Reflections In The Window

One day, like many days in my married life, I was standing in the kitchen cooking dinner for my family of six. After breading chicken and placing it in the frying pan, I stood washing my hands at the sink. Lifting my eyes, I glanced out the window and was reminded that my four children and husband were on the other side of the glass. As they were outside playing ~ laughing and making memories ~ I grew frustrated. My attitude turned scornful and I caught myself thinking, “This is so unfair! While they are outside enjoying family time together, I am stuck in here preparing this meal for them!”

I’m sure I’m not the only woman or mother who’s found themselves wandering down the trail to “It’s Not Fair” town. The lies of this world tell us we deserve to be having fun every minute of the day and that we shouldn’t have to miss out or give up something we may enjoy. Many things plague me as I contemplate this scenario: the pride that demands fairness, the scornful attitude that is the mark of the ungodly (Psalm 1:1), and the selfishness that centers all thoughts on my desires.

The TRUTH is…the world lies and tempts us to seek instant gratification at all times! The sooner we begin “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5), the more alert we’ll be when the world’s priorities invade our home and our hearts. He commands us, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). What we have are our God appointed roles as women, wives, mothers, friends, daughters, sisters, etc. We are to be content in fulfilling the roles that He has given us. In Philippians 3:14, Paul reminds us to, like him, “…press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” If we are looking inward, as I did facing my selfish reflection in the window, then we are not looking up. In verse 15, God’s Word says, “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” God doesn’t forsake us even when we are sitting in the muck of our sinfulness; He will reveal our immature attitudes and mindsets. The question is: What do we, as His daughters, choose to do with these truthful revelations of the Holy Spirit?

The TRUTH is…my husband had worked a long day and was expressing his love for our children by playing with them in God’s Creation. He was loving me by allowing me to have “free” time in the house without kids hanging from my leg, or balls being thrown by my head, as I tried to cook. The truth is I was serving them at that moment, preparing a warm meal to share with them during our first real “family time” of the day, sitting around the table breaking bread together while discussing events, emotions and God sightings. What a blessing that the Lord has appointed me to be the one who is able to nourish my family in both body and Spirit with the food and guidance that He has provided. MF