Two Guests Arrive to our Home

Okay, so two entries ago, I was just finishing up organizing the office area.  The week of August 3, I was going to start organizing the nursery.  And our second baby surprised us and came August 7 two weeks earlier than the due date, totally shaking my organizing plan which has not been back in working order since!  Here’s how it happened!  I had been having teeny contractions for a few weeks prior to the birth, and the wives who’ve had children will know a little more what I’ve gone through.  The midwife came August 6 in the morning for her last check-up before I would call her for the birth.  Little did I know how close it would be from that time I would call her.  That afternoon, I phoned her telling her some real visible signs that labor could be underway shortly.  There were more signs and I kept in touch with her about it over the phone.  Contractions grew, and I chose to get her to come later that evening before midnight.  Our sweet baby girl was born in the middle of the night, mid-morning.  I didn’t get any sleep that night or the next day.  That was okay ‘cause I was so excited.  After birth recovery was so very extremely well that I was up and making phone announcements that afternoon.

I have in pride been a bit staunch toward the idea of helping my husband by being excellent in cooking and cleaning.  And this is only staunch toward the idea, not toward the cooking and cleaning very well.  I have a ways to go as far as cooking.  Cleaning is beginning to come underway.  What my husband would prefer I prioritize shows in what he said to me somewhat recently.  He said that the best way I can help him is by taking care of the children!  My pride has been loosened as I have accepted this priority rather than my own understanding and common sense (which isn’t common ha ha and doesn’t make sense).

I am going to definitely be working on spending quality time with our two daughters (our one-year-old and our newborn).  This priority, by the way, goes in line, with the last entry’s message – the good part – in that it is less stressful to prioritize Christ and those He says not to neglect, the little children.  Amidst this priority, my husband is balanced emotionally, something I can learn from, when he says that God has given us the children for a season.

Okay, so being creative is thinking of our daughters as “guests in our home” for 16 or 18 years or to whenever they get married.  This helps me to be balanced emotionally toward them.  I can be balanced emotionally by loving them as Christ commands but not being so attached that I will sob when they leave home or be the “mother-in-law nobody likes.”  I know they are not guests, like those who would spend a night or two in our home or enjoy a meal with us in our home… but they are my husband’s and my guests in that they are with us “for a season,” and we sure hope to keep in touch with them after their time with us!

Another guest who came by was my sister Bre who wrote the previous entry with me.  She was going to try to be here for the homebirth, and kept her prearranged tickets when our daughter came before she did.  Bre and I enjoyed the time together as sisters, her helping me with meals and adapting to the new work load with the two children, and she gave me a fun treat and painted my toenails a sparkly pink color.

Three and a half weeks after our second child was born, I am ready to resume the organizing plan.  I probably will stretch out each section of the house I’m organizing to being done after two weeks each rather than one week now.  I’m prioritizing the children now.

The Good Part ~ Guest Entry

            This is not a normal guest entry in that I am writing it with the guest.  The guest is my sister, and she and I discovered that she and I battle with some of the same things as wives.  So this topic we have chosen is one that we both have experience to write from.

            This topic has to do with the “Martha and Mary” approach.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with what that means, here’s a Scripture reference about Martha and Mary, and my sister and I will explain how our situations relates to this. 

            ^“And it came to pass, in their going on, that he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman, by name Martha, did receive him into her house, and she had also a sister, called Mary, who also, having seated herself beside the feet of Jesus, was hearing the word, and Martha was distracted about much serving, and having stood by him, she said, `Sir, dost thou not care that my sister left me alone to serve? say then to her, that she may partake along with me.'  And Jesus answering said to her, `Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and disquieted about many things, but of one thing there is need, and Mary the good part did choose, that shall not be taken away from her.'” (Luke 10:38-42 YLT)

            My sister, Breanna: One of the parts that really jumps out at me in this passage is that “Martha was distracted about much serving.”  It can be very easy to lose focus in our lives and in relationships and to become distracted with things that are not a priority.  I know that for myself, one of the things I struggle with is feeling stressed about the things that might fit into the category of serving: keeping the house clean, doing the dishes and laundry, and making meals (those physical, tangible tasks that allow you to easily see the results).  These are all tasks that need to be accomplished, but if they take your focus to the point of you becoming “anxious and disquieted” (I think those are meaningful words that Jesus chose~ he did not intend for us to live that way), they have probably begun to take over in our lives.  My husband often reminds me how much it means to him to have me as his companion in life and how important it is to him that I stay positive and maintain a good attitude.  I have recently noticed that when I get “worked up” or “anxious and disquieted” about tasks around the house that I justify as “serving” him, that it brings him down.  The most important thing (“the good part” that Mary chose) is relationship~ to be there for those you love, to prioritize time together, listening, support, and companionship.

            Lindsey (me): My husband prefers that I am stress-free and peaceful.  It is “the good part.”  Priorities are so important, and it may be hard to settle for what Jesus prioritizes because it is not tangible, and I feel that if I have something to show for my time during the day while my husband is out is more satisfactory to me.  “But of one thing there is need…” said Jesus.  After the 40 days of fasting, Jesus quoted Scripture to fight Satan’s temptations.  I wonder if, when I am tempted to act on feelings that “I have to have something to show for my time,” or simply, “gotta work work work,” I could quote the words of the Wonderful Counselor (Jesus): “But of one thing there is need..” ?