sola gracia

When I received my Spring TEACH magazine, I glanced at the theme, “Marriages Made Marvelous”. My first thought was, oh no they’re going to show me how I’m failing at my marriage! I was reluctant to read anything past the cover, but since I was on a 26 hour driving trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma I figured it was the best time.
As I was reading through I found much more encouragement and less scolding than I expected and was excited to read the next article or story. A particular favorite, if I had to pick one, would be the story “The Long Goodbye”. As my husband drove us through the long stretch of flatlands in Kansas, I asked him if he’d mind turning off the music and listening to a story I was reading. So, we both shared the wonderful story of a husband battling Alzheimer’s disease while his wife devoted her life to caring for him until he died. It was a story of great hardship, but a story of commitment.
Here is a quote made by the wife that really sums up the entire story,
“Decades ago I vowed I’d be there for him whether he was sick or well. It wasn’t always the easy thing to do, but it was the right thing.”
It is so moving to hear stories of marital endurance like this one. With the way our society is painting marriage so many people believe it to be an optional commitment instead of a lifelong one.
So, thank you Lord for that long road trip and the Teach magazine that was tucked in my purse. It was a joy to read stories of encouragement and words of wisdom from other daughters of the King!

I was at a little mommy group the other day and the ladies were talking about how life was easier in another country that one of them had previously lived in. They were excited to hear how many services were provided by the government at little or no cost. “Wow!” was the general response. Then it was slipped in that the taxes were of course close to 41% of a person’s paycheck to cover those “free” services. No one seemed to notice and one mother casually said, “I’d love to live there.”

I thought I’d be more shocked, but I wasn’t. It’s so common place now to hear people talking about how they’d like to move to another country. Even I myself can think of at least one time when I wished I lived in this country or that. Shame, shame…. So, I’m frustrated that we as mothers aren’t living out our patriotic freedoms a little more. This is America and we are so blessed to have such a wonderful history of freedom! Not all may agree that we are truly free, but we have been and still can be free in this country. Not by daydreaming of living elsewhere, but by reminding our elected officials that we do have rights and we will fight to keep our rights!

So when Greenland’s icy shores seem to call your name, remember, the grass is always greener on the other side. And when you are disheartened about the United States of America, I ask that you pull out a copy of the Constitution and read it, maybe even to your children, and rediscover the rights those brave men fought and died for….even for people as disquieted as you and I. 