Raising Kids in a World of Chaos

There Is Nothing New Under the Sun

It’s been a heavy week, mourning national tragedies of terrorism, assassination, and a few of my own more personal tragedies that hit a bit closer to home. Sometimes I feel so powerless against a place that looms increasingly dark and disastrous at every turn and my soul cries out for the pain and injustice of a world so far gone. And yet, Ecclesiastes 1:9 observes “there is nothing new under the sun.”

During this eventful week, we happened to be on a family vacation, the last we’ll get together, just our family, before my husband deploys this Winter. We chose Mexico for this trip, and planned to enjoy the company of each other, bathing in cenotes and visiting the ruins of some of the ancient empires which we studied last year in our homeschool curriculum. We’re a big history family, so the Mayan ruins of Uxmal and Chichen Itza were especially fascinating to see. As we stood in awe of the intricately etched ruins, the science and mathematical grasp of such an ancient civilization was nothing short of astounding. And yet, equally astounding was the death and savagery that entrenched such a sophisticated culture. There is much recent evidence to support the idea that the prolific Mayan human sacrifices were voluntary in nature, but, still the fact remains that death was a permeating part of this people group. The irony was not lost on me as I felt enveloped by the heaviness of this ancient culture, all the while getting pinged with updates and notifications of the current heaviness unfolding back at home.

As I marveled at the architecture, I was overwhelmed by sadness for how lost this society was…how lost we still are. How much death and destruction still permeate our culture.

There is truly nothing new under the sun— the same enemy still prowls looking to steal, kill, and destroy whenever and wherever possible, to ruin civilizations and generations. And there I stood, front row witness to it all, in both ancient and modern times, with these four tender, beautiful little people I have brought into this mess of a world.

Guiding Young Hearts Through Dysfunction

I try my best to explain to them that a world cursed in sin will never look ideal, that the impact of sin means death and destruction for as long as this world keeps turning. It’s a daunting task to unpeel layers of dysfunctionality to get to the heart of a thing. And yet, I am not dismayed. Deeply and profoundly heart-broken, yes…but not without hope. Because I know the one who holds it all into place and I know He’s already written the ending and it is good.

For Such a Time As This

You see, I firmly believe that God has placed us each in this time and place for a specific purpose. Some have more high profile purposes than others, but I would argue that each of them holds tremendous importance.

Many years ago, as a driven young woman, I wondered if the impact I might have on the world would be profound. Yet, as I have followed in the way in which I have felt led, I have found that such former visions of grandeur have not been my path. Homeschooling mother of four, military wife- these far more domestic titles are the ones I have earned. But in increasingly dark times I am seeing the grave need for “simple” mothers and wives like myself.

Author Sally Clarkson said it best: “I always wanted to be a hero--to sacrifice my life in a big way one time--and yet, God has required my sacrifice to be thousands of days, over many years, with one more kiss, one more story, one more meal.”

Here to Change The World

And these words ring so true because I am, indeed, here to change the world. Perhaps not in the grand way that I had once imagined, but in a much more provincial manner, by loving these little people entrusted to me, holding them tight and instructing them day after day on the truths of God’s word. I am here to change these four little worlds, instilling in them the sacred texts because it is beauty and light in a world full of tragedy and death. And I am emboldened by the Holy Spirit who has been given to me as a helper to do my part—this task entrusted to me- painstakingly molding a generation.

It may not look like the work I had once envisioned, but the work is still so good and it is still so very paramount. I had once thought that being a cog in a wheel was a negative thing, just doing a small part in a larger machine, grinding away. But the more I am reminded that as a follower of God, it’s not about me, the more I see the significance and beauty of such a design—to work in unison with others, each called to our own individual paths, towards the furthering of the glory of our Lord. I see the gravity of my task, and I pray that I never take it lightly— this beautiful, difficult, momentous task entrusted to me in my role as wife and mother. What a joy, what an opportunity to guide these little lives, to create something beautiful amidst so much ugliness.

The Power to Give

The power to give life again and again, day after day, is the unique gifting of a mother. We are blessed with the opportunity to instruct our children in the way that is right so when they are older they will not depart from it. Because, ultimately, as parents, the buck stops with us. We are the gatekeepers to the next generation and with the help of Jesus, we can work to break destructive cycles.

I have four little warriors right here…maybe you have six or two, maybe one…one more light to shine bright in an ever darkening world. And maybe just one of these little warriors will be the one to stand up and make a profound impact. Maybe you’re reading bedtime stories to the next C.S. Lewis, Jim Elliot, or Corrie Ten Boom. Hug them a little tighter, praise them for a time they served others today, tell them Jesus loves them so much and wants nothing more than to have a true, deep, lasting friendship with them. What an invitation we have been given to be agents of change in our daily microcosms. So do not be discouraged, but rather be filled with resolution. What tremendous responsibility, what tremendous opportunity, what tremendous work we can do together straight up from the grassroots.

From Another Mother,

Jessica A.