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•11:08 PM
"Children tie the feet of the mother"
- Tamil Proverb
I have been reading a biography about Amy Carmichael written by Elisabeth Elliot (does it get any better than that?) called A Chance To Die. Amy was a missionary to many places including Japan, China and especially India. Reading about her life and what she did has been amazing. She had such a high standard for Christian living and she lived it out so well. She also made many mistakes as she was learning and growing of course.
I began reading this book at a time when I have been trying to find my place in ministry - juggling supporting my husband who is a youth pastor and also fulfilling the huge call of being a mother and home keeper. Things that I was going to be able to do are not options anymore now that we have a new baby coming. Our life revolves around two things, our family and our church body; I like to have a handle on my place in each area at all times. I find that if I don't have a clear vision for my "place" then I have a hard time functioning. I need order.
So anyway, back to Amy Carmichael. She was this amazing woman and missionary and as I'm reading her story and trying to identify with her life and implement her amazing traits into my own life, I came upon a joyful discovery! Amy Carmichael eventually came to a place where she was a mother and had (use that word "had" loosely and consider replacing it with "got") to minister in a totally different way.
She was no longer able to go out and do the things she could do before. She was not married, but rescued children from a terrible lifestyle. Here is a paragraph that made me laugh with joy:
The Indian girls did their best to care for the children, but Amy's itineration became less and less feasible. By August she wrote, "Oh, I am getting so hungry for another child!" and was beginning to see that she must allow her feet to be tied "for the sake of Him whose feet once were nailed."I was so happy when I read this. To know that someone who had a passion to serve God, and the opportunity to do it full time, also had a season of having her feet tied. Tied to do a work so important, it was likely the greatest calling in all her life.
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3 comments:
Thanks Julee! I totally needed to hear that right now!
Love all the pictures! You have such a beautiful family.
Thanks Jules, I needed that. Notice that Tony always says make a funny face, then he doesn't.