Interview Question 1

Galant has included me in the "Interview Game" he was tagged with, and I have finally started to answer his WELL thought out and heart searching questions. I love being asked questions that force me to evaluate both my head and my heart about various areas pertaining to life and godliness. So here is the first, and what I consider to be best, question and answer.

How has being a mother and a wife affected your perspective on your faith, what do you see now about life and faith and God that you did not before you were married and before you were a mother?

I would say the number one way marriage has changed my perspective of faith is that it has shown me the reality of the relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church. It is easier for me to now see how deep the analogy goes...and how MUCH husbands and wives fail to fulfill our rolls. I see the beauty in Christ's perfect love for His imperfect Bride. He gave His life so She can wear a white wedding dress. He sees no spot in Her, understands Her, wants nothing but the best for Her, serves Her. She submits to His leadership, protection, comfort, and romance. She knows She can trust Him fully with Her whole being -- spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. He'll never leave no matter where she fails or exceeds. She'll strive to love and serve Him all her days. It's a gorgeous display of opposites that create a beautiful whole: humble leadership, powerful submission, open-handed loyalty, blind understanding (knowing a persons deepest faults but choosing to look beyond them, in other words unconditional love). Marriage is hard because it's two sinners living life together, and yet the spiritual benefits flow into every area of life making every trial, every mundane routine, every stinging conviction of sin (daily) well worth the fight to keep the treasure of a sacred marriage...one that, though imperfect, models the ultimate couple, Christ and the Church. (And I highly suggest Sacred Marriage by Gary L. Thomas as reading for couples in any year of marriage!)

The first thought that comes to mind when thinking of how being a mother has affected my perspective of faith is one so simple that I am ashamed to admit it but feel refreshed to share. I have finally come to a true understanding of what my desire for the lost is to feel like. I have never felt that deep passion for somone to come to Christ until now. I have never fully realized a person's utter need for a Savior to deliver him from sin and allow him a seat in eternity before the throne of God. I now know the ache in a mother's heart for her children to have a personal relationship with the One who created them. It is a deep seated physical ache in my heart, but it is definitely a good one. One that makes my heart feel more alive than ever to the spiritual life of a human being. Never have I prayed for another's salvation more than I have my son's...all because I never saw the urgency and desperation first hand like this. I have been so surrounded by Christian family, friends, teachers, coworkers, etc. for my WHOLE life that opportunity to go beyond that "bubble" was very limited -- left to my own courage to step out and meet unbelievers, a courage that I have always lacked. Now, I can't say that I have been able to extend this new discovery fully to others besides my little one; but I hope that someday soon the Lord will give me capacity to place the same perspective on other unbelievers. I think it is all still very new to me, and I am still learning how to channel my heart's ache into action -- finding every which way I can to pray for and train Judah in the ways of the Lord. While I do hope that this new perspective will spread to other unbelievers who will cross my path of life, I know that if I am used only once to bring another into the Kingdom, my life has been well spent...especially if it meant my son would be part of the King's audience.