Hi everyone! This is Rachel. I thought I'd do a more thought-provoking post than we have done recently. As most any homeschooler, and particularly older daughters know, there can be some competition between families. I don't mean the "well since you got a new dress I'll get one too" sort of thing, I mean what I call the "conviction competition".
Our Dads are the spiritual leaders of our homes, and therefore, each family is different as our Dads hear from the Lord on different things. I know that for me, and many other girls, it can be hard to keep from getting sucked into everyone else's convictions: The Smith family doesn't watch movies so we won't! The Stuarts aren't allowed to wear skirts above their ankles so I won't! The Sawyers wear head coverings- should I? The Atkinsons aren't allowed to read any books that their parents haven't read before them- should I ask Mama to read every one of my books too? The Taylor girls read their Bibles twice a day and memorize scripture for an hour each afternoon so I will too! I know you all can relate to something of this feeling. But you know, the Lord deals with us all differently in His own timing! He may want to teach another family something right now that He isn't teaching you! Each family also has it's different strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps one family doesn't watch movies because for them it is big time-consumer and stumbling block to productiveness. A movie-ban may be what they need temporarily but that doesn't mean it is for everyone! God does not call us to all be the same! He is a God of creativity! So you needn't feel obligated to have the exact same vision as the Joneses! God has His plan for our individual lives, and will grow us in the areas we need to grow in if we ask Him.
1 Corinthians 12:15-19: "If the foot should say, `Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,' is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, `Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,' is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the membbers, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?"
Now, needless to say, others convictions may challenge you to inspect your own life through God's eyes, but the point is not to adopt their views as your own. The point is to follow God with your whole being. As you seek Him, all else will fall into place.
Another thing I used to think about and sometimes still do is:"So and so never struggles with same things I do. She'd never shake her sister when she hits the Baby!" or "I'm sure she'd never think an impure thought!"
Do you ever do anything like that? I find myself often comparing my own personal shortcomings to other's outsides. That's what Mama calls taking a snapshot of someone and making a film out of it. But one time when I shared with Mama some of my feelings, she showed me another verse from 1 Corinthians 12:13: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Since then, I have found great comfort in that piece of God's truth. ...except that such is common to man? That means all the people that look like they have every jot and tittle down struggle with things too? I found it to be such a comfort that not only is my sin common, but that Jesus provides a way out of it!
Another thing I've been thinking about recently is how different personalities can make us more prone to one thing over another. I often struggle with my words. You see, I love to talk, and laugh and sing and everything else, and I am not naturally a meek and quiet person. I've had some nights after a social function when I make faces at myself the whole way home because I realize I had been boisterous or dominated conversations or something else of that sort. But then I know others who easily are the meek-and-quiet type, and never say anything except with the utmost propriety. I am tempted to compare myself to them. So decorum comes easy for them?I sometimes feel as if I must be the biggest wind-bag in the world! But you know? I'd be surprised to find that some things that I find easy as pie, are the biggest stumbling blocks to them? That is when I am so glad for the above verse.
Just take heart: you are not alone in your struggles- there are many others who deal with the same temper, vanity, impatience, or mouthiness :) as yourself. But most importantly, we have a Savior who is always there to lend us a hand when we end up ( or even intentionally) jumping into a pit of mud and foul behavior.
So anyhow, this may be a sort of disjointed rambling, but I just thought I'd write about what's been on my mind recently. I hope it is a blessing and encouragement to someone who reads it! God Bless You!
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