a sweet mama
who adored them and loved them like Jesus would.
And another… I’ve allowed myself to entertain
“negative” thoughts! Ouch! This is a terrible
habit for many and I hadn’t realized how negative
thoughts have been seeping into circumstances each
day. Now… I’m thinking that “negative thinking” is
as dangerous as “positive thinking” when those
“positive thoughts” are not based on God’s Word. A
phrase I try to repeat each time I recognize
“negative” or unkind thoughts or words is, is this
pure, lovely, of good report… and when I stop and do
this, my sour words have to be replaced by sweet
words. Several times I’ve thought: Omygoodness, I
never used to be sour---where have sour voices come
from!?! I’ve sought to be optimistic---I’ve sought
to be cheerful---I know I need and want to be a
sweet offering, a sweet savour that ministers grace
to my “hearers.” When we don’t continually think on
things that are pure and lovely and of good report,
our words betray our intention and what comes out is
sometimes nothing resembling pure sweet words or
thoughts. So I consider that I wish to be a
peacemaker, not a “murmurer.” Nothing good comes
from murmuring. If you’re like me, just the time
you really attempt to refrain from thoughtless
speech, you’ll catch yourself saying something you
never intended… and you might be tempted to give
up---but don’t! Seek forgiveness and move on… it’s
not worth self depreciation---it will paralyze you.
I’ve so often allowed my mistakes to control my
thoughts and there is no value in hopelessness. The
wonderful grace of the LORD Jesus covers thee and
me.
And finally, my *one
a day* ---a total “once-over” cleaning,
sweeping, wiping and then cleaning one drawer or one
cabinet a day---every day---keeps our home tidy.
I’ve been distracted and have forgotten to keep up
with the maintenance that keeps the little foxes
from spoiling the vines. I could be defensive and
justify my actions and I could say that things
aren’t this way *everyday*
(and that *would*
be true) but then perhaps I might not take seriously
my serious need to change my behaviour and get back
to doing “the things we used to do.”
Perhaps there are things you used to do that you’ve
left off doing… perhaps there are hurt feelings or
bitter words you’ve spoken and you need to allow the
healing balm of the LORD to soothe your soul and
work in you once again to be a sweet fragrance.
Perhaps there is someone you need to forgive or an
offence you need to overlook. Perhaps you, too,
have neglected the gentle spirit of a loving mother
to be the guiding influence of your behaviour in
your home. Perhaps you, like me, have left off
doing some things you need to go back and pick up
again.
Blessings to you, sweet-heart sisters, as you seek
to love and serve the Saviour and do the things you
used to do.
pamela spurling, The Welcome Home