Discover The Mystery of How You Impact This World

“Would you like some puzzles for your children?”

Our neighbor addressed me unexpectedly as she leaned over the fence. Hanging up the last piece of my laundry, I turned towards her, surprised and thankful.

“I’m sure they would love to play with them!” I replied, wondering why she would make such a kind offer after having been disturbed by my little ones playing with their water guns while squealing, and sometimes arguing loudly by her window.

“Your children are such a delight and treat each other so kindly.”

Well, she may as well have hit me with a long wooden oar! I have always assumed that those who live around us must be horrified with the way we live our lives. They see our children in their house clothes, hear our impatient calls to them for dinner, and hear their squables (often).

This encounter got me thinking. About our witness. About family. About God’s light in our midst.

Discover-the-Mystery-of-How-You-Impact-This-World

You see, you and I may think that we have ‘just’ an ordinary family.

We may consider our family just a run-of-the-mill group of people, because our children fight daily and our home at times seems more like a warzone than holy ground. Nothing unusual about that, right?

Or we may think of ourselves as just a ‘normal’ family

…because we simply get on with life and the day to day with nothing much exciting happening, no fireworks or out of the ordinary events in the pipeline. And that would describe a pretty typical family, right?

Or we may think about our marriages as pretty average.

We argue more than we should, and we don’t try to impress and woo each other as much as we used to. And that describes at least 90% of marriages out there today, right?

Well, the answer to all of the above questions is…

Wrong!

My friend, you and I are being watched closely by our society. By the teller at the post office when we go send off some letters, by the neighbour we wave to as we drive by every day, by our doctor when we take our child to be checked.

People out there are noticing our lives, and the lives of our families – and would you allow me to take the initiative to tell you that what they see is different!

Your children are different from countless others out there when they actually smile, respond, and interact with adults, while the majority don’t.

The supposed humdrum of your routine lives are making up the very fabric of the society in which you live because you are persevering in faithfulness with the very things that are important to you, and not compromising by throwing it all away to pursue more selfish desires.

And your marriage, my dear sister, is a testimony like no other! In a world where marriage is made up of all sorts of combinations, and stepped out of for reasons that breach the commitment not to, your 4th, 11th, 17th, or 23rd wedding anniversary is a beacon lighting up your surroundings with the message, “Despite the hardships, the temptations, and the feelings, we are serving the One true God together, and we’re in this forever!

Don’t sell yourself short.

As you are being observed, the influence of a family who worship, love and revolve around God is powerful in a dying world. The witness of your family is phenomenal, and it is needed!

Your seemingly simple, insignificant, and ordinary life is far more influential than you most likely realize. As you live out the every day in faithfulness, obedience, and joy, there are people speaking about you at their dinner tables and scratching their heads in wonder!

And then, as God grants you opportunities to share why you your children are different (in a good way), or how you can homeschool and be with them 24/7, or why you are still married after 14 years when so many haven’t made it half as far, you can point them to the One who has saved your soul, sustains your existence, and gives you the faith, hope and love which you humbly live out.

I’m so proud of you!

What makes your family stand out in today’s world? (Come on… humbly encourage us… 🙂 )

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