Blog

God's Economy

"The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you." Luke 6:38

Tonight, I am tired. Right down to my core. I have many more hours of work to do ahead of me, and I am already craving sleep. I am not my kindest or gentlest self when I am under this kind of stress and pressure, with this long of a To-Do list.

And just as I was finished with my motherly/wifely duties (the kids were in bed, the dishes were washed, and the living room was returned to some semblance of order) and I was heading up the stairs to my office to start my working-woman duties, a little red headed boy poked out from the hallway to complain about his sister, who was keeping him awake.

I wanted to so badly to lose my temper. I wanted to scream, and shout, and make everyone aware of how miserable I was and how little I appreciated this extra complication. (When I am this tired, my children just have to look at me the wrong way, and my flesh rises up within me, snarling like a hyena.)

But tonight I simply sighed, followed my son back upstairs and admonished my daughter to be more loving, less selfish, and more obedient.

This little victory over my flesh was made possible because I have been thinking  all week about a question that one of my sisters-for-real asked me this past weekend. She was dealing with a difficult husband, and she wanted to know how she could start treating him with real love, and not just with the attitude of "I am being loving to you even though you don't deserve it," which is really not love at all.

At the time, I gave her some half-thought answer, and reminded her to treat her husband as if she were with Jesus. But afterwards, when I was home and stopped and asked God what I should have said, I heard God say to me, "The measure you use for others is the one that I will use for you."

And I gasped.

Just a little.

Because I am perfectly happy to have God apply that verse to me, as long as He isn't talking about how I deal with my family.

With other people, on most days, I am kind, and patient, and forgiving. I use grace instead of judgement, love instead of condemnation. I give the benefit of the doubt, and keep no records of wrongs. I believe the best. I support and encourage. (Mostly.)

That may not always be the case with my poor, dear husband and children.

Why is it that our families can sometimes get the worst of us? If God were to measure me with the same measure that I use on my husband... Oh dear God - I shudder at the thought.

And that is what I should have told my sister then (and I am telling her now through this blog.) Treat your husband with the same measure of kindness and love and mercy and grace that you want God to use with you. That's the motivation you can use when your husband tries your patience, or makes stupid decisions, or says foolish, sinful, things. You can remind yourself that way you measure your husband is the way God will measure you.

And in my case, that's a fairly frightening thought.

So I have been repeating this verse in my head all week, and I am applying it to my conduct towards my children and my man. And truthfully, I think it's actually working.

After all, my kids have managed to fall asleep while I have been typing, and there were no tears, no screaming, no angry words, no pity parties, no guilt trips.

Because that's not how He deals with me. His measure towards me is always merciful, always kind, always patient, always loving, always generous, always hopeful.

And my relationship with God plays out in its most honest and true sense with my family, when no one else is watching.

If you also struggle with how you treat your family, and God is working in your life that way, I'd love to hear about it. We can walk through it together.

Meet    
    Cory

Messy Hospitality
Hit the Ground... Waltzing
Where Have I Been? (Living Without Hope)
Confessions of an Imperfect Christian Mom
He Was With Me

hospitality
friendship
sisters
rest
dance
purpose
hope
motherhood
stress
peace
real
depression
faithfulness
fear
problems
luke
trust
worry
jesus
women
marriage
church
friends
mundane life
radical
love
giftings
comparison
poverty
faith
life
vacation
joy
prayer