Bless This Home
I think it’s the cry of every woman’s heart.
As wife, as mother, as daughter, “Bless This Home” emanates from the deepest part of our souls in a heartfelt cry to our Creator even as the dawn reaches the horizon. Before the onset of the rush of the day in all its hustle and bustle, almost as natural as breathing, our need for God’s blessing on our family makes itself all too evident.
My family (like yours!) has it’s own unique needs. It’s wonderful that even if all we can muster up in prayer are the three little words “Bless This Home”, that God already knows what that blessing looks like.
For us, a lot of our needs stem from being a blended family. Four years into our marriage, with three girls ages 18, 12 and 8--we have our hands full to say the least! I keep reminding myself that Jesus was raised in a blended family with Joseph as His stepfather.
“We can do this.” I tell myself. “Because Jesus ‘gets it’.” The truth is, that Jesus always ‘gets it.’ So even though my amazing husband is outnumbered four to one, and most days I feel more like a wicked stepmother, than Mary who was “Blessed among women.” I can rest in faith that our Lord, in His mercy will bless my husband and my children even when I fall short. Which is daily I’m sure!
When I created the ‘Bless This Home’ tiles for (in)courage, as well as the GRACE and TRUST sets, little did I know that it was prophetic on their part, and God’s way of readying me for a coming heartbreak on the home front.
He knew that only a few short weeks after painting the bird leaving the safety of his cage, and the butterfly fluttering away, my eldest would leave our home under no-so-great circumstances. As I wrestle with feeling like a failure as a mother, as a wife, and mostly as a Christian, God graciously sent me friends with similar stories-some of them humorous, some heart-wrenching, all of them encouraging!
I heard amazingly funny stories of Franklin Graham and his Super-mom that came as God’s reminder that I am not so different. My family is not alone, and even mothering the greatest of saints-to-be, comes with its wonderful ups and sorrowful downs.
In His grace, we can all say together, “I wouldn’t trade my family for the world.” “May He bless your home and mine, and watch over our coming and going, both now and forevermore. Amen.”
Guest Author
Sherri Ohler lives in Illinois with her husband and daughters. While Sherri has been an artist since childhood, she now finds her inspiration through Christ.
Thank you for sharing. I pray your relationship with your daughter will be healed, and your heart. And hers. The tiles are beautiful.
Posted by: Abbie | 11/25/2009 at 06:56 AM
I had a situation that was uncomfortable with one of my children. And you know what God taught me? My parenting was done in His grace. He is still in control. Control was not mine and never had been. But while they are in our care we feel like we have control. When they go off on their own it's THEIR decisions, THEIR choices and there is nothing we can do except pray that God will draw them to Himself. And He does. And they learn from their mistakes while we cheer in the background.
Posted by: Southern Gal | 11/25/2009 at 07:26 AM
This touches my heart. My children. My family. My home. In God's care, I know, but oh how I sometimes wish to take over and "fix" it. Thanks be to Jesus for "getting it!"
Posted by: deidra | 11/25/2009 at 09:55 AM