Advent Sweet Sabbath
I would have never had the wisdom, guts, or patience to choose this life for myself. I thought what I wanted was the path of least resistance. But God knew what I was made for – what I truly wanted – and graciously showed me, inch by inch, that I could trust him with my future, my hours, my debit card, and my kids. ~Shannan Martin
Last year, to help my college kids observe Advent, I sent care packages full of daily tags with small gifts or activities. This year, all they are getting for Advent is detergent. Thanks to Amazon (no, I don’t have any affiliate links), I can set up repeated deliveries and pay for them before we go to the village. Detergent makes me think of Malachi 3:2 – “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.”
When I watch my neighbors pummel their clothes and fling suds all over the place, I feel a little bit sorry for the shirts and skirts. Until I see the results. Then I think about how sometimes I feel a little bit pummeled and scrubbed in life, about how I would never have chosen to live in a remote village in the tropics. I know that God is purifying and refining me. And I can trust Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment