“I have good news, but you’re not going to like it.” My husband spoke these words after running errands early Saturday morning with one objective in mind: to purchase whatever was necessary to squash our ant infestation.
What is motherhood (and especially the postpartum period) if not a daily, hourly, minute-ly ritual of being a love offering? If you’ve been in the difficult but fortunate situation of caring for a new human, you might remember the sacrifice well. If you’ve been there but don’t remember–because the passage of time has wiped your memory in favor of the warm fuzzy newborn cuddles–allow me to remind you: it’s hard. It’s tiring. It’s impossible.
Abide in me. Abide in me. Abide in me. In two verses, Jesus repeated this idea three times. What does he mean by abide? According to the dictionary, abide means to remain, continue, or stay. It is a way to describe where one’s abode, dwelling, or residence is. It describes the idea of continuing in a particular condition, attitude, or relationship. To abide in Jesus means to stay with him, to remain close to him, to make him your place of residence and dwelling. This is Jesus’ recipe for a fruitful and productive life: Stay close to me.
Our thoughts dictate who we become. I believe God knew the true power of our thoughts, because why else would He tell us to hold every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5)? The mind is where everything starts. Seeds of doubt, lies, and fear are first established in the mind. Then they exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.
The quiet sufferer who doesn’t want to burden others with her issues. She may even be the friend who seems the most put together, or the friend who is the most outgoing and makes everyone laugh. She’s probably the friend who appears to have it all. The nice house, the perfect husband, the fancy job. But what is she hiding underneath it all?